IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
STANDING ORDER REGARDING
CIVIL LITIGATION
This case has been assigned to Judge Leigh Martin May. These guidelines
are furnished to inform the parties and their counsel of the policies,
procedures, and practice, and to promote the just, speedy, and economical
disposition of cases. This order, in combination with the Local Rules of this
Court and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, shall govern this case,
superseding any previous case instruction orders.
SECTION PAGE
I. General matters………………………………………….................. .......................................................... 3
II. Case administration…………………………….………...…............ ........................................................ 3
a. Contacting chambers……………….…………………….. ................................................................. 3
b. Courtesy copies of documents………………………………… .................................................. 4
c. Attorneys………………………………………………………. ................................................................. 4
i. Admission of counsel pro hac vice……………................ ....................................... 4
ii. Electronic registration for all counsel…………................ ..................................... 4
iii. Leaves of absence…………………………………….…. ................................................... 5
iv. Withdrawal or substitution of counsel……….………….. ........................................ 5
v. Corporate representation……………..………………….. ................................................... 5
d. Pro se litigants…………………...…………………………… ......................................................... 6
III. Case management………………………………………………… ...................................................... 8
a. Extensions of time……………………………………………. ........................................................ 8
b. Page limits for objections to Magistrate Reports and Recommendations .................... 9
c. Page limit extensions....................................................................................................... 9
d. Stipulations ...................................................................................................................... 9
e. Legal citations .................................................................................................................. 9
f. Conferences…………………………………………………... ............................................................... 10
g. Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan.............................................................. 10
h. Discovery……………………………………………………... ................................................................. 11
i. General principles of discovery ……………………….... .......................................... 11
ii. Discovery responses: boilerplate and general objections.. ............................... 12
iii. Interrogatories……………………………………...…… ........................................................ 14
iv. Requests for production or inspection……..……….…… .......................................15
v. Requests for admission……………………………....…... ........................................... 16
vi. Depositions…………………...………………………… ......................................................... 17
i. Discovery disputes…...………………………………………. ............................................................. 18
j. Confidentiality agreements, protective orders, and motions to seal… ............................. 19
k. Electronic filing of exhibits and attachments………...……… ........................................... 21
l. Brief nomenclature ........................................................................................................ 22
m. Motions for temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction .......................... 22
n. Motions for summary judgment……………………………… ................................................ 22
o. Statements of material facts …………………...…….. ......................................................... 23
p. Requests for oral argument on motions………………………............................................... 23
q. Proposed orders............................................................................................................. 24
r. Pretrial conference……………………………………………. ............................................................ 24
s. Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law……………........................................... 25
t. Courtroom technology……………………………………… ............................................................. 26
u. Jury trial ........................................................................................................................ 26
i. Voir dire ............................................................................................................. 27
ii. Courtroom communications ............................................................................. 28
iii. Exhibits .............................................................................................................. 29
iv. Jury charge ........................................................................................................ 30
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I. GENERAL MATTERS
Attorneys and pro se litigants appearing in this court in civil litigation must
observe three sets of rules:
1. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules are available
at
http://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/current-rules-practice-
procedure.
2. The local rules of this District Court and Instructions
Regarding Pretrial Proceedings. The local rules of this Court are
available for downloading at
http://www.gand.uscourts.gov/local-rules. Various forms and
the Court’s pretrial instruction package are available at
http://www.gand.uscourts.gov/rules-standing-orders-forms.
3. The rules and practices of the district judge, and magistrate
judge if appropriate, assigned to your case, including this
standing order.
II. CASE ADMINISTRATION
a. Contacting Chambers
Brittany Poley, the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, is your principal point of
contact on matters related to this case. Communications with Ms. Poley should
be via email or in writing addressed as follows:
Honorable Leigh Martin May
ATTN: Brittany Poley
Courtroom Deputy Clerk
2167 United States Courthouse
75 Ted Turner Dr., SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-3309
[email protected]
If a telephone call is necessary, you may reach Ms. Poley at 404-215-1514
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(direct dial). Please note that Ms. Poley is often in the courtroom, so telephone
messages may not be returned for 24 hours. Neither the parties nor their counsel
should discuss the merits of the case with Ms. Poley or any of the Court’s law
clerks.
