Judge Jennifer M. Faunce
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Adjournments
- Beginning January 13, 2026, criminal adjournments cannot be requested by phone and must be made in person without exception.
- An adjournment request must be made by motion or stipulation, show good cause, state its grounds and proposed new date, and meet additional type-specific requirements.
- Criminal and civil trial adjournments must be requested by motion.
- +4 more
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Court-wideDocument Format Requirements4 rules
Each jury instruction must be placed on a separate sheet.
Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.
Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial.
Have proposed exhibits marked.
At the trial judge’s discretion, photocopies of completed standard jury instructions are acceptable if all blanks are completed and alternatives are selected.
At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI’s are acceptable provided that the blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen.
When practicable, copies of proposed exhibits should be furnished to the court, opposing counsel, and jurors for use during trial.
Whenever practicable, copies shall be furnished to the Court and opposing counsel and for jurors for use during the trial.
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
For jury trials, counsel should provide completed typed jury instructions and a proposed jury verdict form to the court and all counsel to the extent possible.
If a jury trial, to the extent possible, have completed, typed jury instructions, including proposed jury verdict form for the Court and all counsel (not just by jury instruction number).
Document Type
Jury Instructions
If deposition objections remain unresolved, the parties must contact the judge’s secretary to obtain a hearing date.
If the parties have not resolved the objections, the parties shall contact the Judge’s secretary for a hearing date regarding the deposition objections.
Document Type
Deposition Objections
Counsel must provide stipulations for entry of proposed exhibits or state reasons for objections.
Counsel shall have stipulations for entry or stated reasons for objections.
Document Type
Proposed Exhibits
Counsel must provide a joint succinct statement explaining what the case is about, limited to one paragraph.
Joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph.
Document Type
Joint Succinct Statement
A request to extend a summons must be submitted before the original summons expires and include a verified motion, proposed order, and affidavit describing at least three service attempts.
Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, and an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process with at least three (3) attempts of service. Requests must be submitted prior to the expiration of the original summons.
Document Type
Summons Extension Request
A support or response brief must identify in its title the filing party and the specific motion to which it relates.
Please title the brief in support and response briefs with the specific party’s name that represents the party filing that document and be sure to name the specific motion that the brief is in support of, or which motion the response is for.
Document Type
Brief
An alternate-service request must include a proposed order and other specified supporting materials.
Requests for alternate service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process, and a postal verification with at least three (3) attempts of service on different days and times.
Document Type
Alternate Service Request
After a motion is decided and not taken under advisement, the parties must prepare and immediately e-file the resulting order.
After a motion has been heard by the Court and a ruling has been made (other than a motion taken under advisement), the parties shall prepare and submit an order immediately through e-filing.
Document Type
Motion Order
Parties electing facilitation must submit a stipulated order identifying the facilitation date and facilitator so a replacement settlement conference can be scheduled.
The parties must submit a stipulated order once a facilitation date and facilitator has been decided, so that a new settlement conference can be scheduled after the facilitation has occurred.
Document Type
Stipulated Order
After a facilitation date and facilitator are selected, attorneys must e-file a stipulated order containing that information so a new settlement conference can be scheduled after facilitation.
If the parties agree to facilitate, the attorneys must contact the Court once a facilitation date and facilitator has been decided, so that a new settlement conference can be scheduled after the facilitation has occurred. All that information needs to be placed into a stipulated order and submitted via e-filing.
Document Type
Stipulated Order
Witness lists should identify actual or probable witnesses, their appearance mode, and specified hospital, office, and specialty information for medical experts.
The witness list should include actual and/or probable witnesses, indicating if in person or by deposition and, if medical experts, the hospital, and office where the witness practices and his or her specialty.
Document Type
Witness List
Multiple motions in limine must be numbered in their titles.
If you are filing more than one (1) motion in limine, please be sure to number them in the title.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A stipulated order containing the agreed facilitation date and facilitator must be submitted through e-filing.
If the parties agree to facilitate, the attorneys must contact the Court once a facilitation date and facilitator has been decided, so that a new settlement conference can be scheduled after the facilitation has occurred. All that information needs to be placed into a stipulated order and submitted via e-filing.
Page 1 | Settlement Conferences
After a motion is decided and not taken under advisement, its order must be submitted electronically immediately.
After a motion has been heard by the Court and a ruling has been made (other than a motion taken under advisement), the parties shall prepare and submit an order immediately through e-filing.
Page 1 | Motions
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Witness lists must be supplied in sufficient number to the court and all counsel 14 days before trial.
Fourteen days before the trial date, supply witness lists in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Motions filed on the trial date will not be entertained absent good cause.
Motions on the day of trial will not be entertained except for good cause shown.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Deposition objections filed on the trial date will not be entertained absent good cause.
Objections to depositions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained except for good cause shown.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Motions in limine must be heard at least 14 days before trial.
All motions in limine are to be heard at least 14 days before the trial date.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Deposition objections with supporting law and argument must be submitted at least 14 days before trial, with responses filed 7 days before trial.
If depositions have objections therein, the parties shall submit to the Judge and opposing counsel no later than 14 days before trial date, the objections with supporting law including argument, with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel 7 days before the trial date.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
A summons-extension request must be submitted before the original summons expires.
Requests to extend the summons must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, and an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process with at least three (3) attempts of service. Requests must be submitted prior to the expiration of the original summons.
Page 1 | Extending Summons (2nd summons)
All motions in limine must be heard at least seven (7) days before trial.
ALL motions in limine need to be heard not less than seven (7) days before trial.
Page 1 | Motions in Limine
Opposing counsel may file responses to motions in limine within 5 days before the motion hearing.
The Court will allow opposing counsel to file their responses within 5 days before the motion hearing date.
Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Service and Proof of Service Rules
An alternate-service request must include a verified motion, proposed order, process-server affidavit, and postal verification of at least three service attempts on different days and times.
Requests for alternate service must be accompanied by a verified motion, proposed order, an affidavit of the process server showing reasonable efforts to make service of process, and a postal verification with at least three (3) attempts of service on different days and times.
Page 1 | Alternate Service
Filing Fees and Waivers
If a case evaluation hearing is scheduled within two weeks, the parties must pay a $150 adjournment fee before submitting the scheduling order for entry.
If a Case Evaluation Hearing has already been scheduled within two (2) weeks, the parties must pay the $150.00 adjournment fee prior to submitting the order for entry.
Page 1 | Scheduling orders
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
The court permits one 60-day extension of Discovery and Case Evaluation Order dates by party stipulation, with counsel preparing the stipulated order.
For the first request, Judge Faunce will permit a 60-day extension of the dates set forth in the Discovery and Case Evaluation Order by stipulation of the parties. Counsel to prepare stipulated order.
Page 1 | Scheduling orders
An adjournment request must be made by motion or stipulation, show good cause, state its grounds and proposed new date, and meet additional type-specific requirements.
Requests for adjournments may be made by motion or by stipulation and will only be granted upon showing of good cause. The grounds for the request and a proposed new day must be stated in the motion or proposed order. Adjournment of criminal pretrials and sentences must be approved by Prosecutor with stipulated order presented to Judge Faunce for final approval. Adjournment of criminal and civil trials must be made by motion.
Page 1 | Adjournments
Beginning January 13, 2026, criminal adjournments cannot be requested by phone and must be made in person without exception.
***NO ADJOURNMENTS OVER THE PHONE BEGINNING JANUARY 13, 2026*** **ANY ADJOURNMENT REQUESTS NEED TO BE MADE IN PERSON - NO EXCEPTIONS**
Page 1 | Criminal Cases
Criminal and civil trial adjournments must be requested by motion.
Adjournment of criminal and civil trials must be made by motion.
Page 1 | Adjournments
Subsequent scheduling-order extensions must be requested by motion and will be granted only for good cause.
Any Subsequent requests to extend the scheduling order dates must be made by motion and only will be granted upon a showing of good cause.
Page 1 | Scheduling orders
No adjournments are allowed unless the judge gives prior approval.
There shall be no adjournments unless given prior approval by the judge.
Page 1 | ORDER FOR FACILITATION
Facilitation generally must occur within 60 days unless good cause supports an extension.
The Court will generally require that facilitation occur within 60 days, unless good cause is shown for an extension.
Page 1 | Facilitative Mediation
Chambers Communication Rules
Counsel must email the judge’s secretary a copy of the jury instructions in Word format.
Email the Judge’s secretary a copy of the jury instructions in word format. (stefanie.hoover@macombgov.org)
Page 1 | ON THE DAY OF TRIAL