Jefferson County Courts at Law Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

CRITICAL

Before a contested hearing is scheduled, each party’s attorney or representative must confer to try to resolve the disputed issues.

Before scheduling a case for a contested hearing, the attorneys or representative for each party shall confer in an attempt to amicably resolve the issues in controversy.

CRITICAL

A motion in limine must be prepared and served before the pre-trial conference and heard at or before it; counsel should assume later requests may be waived or denied if this is not done.

If a Motion in Limine is to be filed or if counsel desires to limine possible matters, a Motion in Limine shall be prepared and served on all counsel of record before the pre-trial conference. It is the responsibility of counsel to have such motions heard at or before the pre-trial conference. Counsel should assume that failure to do so will result in waiver or denial of later in-limine requests.

CRITICAL

Before any motion or contested matter is heard, the parties must make a good-faith attempt to resolve it by agreement.

Before any motion or other contested matter will be heard, the parties must make a good faith attempt to resolve the disputed matter by agreement.

CRITICAL

A motion, objection, or special exception may not be set for hearing unless moving counsel certifies in the filing or a letter that a merits conference was held and no agreement was reached, or explains why no conference was held.

(b) No motions, objections or special exceptions will be set for hearing unless the moving Counsel shall have certified, in such motion, or in a letter substantially the following: “A conference was held on (date) with (name of opposing Counsel) on the merits of this motion. Agreement could not be reached. Therefore, it is presented to the Court for determination.” or “A conference was not held with (name of opposing Counsel) on the merits of this motion because (explain why no conference was held).”

CRITICAL

Before seeking Court intervention in a discovery dispute, parties should make a good-faith attempt to resolve it.

The resolution of discovery dispute(s) will be expedited, to a substantial extent, by a good-faith attempt to resolve the problem before Court intervention.

CRITICAL

A motion to withdraw as counsel cannot be granted without a coordinator-set hearing; the defendant must be notified to attend docket call and must be present, or the bond will be forfeited, and the motion cannot be granted if the defendant is at large and cannot be notified.

These motions will not be granted without a hearing set by the coordinator, and the defendant must be notified that he or she must be present at the docket call. The defendant must be present so that he/she can be given time to hire another attorney. If the defendant does not appear, the bond will be forfeited. If the defendant is at large, the motion cannot be granted because obviously the defendant cannot be notified.

CRITICAL

Counsel must make every effort to confer and discuss resolution of disputed matters at least seven days before trial.

Every effort to confer and discuss resolution of disputed matters is to be made at least 7 days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

Before a contested hearing is scheduled, each party’s attorney or representative must confer to try to resolve the disputed issues amicably.

Before scheduling a case for a contested hearing, the attorneys or representative for each party shall confer in an attempt to amicably resolve the issues in controversy.

CRITICAL

Counsel must make every effort to confer and discuss resolution of disputed matters at least seven days before trial.

Every effort to confer and discuss resolution of disputed matters is to be made at least 7 days prior to trial.

CRITICAL

Objections to exhibits must be set for hearing no later than three days before trial and heard before trial or the objection is waived.

Objections must be set for hearing no later than 3 days prior to trial. Failure to have objections to exhibits heard prior to trial will result in waiver of objection.

CRITICAL

Before any motion or contested matter is heard, the parties must make a good-faith attempt to resolve the dispute by agreement.

A. CONFERENCE: Before any motion or other contested matter will be heard, the parties must make a good faith attempt to resolve the disputed matter by agreement.

WARNING

Pretrial motions are generally heard immediately before trial if presented; if the opponent needs time to reply, set a hearing with the coordinator and file the motion with the clerk, with such hearings set Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m.; contact the coordinator for a special setting.

Motions will generally be heard immediately before trial, if presented. If you will need time for your opponent to reply, set it for a hearing with the coordinator and file it with the clerk. Such motions will be set on Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m. If you need a special setting, see the coordinator.

WARNING

Counsel must use all reasonable means to discuss and resolve pretrial disputes to avoid judicial intervention.

(a) Counsel are directed to use all reasonable means to discuss and resolve pre-trial disputes to avoid the necessity of judicial intervention.

WARNING

Counsel are directed to use all reasonable means to discuss and resolve pretrial disputes before seeking judicial intervention.

(a) Counsel are directed to use all reasonable means to discuss and resolve pre-trial disputes to avoid the necessity of judicial intervention.

WARNING

Counsel must have Motions in Limine heard at or before the pre-trial conference and should expect later requests may be waived or denied if they do not.

It is the responsibility of counsel to have such motions heard at or before the pre-trial conference. Counsel should assume that failure to do so will result in waiver or denial of later in-limine requests.

WARNING

The resolution of discovery dispute(s) will be expedited, to a substantial extent, by a good-faith attempt to resolve the problem before Court intervention.

The resolution of discovery dispute(s) will be expedited, to a substantial extent, by a good-faith attempt to resolve the problem before Court intervention.

INFO

Motions to suppress evidence may be heard either during trial or pretrial.

These motions can be heard during trial or pretrial.