Judge Alexakis’ final pretrial order guidelines differ from those in Local Rule 16.1. The parties shall follow the format and guidelines linked below and use the forms for exhibit lists, jury instructions, and deposition designations available on Judge Alexakis’ page (see below):

• Pretrial Order Requirements

Judge Alexakis will set case-specific deadlines, but generally, once a trial date has been set, the parties can expect that motions in limine will be due six weeks before trial; responses to motions in limine will be due four weeks before trial; the final pretrial order will be due four weeks before trial; and the final pretrial conference will take place two weeks before trial.

The parties should carefully review the pretrial order requirements in time to address any issues of exhibits and availability before submitting the pretrial order and before the final pretrial conference. This includes ensuring that witnesses are available or making arrangements for them to testify by other means. By default, all witnesses must appear to testify in person. Live video testimony is strongly disfavored and may be disallowed even if the parties favor it. Testimony by video or written deposition is acceptable by party agreement or for good cause, but these arrangements to take and prepare the deposition testimony must be made no later than in the final pretrial order. After that point, except in exceptional, unforeseen circumstances, Judge Alexakis is unlikely to grant an opposed request to accommodate an unavailable witness.

• Civil Jury Instructions Template
• Deposition Designations Template
• Joint Exhibit List Template