Judge M. David Weisman
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Motions In Limine
- 2 copies
Pretrial Order
- 2 copies
Adjournments
- Requests for expedited transcripts or real-time reporting must be made at least 7 days before trial.
- Parties must meet and confer 7 days before Pretrial Order due date.
Communication
Chambers
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Any trial briefs shall be limited to 15 pages without leave of court.
Trial Brief
15 pages
Applies to: Attorney
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
Proposed instructions that are not agreed shall be numbered, shall identify the proponent of the instruction, and shall include supporting authority.
DocumentPretrial Order
Plaintiff's counsel must provide Pretrial Order draft to defendant's counsel 21 days before due date.
Plaintiff's counsel has the responsibility to prepare the initial draft of the Pretrial Order and must provide a draft to defendant's counsel no later than twenty-one days before the date the Pretrial Order is due.
DocumentPretrial Order
For a jury trial, proposed jury instructions are to be in Word and included both in the written Pretrial Order and electronic form (emailed to the Proposed Order Box).
DocumentPretrial Order
Trial briefs required for bench trials; rarely accepted for jury trials without prior motion or court order.
Trial briefs are required as part of the Pretrial Order in bench trials. Ordinarily, Judge Weisman will not accept trial briefs in a jury trial, unless he has granted a prior motion to file such a brief or ordered the filing of a trial brief sua sponte.
DocumentPretrial Order
The Pretrial Order should be filed on the CM/ECF system with a cover page with the case caption and the title FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER. The cover document must: (a) recite that each of the foregoing categories of materials is included, (b) state that “This Order will control the course of trial and may not be amended except by consent of the parties, or by order of the Court to prevent manifest injustice,” and (c) provide spaces for the signature of counsel for each of the parties and the Court.
DocumentPretrial Order
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are to be in Word and included both in the written Pretrial Order and in electronic form (emailed to the Proposed Order box).
DocumentPretrial Order
Objections to any proposed instructions must be set forth in writing and shall include supporting authority.
DocumentPretrial Order
Agreed proposed instructions should be marked as such and shall be numbered consecutively.
DocumentPretrial Order
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
One original and one copy of Final Pretrial Order must be delivered to chambers.
An original and one copy of the Final Pretrial Order shall be delivered to chambers.
Civil cases
Two courtesy copies of motions in limine must be delivered to chambers.
Two courtesy copies of any motions in limine shall be delivered to chambers in accordance with the Local Rules.
Civil cases
Filing Bundling Requirements
These motions and responses should not be bound with the Pretrial Order. They should be filed separately on the CM/ECF system.
These motions and responses should not be bound with the Pretrial Order. They should be filed separately on the CM/ECF system.
Civil cases
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Parties must meet and confer 7 days before Pretrial Order due date.
The parties must meet and confer by no later than seven days before the Pretrial Order is due to discuss their respective drafts and to reach agreement to the extent possible.
Civil cases
Final pretrial conference must be scheduled at least 3 weeks before trial.
The Court will set a date for the final pretrial conference at least three weeks before trial.
Civil cases
Requests for expedited transcripts or real-time reporting must be made at least 7 days before trial.
Any requests for daily or other expedited transcripts and real-time reporting must be made at least seven days prior to trial so that an appropriate court reporter can be assigned to the trial.
Civil cases
Chambers Communication Rules
Lead trial counsel must attend final pretrial conference.
Lead trial counsel fully prepared and with authority to discuss all aspects of the case must attend.
Civil cases
Parties may use own projection systems with advance request.
Parties will be permitted to use their own projection systems (upon reasonable terms) if a request is made in advance of trial.
Civil cases
Evidence projection systems are limited and requests should be made to Courtroom Deputy.
The Court has a limited number of evidence projection systems which may or may not be available depending on how early a request is made. Any such request should be made to Judge Weisman's Courtroom Deputy.
Civil cases