Judge Timothy J. Savage
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Adjournments
Communication
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Clerk
Detailed Drafting Rules
Pretrial conferences held only in complex cases or with multiple attorneys.
Pretrial conferences in criminal cases are held only in complex cases or those involving several attorneys.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredcomplex_case_or_multiple_attorneys
Voir dire questions must be resolved with deputy clerk the day before jury selection.
Counsel must discuss voir dire questions and resolve any differences the day before jury selection. If they cannot agree, counsel must advise the deputy clerk that the judge must rule upon the disputed issues.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredday_before_jury_selection
Sidebar conferences are discouraged except for unanticipated issues.
Sidebar conferences are discouraged and are rarely permitted. Only unanticipated issues will necessitate a sidebar conference.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Evidentiary issues must be resolved privately before involving deputy clerk.
Counsel must confer privately to resolve any unanticipated evidentiary issues that may arise during trial. Only if they are unable to reach agreement should counsel bring the matter to the deputy clerk=s attention at the beginning of the day or during an appropriate break when the jury is not present.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Hourswhen_jury_not_present
Videotaped testimony must be edited and tested before trial.
The videotape must be edited prior to trial to eliminate pauses and speed-ups so there are no interruptions. Counsel must arrange with the deputy clerk a date and time before the trial date to test and learn to operate the courtroom equipment.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Exhibits published after witness examination or before break, with permission for during testimony.
Exhibits may be published to the jury at the end of the party=s examination of the witness or prior to a break. If the exhibit is necessary to explain the testimony, Judge Savage may permit it to be published during the testimony. Permission must be sought prior to the witness taking the stand.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Counsel must be available within 15 minutes during jury deliberations, staying in or near courthouse.
Counsel must be available upon fifteen (15) minutes notice during jury deliberations. As a practical matter, this means that counsel must stay in or near the courthouse.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
After verdict and jury discharge, counsel may request to interview jurors, but must respect jurors' choice not to speak.
After a verdict has been recorded and the jury has been discharged, counsel may request to interview jurors. The jurors are told that they are permitted to talk to counsel if they desire, but they need not do so. Counsel shall respect the jurors’ desire not to speak to them.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Clerk
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Written communications must be filed as pleadings/motions, not sent as correspondence.
Written communications concerning any case must be by the filing of a pleading, motion, application, or other similar filing provided for in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. Counsel shall not send copies of correspondence among and between counsel to the Court.
Letter via ECF
- Status Inquiries
Correspondence allowed only for personal emergencies or case settlements.
Correspondence is permitted only in the following instances: (1) When there is an unanticipated personal matter concerning counsel, a party, a witness, or counsel’s immediate family, such as medical problems or other personal problems; or (2) To advise that a case has been settled.
Letter via ECF
Telephone communications permitted when written communication is insufficient.
When a written communication concerning a case cannot timely address a problem, counsel may initiate necessary telephone communications with chambers.
Phone
Reply briefs limited to 10 pages, due within 7 days of opposition brief.
Reply briefs, addressing only issues raised in the brief in opposition and not repeating arguments in the brief, may be filed within seven days of service of the opponent’s brief in opposition and shall be limited to ten pages. No further briefs may be filed.
Parties must agree on search methods and terms with e-discovery liaisons.
The parties shall reach agreement as to the method of searching, and the words, terms, and phrases to be searched with the assistance of the respective e-discovery liaisons, who are charged with familiarity with the parties' respective systems.
Document Type