Court Rules
Common questions about Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

Courtesy copies are required for pretrial statements. Details: 2 copies, delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. Joint Pretrial Statement requires ECF filing and courtesy copies to chambers.

View ruleSource: page 3, section JOINT PRETRIAL STATEMENT

Does Judge Tanya S. Chutkan require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for covered motions. Discovery disputes require joint email to chambers before telephone conference.

View ruleSource: page 3, section DISCOVERY DISPUTES

What page or word limits apply to motion in limine before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's rule states these limits: 20 pages. Motions in limine limited to 20 pages, oppositions to 15 pages, with specific deadlines.

What page or word limits apply to opposition before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's rule states these limits: 15 pages. Opposition briefs to motions in limine limited to 15 pages.

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's formatting rule includes times new roman font, 12 point type, double spacing, margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches, and file format docx. Joint Pretrial Statement must be double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, Word format, 1-inch margins.

View ruleSource: page 3, section JOINT PRETRIAL STATEMENT

What must be included with pretrial conference filings before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

The rule requires settlement authority present. Settlement authority individuals must be present or available by phone for pretrial conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pretrial Conference Order 1

What must be included with joint pretrial statement filings before Judge Tanya S. Chutkan?

The rule requires meet and confer required, good faith conferring required, settlement discussion required, and face to face meeting encouraged. Parties must meet and confer before pretrial conference to prepare Joint Pretrial Statement and discuss settlement.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Pretrial Conference Order 1

How may parties contact Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. Electronic courtesy copy must be emailed to chambers; email must not be used for any other purpose.

Does Judge Tanya S. Chutkan require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan requires bundling for covered papers. All motions in limine must be bundled into one omnibus motion per side.

Complete rules summary for Judge Tanya S. Chutkan

Discovery limits: max 10 depositions and 25 interrogatories per side.

Discovery disputes require joint email to chambers before telephone conference.

Discovery motions require prior telephone conference with court and opposing counsel.

Losing party in discovery dispute may be ordered to pay costs and attorney's fees.

Discovery-related motions require a prior telephone conference with the Court and opposing counsel.

Parties are limited to 10 depositions and 25 interrogatories per side unless otherwise agreed or ordered.

Parties must jointly submit via email to chambers a description of discovery disputes before scheduling a telephone conference.

Settlement authority individuals must be present or available by phone for pretrial conference.

Trial date set for [DATE] at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 9.

Parties must meet and confer before pretrial conference to prepare Joint Pretrial Statement and discuss settlement.

Non-compliance with Pretrial Order may result in sanctions including fines, striking submissions, dismissal, or public admonishment.

Challenged exhibits must be produced with Joint Pretrial Statement in two copies.

Joint Pretrial Statement requires ECF filing and courtesy copies to chambers.

Joint Pretrial Statement must be double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, Word format, 1-inch margins.

Two courtesy hard copies required in 3-ring binders with tab dividers.

Electronic copy must be emailed to chambers by specified deadline.

Email address provided only for Joint Pretrial Statement submissions.

Witnesses not listed in Joint Pretrial Statement cannot be called at trial (except for impeachment).

Exhibits must be listed in Joint Pretrial Statement to be admitted at trial.

Parties should stipulate to admissibility of exhibits when possible.

Parties offering >5 exhibits must pre-mark them with court-provided labels.

Counsel should be judicious in selecting relevant exhibits.

Deposition testimony must be identified by page/line numbers in JPTS.

Objections to deposition testimony must be in JPTS with basis and authority.

Deposition objections must include excerpts from the deposition.

Objections not in JPTS are waived except for Rules 402/403.

Demonstrative/physical/videotape evidence must be described in JPTS.

JPTS must separately list each damage element and monetary amount.

Jury trial waiver required in jury cases

Voir dire objections and proposals required with supporting authority

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