Motion hearings will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise scheduled by the Court. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion. No courtesy copies are allowed, unless the Court specifically requests one from the parties. Parties should not file a notice of motion with any submission; the Court will order briefing or, if appropriate, schedule your motion hearing.  Monitor the public docket for information regarding hearings. Status reports will typically be by written submission.

A candid discussion between the parties prior to filing motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and motions in limine, among others, can limit the scope of such motions or eliminate the need for them to be filed at all.

Thus, the Court will apply the meet and confer requirement not just to discovery motions, but to all motions that a party wishes to file. The requirements in Judge Berry’s standing order on discovery motions concerning what must be done to comply with the meet and confer requirement will be applied with equal force, and in the same way, with respect to all other motions.

TELEPHONIC OR REMOTE APPEARANCE:

The Court believes that motion hearings are substantive matters that require in-person participation.  As a result, telephonic or remote appearances are not allowed for motion hearings. If extraordinary circumstances exist, a party may contact the Courtroom Deputy, Yulonda Thomas, in advance to seek permission to participate by phone.