District Court Judge

Counties: Washington

State Court Bio: View Bio

Motion Practice

• How long do you normally allow per party for argument of non-dispositive motions? 10 minutes
• How long do you normally allow per party for oral argument of dispositive motions? 15 minutes per side (30 total)
• With respect to oral argument, do you prefer an attorney to not reiterate written material? Yes
• Do you regularly conduct hearings and motions by phone? No
  If yes, please describe the procedure you would like attorneys to use to do so, including how testimony is to be transcribed and who puts the teleconference together: NA
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys in your courtroom to follow at motion hearings: File papers on a timely basis.
• Do you like to receive courtesy copies of motion papers? Yes

Discovery Disputes

• Do you require counsel to "meet and confer" before bringing discovery disputes to a hearing? Yes
• Will you accept telephone calls from attorneys to rule on discovery disputes that occur during the course of a deposition? No

Pretrial Procedures

• When do you normally set the pretrial in relation to the trial? See scheduling order
• Do you normally hear motions in limine at the pretrial? No
• When are jury instructions due? [No Answer Entered]
• When are proposed special verdict forms due? [No Answer Entered]
• When do you require that final witness lists be exchanged and filed? [No Answer Entered]
• When do you require that final exhibit lists be exchanged and filed? [No Answer Entered]
• Do you discuss settlement of the case with the parties at the time of the pretrial? Yes
• State any specific procedures you would like attorneys to follow at the time of the pretrial: Upon arriving at the courthouse, begin settlement discussions at once.

Continuances and Changes in the Scheduling Order

• For changes in the scheduling order, except date of trial: Such changes are not allowed without special written request or a motion to the court.
• For changes on the date of trial: I rarely grant such changes.
• Under what circumstances would you consider granting a change in the trial date? Will be considered on a case by case basis

Civil Jury Trials

• Do you perform preliminary voir dire? Yes
• Do you place a time limit on voir dire by counsel? No
• Is there subject matter you will not permit counsel to ask of the jury? No
  If yes, please explain: [No Answer Entered]
• Do you require counsel to sit or stand during questioning of witnesses? Don't care, they can do either
• Do you require counsel to be behind counsel table unless counsel has a specific reason to approach a witness? Yes
• Do you normally require counsel to meet each morning with the court before the jury comes into the courtroom? No
  If yes, how many minutes before court commences? [No Answer Entered]
• I normally start jury trials at: 9:00 a.m.
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 to 20 minutes in the morning.
• I normally take a lunch break at: 12:00 noon
• I normally give the jury a break of 15 to 20 minutes in the afternoon.
• I normally finish court for the day at: 4:30 p.m.
• Do you permit jurors to:
  Take Notes: Yes
  Keep notes during deliberation? Yes
  Ask the witnesses questions? No
• If counsel asks to approach to argue a ruling, do you generally: Send the jury out of the courtroom and have argument in open court.
• Do you place a time limit on final argument? No
  If yes, If yes, what is the time limit? [No Answer Entered]
• When do you instruct the jury? After argument
• After argument and instructions, do you:
  Require counsel to be available by telephone? Yes
  Request that counsel remain at the courthouse during deliberations of the jury? No
  Take a verdict without counsel present and inform them after the verdict by telephone of the result? Yes

Sanctions of Counsel

• Have you ever sanctioned counsel with imposition of a fine? Yes
  Or jail? No
• Have you ever held counsel in contempt of court? No
• Have you ever reported an attorney for unethical behavior? Yes
• When, if ever, would you consider issuing sanctions, formal reprimands, holding an attorney in contempt, or reporting an attorney for unethical behavior? Failures to appear; persistent disregard of court orders, rules. Counsel are expected to comply with Professionalism Aspirations.