Please direct case related inquiries to the
All parties are directed to review the Court's current COVID-19 Guidance (click here).
All parties should follow the procedures below until further notice:
Motion practice: Parties may jointly e-mail the Courtroom Deputy to request a briefing schedule for a newly-filed motion. Consistent with Seventh Amended General Order 21-0027, parties should not notice motions for presentment but may request a telephonic hearing for motions that they believe cannot be decided based on written submissions. The request must be made in the motion itself or by joint e-mail to the courtroom deputy, and must indicate whether the parties agree that a hearing is necessary. Parties are expected to cooperate in managing cases during this challenging time and whenever possible should confer with each other before the filing of any motion.
Telephone hearings: Until further notice, Judge Wood will hold most hearings by telephone. Parties may consult the Court's daily call sheet to see if a hearing will be held telephonically or in person. To ensure public access to court proceedings, members of the public and media may call in to listen to telephonic hearings. Information on how to do so will be included on the docket and/or the call sheet. Counsel of record will receive an email the morning the hearing is scheduled with instructions to join the call. Given the increased number of telephonic hearings, the Court asks that participants keep their phones on mute until their case is called.
In-court hearings: When in Judge Wood's courtroom, counsel and other case participants are encouraged, but not required, to wear a face covering. The Court has separated the counsel lecterns from one another and the bench, and those shall not be moved. Multiple hand-sanitizing stations have been placed throughout the courtroom and may be used at any time. Anyone who has recently been exposed to someone with Covid-19, or anyone exhibiting symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, or cough, should not be present in the courthouse or courtroom. All persons participating in a jury trial, including prospective jurors, other than witnesses while testifying or attorneys while questioning witnesses, are required to wear a face mask/covering. Please note that these requirements are for the safety of all case participants, and refusal to follow these guidelines may result in removal from the proceedings and the courthouse.
Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court-issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court.
This page contains important information about Judge Wood’s case management procedures. These procedures have been designed to facilitate the prompt, efficient, and equitable disposition of cases on Judge Wood’s docket. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these procedures in addition to the Local Rules for this District. When Judge Wood’s procedures differ from the Local Rules, please follow the procedures outlined here. The success of these procedures depends on your willingness to familiarize yourself with them and to act accordingly. Counsel will be expected to explain fully any failure to comply with Judge Wood’s pretrial procedures, as well as applicable Local Rules.
