Judge Melba D. Marsh
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Adjournments
- Counsel must provide a valid and necessary reason for a continuance.
Request must include
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
At pretrial, attorneys should give the court a hard copy of the pretrial statement, jury instructions, and an electronic copy in Word or WordPerfect of these documents.
Document Filing Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory
At pretrial, attorneys should give the court a hard copy of the pretrial statement, jury instructions, and an electronic copy in Word or WordPerfect of these documents.
DocumentPretrial Statement And Jury Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Important
As mentioned above, a pretrial statement should be delivered on the pretrial date.
DocumentPretrial Statement
Filing & Service rules
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Counsel must provide a valid and necessary reason for a continuance.
Counsel must provide valid and necessary reason for continuances.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Calendaring/Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
For a criminal matter, attorneys should contact the room prosecutor before reporting to the bailiff.
For criminal matters, contact the room prosecutor before reporting to the bailiff.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Courtroom Etiquette
On arrival in the courtroom for a civil matter, attorneys should report to the law clerk.
When attorneys arrive in the courtroom, they should report to the law clerk for civil matters.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Courtroom Etiquette
After filing a civil motion, contact the law clerk and schedule a hearing date with opposing counsel.
Contact the law clerk after the civil motion is filed and schedule a date for hearing with opposing counsel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Attorneys with specific concerns should call before their trial date.
Attorneys should call in advance of their trial date if they have specific concerns.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Trial
If a case is in progress, attorneys should wait until an appropriate time to report.
If a case is in progress, please wait to report until an appropriate time.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026
Page 1 | Courtroom Etiquette
For criminal continuances, first contact the room prosecutor and then the bailiff.
For criminal matters, contact the room prosecutor initially and then the bailiff.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Calendaring/Continuances
Civil motions are generally set for the afternoon but may be canceled or postponed when a trial is in progress.
Civil motions are generally scheduled in the afternoon, but are subject to cancellation or postponement if a trial is in progress.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Contact the bailiff to set the date and time for a criminal motion.
Contact the bailiff to set the date and time.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
For civil continuances, first contact opposing counsel and provide the law clerk with a proposed date.
For civil matters, contact opposing counsel initially and provide the law clerk with proposed date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Calendaring/Continuances
Criminal motions are scheduled in the morning.
Criminal motions are scheduled in the mornings.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
The court occasionally sets aside days for civil motion hearings.
Occasionally, days are set aside for hearing civil motions.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Civil motions may also be scheduled in the morning on days set aside for motion hearings.
On those days, motions may be scheduled in the morning also.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice