Judge Christian A. Jenkins
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Jury Instructions
Motion, Brief
Sentencing Memorandum
Adjournments
- The discovery deadline in the case management order may not be extended without prior Court approval.
- Extension, case-management-order modification, and continuance requests must be written; counsel should consult opposing counsel beforehand, and extension or continuance requests should propose a specific date, preferably agreed with opposing counsel.
- A trial date may be continued only by the Court and only in exceptional circumstances.
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
In addition to filing proposed jury instructions and interrogatories, the parties shall submit the same to the Court’s staff attorney in Word format.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
A proposed entry should be provided to the Court’s staff attorney in Word format via email at the time of filing of a civil motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Exhibits shall be bound and marked before trial and submitted to the Court prior to trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Exhibits shall be bound and marked before trial and submitted to the Court at one week prior to trial.
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
The parties are directed to confer to identify agreed and disputed jury instructions and to identify proposed instructions as such in their filings.
DocumentJury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Each party must file a pretrial statement no less than one week prior to the final pretrial. The final pretrial statement should provide the Court with a brief synopsis of the case, the status of any settlement negotiations, the expected length of trial including the number of potential witnesses, and any special issues or trial needs anticipated.
DocumentPretrial Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Counsel must confer to seek agreement on jury instructions, interrogatories, and the proposed introductory statement; filings should identify agreed and disputed instructions and interrogatories and provide authority for disputed proposals.
Counsel are directed to confer about proposed jury instructions and interrogatories, as well as a proposed introductory statement under Civ.R. 47(A), to reach agreement thereon to the extent possible. The parties’ filings should indicate which instructions and interrogatories are agreed and which are disputed, and provide supporting authority for proposed instructions and interrogatories that are disputed.
DocumentJury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
Each party shall include as one of their exhibits the curriculum vitae of any expert(s) that may be called to present evidence or testimony at trial for the use of the Court.
DocumentExhibits
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
The parties shall file any proposed stipulations no later than 14 days prior to trial.
DocumentStipulations
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
A proposed entry should be provided to the Court’s staff attorney in Word format via email at the time of filing of a civil motion.
DocumentMotion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Parties shall submit trial briefs and motions in limine no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.
DocumentTrial Brief
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Trial briefs are to include: a statement of the facts; a discussion of the controlling law; any stipulations; witness list along with a brief description of the subject matter of the testimony of each witness; exhibit list containing a brief description of each exhibit.
DocumentTrial Brief
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If any testimony is to be presented by videotape or deposition, objections shall be presented at least one week before trial. All deposition and video testimony shall be reviewed and edited prior to trial.
DocumentObjections
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Parties shall file trial briefs and proposed jury instructions and interrogatories no later than 14 days before trial.
DocumentTrial Brief
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Pursuant to Civ.R. 26, counsel are required to meet 21 days prior to the initial case management conference to develop a discovery plan. The Court’s suggested proposed discovery plan form is available here. If the parties cannot agree on an element of the proposed discovery plan, they should indicate their respective positions thereon. The proposed discovery plan should be filed 7 days prior to the initial case management conference.
Summary: Counsel must meet 21 days before the initial case management conference to develop a discovery plan, identify any disagreements in their respective positions, and file the plan 7 days before the conference.
DocumentDiscovery Plan
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The parties must file all proposed jury instructions at least 14 days before trial and email Word-format courtesy copies to the Court’s staff attorney.
The parties shall file all proposed jury instructions no later than 14 days prior to trial with courtesy copies to the Court’s staff attorney in Word format via email.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Jury Instructions
Sentencing memoranda are highly encouraged and should be filed at least 3 days before sentencing, with courtesy copies emailed to the Court and provided to opposing counsel.
Sentencing Memoranda are highly encouraged and should be filed with the Court no later than 3 days before the sentencing hearing. A courtesy copy should be provided to the court via email and to opposing counsel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Sentencing
A file-stamped courtesy copy of each civil motion and brief should be provided to the Court.
A file-stamped courtesy copy of motions and briefs filed in civil cases should be provided to the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Before filing a motion to compel, counsel must confer in good faith and, if the dispute remains unresolved, contact the staff attorney to arrange an informal court conference.
In the event of a discovery dispute, counsel are expected to comply with Rule 37(A)(1) by conferring in good faith to attempt to resolve the dispute. The Court expects all counsel to cooperate in such efforts through actual discussion. If a dispute cannot be resolved, counsel are expected to contact the Court’s staff attorney to arrange an informal conference with the Court. No motions to compel should be filed without first following this process.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery Issues
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
The discovery deadline in the case management order may not be extended without prior Court approval.
The case management order will set forth a discovery deadline. The parties cannot extend this deadline without prior Court approval.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery Issues
A trial date may be continued only by the Court and only in exceptional circumstances.
Trial dates are continued only in exceptional circumstances and only by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances
Extension, case-management-order modification, and continuance requests must be written; counsel should consult opposing counsel beforehand, and extension or continuance requests should propose a specific date, preferably agreed with opposing counsel.
All requests for extensions of time, modifications of case management orders and continuances must be made in writing. Counsel should contact opposing counsel prior to filing such a motion to determine whether the motion will be opposed. When requesting an extension or continuance, parties should provide the Court with a specific date for the continuance, preferably with the concurrence of opposing counsel.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
To schedule a hearing on a civil motion to withdraw as counsel, counsel must follow Local Rule 10(D) and call the staff attorney.
For motions to withdraw as counsel in civil cases, follow Local Rule 10(D) and call the Court’s staff attorney to schedule a hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Remote-appearance requests may be accommodated to the extent possible, and the staff attorney should be contacted sufficiently in advance to arrange them.
The Court will reasonably accommodate requests to appear by telephone or zoom to the extent possible. Contact the Court’s staff attorney sufficiently in advance to make needed arrangements if remote appearance is requested.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Remote Appearance
Civil oral argument is scheduled only on request or by Court direction, and counsel must contact opposing counsel before asking the staff attorney to schedule it.
Oral argument in a civil case is set only upon request or at the direction of the Court. Contact opposing counsel prior to contacting the Court’s staff attorney to request oral argument on a civil motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
An attorney who expects to be late must telephone the Bailiff in criminal matters or the Staff Attorney in civil matters in advance.
If an attorney is going to be late for a scheduled proceeding, the attorney is expected to telephone the Bailiff (criminal matters) or Staff Attorney (civil matters) in advance.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Punctuality