**Magistrate Judge Laura D. Hatcher** has served as a full-time Magistrate Judge in the District of Delaware since May 1, 2023. She oversees the court's mediation program for civil cases and handles patent and non-patent scheduling matters. The court's website does not provide biographical information, educational background, or career history prior to Judge Hatcher's appointment as Magistrate Judge.
**Courthouse:** J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building, 844 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801-3555 **Chambers:** Room 2124, Unit 8 **Courtroom:** 2B **Phone:** (302) 573-5865 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Keith Kincaid **Note:** Delaware is a major patent and corporate litigation court. Judge Hatcher manages scheduling orders and procedural forms for patent and non-patent cases, and oversees the court's mediation program for civil cases.
Courtesy copies are required for all covered filings. Details: delivery within one hour. Courtesy copies must be submitted within one hour of e-filing.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery and other. Details: 3 pages. Discovery motions require a pre-motion conference procedure: file a motion for teleconference, then submit a 3-page letter with proposed order and exhibits at least 72 hours before the conference.
Judge Laura D. Hatcher's rule states these limits: 3 pages. Opposition letters in discovery disputes are limited to 3 pages and must use 12-point font.
Judge Laura D. Hatcher's rule states these limits: 20 pages; 30 pages; 20 pages; 10 pages. Claim construction briefs have page limits: opening 20 pages, answering 30 pages, reply 20 pages, sur-reply 10 pages. Briefs are served but not filed until the joint brief is filed.
Judge Laura D. Hatcher's formatting rule includes double-sided. Courtesy copies must be double-sided.
The rule requires proposed order and exhibit list. Pre-motion letter must include a proposed order and exhibits containing disputed discovery requests and responses.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Parties must submit a joint letter by the claim construction brief due date, stating whether they request testimony, time allocation, and order of presenting terms.
Parties may contact Judge Laura D. Hatcher's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email ldh_civil@ded.uscourts.gov. Proposed voir dire, jury instructions, and verdict forms must be submitted via email to ldh_civil@ded.uscourts.gov.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Laura D. Hatcher. Parties must seek leave of Court to file documents under seal unless a protective order is in place.
No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Separate briefing on in limine requests is prohibited.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Technology tutorials must be submitted on or before the date the Joint Claim Construction Brief is filed.
The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Claim construction briefs must be served but not filed individually; they are later combined into a joint brief.
Concise statement of facts must have numbered paragraphs and record citations.
Separate briefing on in limine requests is prohibited.
Parties must seek leave of Court to file documents under seal unless a protective order is in place.
Exhibits and attachments must be separated by tabs.
Parties should highlight relevant portions of exhibits and attachments.
Parties are encouraged to excerpt voluminous exhibits.
Technology tutorials must be submitted on or before the date the Joint Claim Construction Brief is filed.
A redacted version of any sealed document must be filed electronically within 7 days of the sealed filing.
Parties must note intent to seal transcript at start of proceeding, then file a motion for sealing/redaction promptly after transcript completion, with highlighted and proposed redacted transcripts, and demonstrate good cause.
Motion for sealing/redaction of transcript must be filed promptly after transcript completion.
Parties must provide two courtesy copies of all letters, briefs, and supporting documents to the Court; also applies to sealed papers.
Proposed protective order must be submitted within 10 days of entry of this Order.
Courtesy copies must be double-sided.
Discovery motions require a pre-motion conference procedure: file a motion for teleconference, then submit a 3-page letter with proposed order and exhibits at least 72 hours before the conference.
Pre-motion letter must be in 12-point font.
Pre-motion letter must include a proposed order and exhibits containing disputed discovery requests and responses.
Pre-motion letter must be filed at least 72 hours before the conference, excluding weekends and holidays.
Opposition letters in discovery disputes are limited to 3 pages and must use 12-point font.
Opposition letters must be filed less than 48 hours before the conference, excluding weekends and holidays.
Courtesy copies must be submitted within one hour of e-filing.
The Joint Claim Construction Chart must be in Word format and emailed to chambers simultaneously with filing.
The Joint Claim Construction Chart must be emailed to Magistrate Judge Hatcher's chambers at Idh_civil@ded.uscourts.gov simultaneously with filing.
Claim construction briefs have page limits: opening 20 pages, answering 30 pages, reply 20 pages, sur-reply 10 pages. Briefs are served but not filed until the joint brief is filed.
Claim construction briefs must be served but not filed individually; they are later combined into a joint brief.
The Joint Claim Construction Brief must be filed by a specified date.
The parties must combine their individual claim construction briefs into a single joint brief.
Intrinsic evidence must not be attached to the Joint Claim Construction Chart; it must be included in a joint appendix with the brief.
Materials submitted in an appendix must be filed in a joint appendix.
Parties must submit a joint letter by the claim construction brief due date, stating whether they request testimony, time allocation, and order of presenting terms.
Parties must supplement identification of accused products and invalidity references by the specified date, unless otherwise agreed and approved.