b. Courtesy Copies of Documents
Parties frequently forward copies of motions or other filings directly
to chambers for the Court’s convenience. Courtesy copies are not required. If
parties want to send courtesy copies, they can be hand-delivered to chambers in
Room 2167 on the 21st floor of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building or
submitted via regular mail to the attention of the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at the
above-provided address. The courtesy copies provided shall be stamped filed with
the CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Filing) header.
c. Attorneys
i. Admission of Counsel Pro Hac Vice
In the event that lead counsel has been admitted pro hac vice, local
counsel is required to be familiar with the case and may be called upon to attend
hearings or participate in conferences on behalf of the lead counsel.
ii. Electronic Registration for All Counsel
All counsel—including counsel admitted pro hac vice—must register and
participate in the Court’s electronic filing system, CM/ECF. NDGa Standing
Order 04-01.
Pro se litigants are not part of the Court’s electronic filing system and should be
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served directly.
iii. Leaves of Absence
Counsel are encouraged to review their calendars and submit as early
as possible any requests for leave of absence. Leave requests shall comply
with Local Rule 83.1, NDGa. All requests for or notices of leaves of absence must
be electronically filed. Counsel should not mail or hand-deliver paper copies to
chambers.
iv. Withdrawal or Substitution of Counsel
It is counsel’s responsibility to keep the Court informed of any change of
status. Counsel should comply with Local Rule 83.1, NDGa, when substituting or
withdrawing as counsel. Counsel who do not comply with this Local Rule will not
be allowed to withdraw from the case until compliance is achieved. It is also
possible that counsel will not be allowed to withdraw depending on the status of
the case and the particular reasons for wanting to withdraw.
v. Corporate Representation
Corporate entities must be represented in court by an attorney. A
corporate officer may not represent the corporation unless that officer is also
licensed to practice law in the state of Georgia. Local Rule 83.1, NDGa, states:
a corporation may only be represented in court by an attorney,
that a[n] attorney must sign all pleadings submitted to the court,
and that a corporate officer may not represent the corporation in
court unless that officer is also an attorney licensed to practice
law in the state of Georgia, and that failure to comply with this
rule could result in a default being entered against the corporate
party.
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d. Pro Se Litigants
Parties proceeding pro se (without an attorney) are ADVISED that they
must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“Fed. R. Civ. P.”), as well
as the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Georgia (“LR, NDGa.”). Pro se parties may obtain certain basic materials and
hand-outs from the Office of the Clerk of Court located on the 22nd Floor of the
United States Courthouse, 75 Spring Street, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia. Many
documents are also available on the Court’s website at www.gand.uscourts.gov.
Pro se litigants also may utilize the Eleventh Circuit’s law library located in the
Elbert P. Tuttle U.S. Court of Appeals Building at 56 Forsyth Street, N.W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Counsel and parties representing themselves are prohibited from engaging
in ex parte communications with the Court or the Court’s staff. “Ex parte
communications” mean any form of contact with the Court outside the presence
of the opposing party or opposing party’s counsel. This includes, but is not
limited to, telephone calls, written correspondence, or in-person contact by one
party or party’s counsel. If counsel or a pro se litigant seeks court action, the
appropriate procedure is to put the request in writing, in the form of a motion,
file the motion with the Clerk’s office, and serve the opposing party or party’s
counsel. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; LR 5.1-5.2, NDGa; see also LR 7.4, NDGa.
(“Communications to judges seeking a ruling or order, including an extension of
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time, shall be by motion and not by letter. A letter seeking such action ordinarily
will not be treated as a motion.”).
The Clerk of Court and the U.S. Marshals Service will not serve documents
filed by either party, unless expressly directed to do so by the Court. The Court
will only direct the Clerk or the U.S. Marshals Service to serve in the following
instances: (1) in the event a plaintiff is granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis
(without prepayment of fees) and survives a frivolity review, the Court will direct
the Clerk to prepare (and deliver to the U.S. Marshals Service if necessary) a
service package containing the case initiating document(s), or (2) in exceptional
circumstances under the Court’s discretion. The National Association of
Professional Process Servers provides a search engine for locating process servers
across the nation at its website (www.napps.org). A pro se plaintiff is (1)
REQUIRED to provide the Clerk with an original of any further pleadings or
other papers filed with the Court after the Complaint, and (2) is further
REQUIRED to SERVE upon the defendant(s) or counsel for the defendant(s),
by mail or by hand delivery under Rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a
copy of every additional pleading or other paper described in Rule 5 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure.
Each pleading or paper described in Rule 5, including pleadings, papers
related to discovery required to be served, motions, notices, and similar papers,
shall include a certificate stating the date on which an accurate copy of that
pleading or document was mailed or hand-delivered to the defendant(s) or their
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counsel. This Court shall disregard any papers submitted which have not been
properly filed with the Clerk, or which do not include a certificate of service. Pro
se parties are also ADVISED that, under Local Rule 7, NDGa, “PLEADINGS
ALLOWED; FORM OF MOTIONS,” if the deadline for a response to a motion
passes without a response being filed, the motion is deemed unopposed. See LR
7.1B, NDGa. Furthermore, under Local Rule 56.1, NDGa, the failure by a
respondent to a motion for summary judgment to contest the movant’s statement
of material facts will be taken as an admission of those facts not objected to in
respondent’s statement.
Pro se parties are further REQUIRED to keep the Court advised of their
current address at all times during the pendency of the lawsuit. Local Rule
83.1D.(3), NDGa, provides that counsel and parties appearing pro se have, in all
cases, a duty to notify the Clerk's Office by letter of any change in address and/or
telephone number. Per this rule, “[a] failure to keep the clerk's office so informed
which causes a delay or otherwise adversely affects the management of a civil case
shall constitute grounds for dismissal without prejudice or entry of a judgment by
default.”
III. CASE MANAGEMENT
a. Extensions of Time
The Court, along with counsel for the parties, is responsible for
processing cases toward prompt and just resolutions. To that end, the Court
seeks to set reasonable but firm deadlines. Motions for extension, whether joint,
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unopposed, or designated as consent, will not be granted as a matter of course.
Parties seeking an extension should explain with specificity the unanticipated
or unforeseen circumstances necessitating the extension and should set forth a
timetable for the completion of the tasks for which the extension is sought.
Parties should indicate whether opposing counsel consents to the extension. A
proposed order should also be provided.
b. Page Limits for Objections to Magistrate Reports and
Recommendations
Objections and Responses to Objections shall be limited to fifteen pages,
absent special permission of the Court.
c. Page Limit Extensions
Parties seeking an extension of the page limit must do so at least five (5)
days in advance of their filing deadline and should explain with specificity the
reasons necessitating the extension. If a party files a motion to extend the page
limit at the same time his or her brief is due, the extension request will be denied
absent a compelling and unanticipated reason for violating the Rule. The Court
will also not consider any arguments made in pages which exceed the Local
Rules’ requirements.
d. Stipulations
Parties may not stipulate to extensions of time or additional pages. Instead,
the Court requires the parties to file a motion, as explained above.
e. Legal Citations
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Legal citations should be in Bluebook Bluepages form (i.e., citations should
appear in the text of a brief immediately following the propositions they support,
not in footnotes or endnotes).
f. Conferences
Scheduling, discovery, pre-trial, and settlement conferences promote the
speedy, just, and efficient resolution of cases. Therefore, the Court encourages
the parties to request a conference with the Court when counsel believes that a
conference will be helpful and counsel has specific goals for the conference.
Conferences may be requested by contacting the Courtroom Deputy Clerk.
g. Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan
Local Rule 16.1 provides that, prior to filing the Joint Preliminary Report
and Discovery Plan, lead counsel for all parties are required to confer in an effort
to settle the case, discuss discovery, limit issues, and discuss other matters
addressed in the Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan. LR 16.1, NDGa.
With respect to deadlines addressed in the Report, the Court requires
specific due dates to be provided. For example, the parties should set forth in the
proposed Scheduling Order submitted with the Report the dates for the end of
discovery based on the track set forth by the Court for the category of case
involved, for the filing of dispositive motions, and for the filing of the Pre-Trial
Order.
In certain cases, the Court may schedule a Rule 16 conference. Whether a
conference will be scheduled generally will be determined after the Court reviews
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the Joint Preliminary Report and Discovery Plan filed by the parties. The Court
will typically schedule a conference if any party so requests.
h. Discovery
Initial disclosures should be as complete as possible based upon
information reasonably available. Responses may not be reserved for later
supplementation.
i. General Principles of Discovery
Counsel and pro se litigants should be guided by courtesy, candor, and
common sense, and should conform to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the
Local Rules, and applicable orders in conducting discovery. In particular, counsel
and pro se litigants should have in mind the restrictions on the scope of discovery
stated in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b) and the good faith obligations implicit in Rule
26(g). Direct and informal communication between counsel is encouraged to
facilitate discovery and resolve disputes. In this regard, the Court refers counsel
and parties to the guidance offered by the district court for the Central District of
California in O’Connor v. Boeing North American, Inc., 185 F.R.D. 272, 284 (C.D.
Cal. 1999):
The Court would like to take this opportunity to address the
parties and their counsel, to stress that “[t]he discovery system
depends absolutely on good faith and common sense from counsel.
The courts, sorely pressed by demands to try cases promptly and
to rule thoughtfully on potentially case dispositive motions,
simply do not have the resources to police closely the operation
of the discovery process. The whole system of [c]ivil adjudication
would be ground to a virtual halt if the courts were forced to
intervene in even a modest percentage of discovery transactions.
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That fact should impose on counsel an acute sense of responsibility
about how they handle discovery matters. They should strive to be
cooperative, practical and sensible, and should turn to the courts
(or take positions that force others to turn to the courts) only in
extraordinary situations that implicate truly significant interests.”
(Citations omitted).
All discovery must be served early enough so that the responses thereto are
due on or before the last day of the discovery period. Requests for extension of
the discovery period or deadlines within the discovery period must be made in
accordance with Local Rule 26.2B, NDGa. All requests for extensions of the
discovery period must be made via motion and must state: (1) the original (and if
applicable, current) date from which the extension is being sought; (2) the
number of previous requests for extensions, if any; (3) whether these previous
requests were granted or denied; and (4) whether the adversary consents, and if
not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent. An agreed upon or
consent motion to extend the discovery period or deadlines therein should be
clearly designated as a consent motion. Motions must be filed prior to the
expiration of the existing discovery period. The Court does not allow evidence at
trial which was requested and not revealed during the discovery period.
Counsel should be aware that the Court is not hesitant to sanction a party
and/or counsel for abusing the discovery process.
ii. Discovery Responses: Boilerplate and General
Objections
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 33(b)(4) and 34(b) (2)(B) prohibit
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boilerplate and general objections in response to discovery requests. Parties
should not carelessly invoke the usual litany of rote objections, i.e., attorney-
client privilege, work-product immunity from discovery, overly broad/unduly
burdensome, irrelevant, not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of
admissible evidence.
A party shall not include in his response to a discovery request a
“Preamble” or a “General Objections” section stating that the party objects to the
discovery request “to the extent that” it violates some rule pertaining to
discovery, e.g., the attorney-client privilege, the work product immunity from
discovery, the requirement that discovery requests be reasonably calculated to
lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, and the prohibition against
discovery requests that are vague, ambiguous, overly broad, or unduly
burdensome. Instead, each individual discovery request must be met with every
specific objection thereto—but only those objections that actually apply to that
particular request. Otherwise, it is impossible for the Court or the party upon
whom the discovery response is served to know exactly what objections have
been asserted to each individual request. All such general objections shall be
disregarded by the Court.
Finally, a party who objects to a discovery request but then responds to the
request must indicate whether the response is complete, i.e., whether additional
information or documents would have been provided but for the objection(s).
FED. R. CIV. P. 34(b)(2)(C). For example, in response to an interrogatory, a party
13
is not permitted to raise objections and then state, “Subject to these objections
and without waiving them, the response is as follows . . .” unless the party
expressly indicates whether additional information would have been included in
the response but for the objection(s).
iii. Interrogatories
The parties are expected to observe the limitations regarding the number
and scope of interrogatories as stated in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b) and 33. Counsel’s
or a pro se litigant’s signature on the interrogatories constitutes a certification
of compliance with those limitations. Interrogatories should be brief,
straightforward, neutral, particularized, and capable of being understood by
jurors when read in conjunction with the answer. Ordinarily, they should be
limited to requesting objective facts, such as the identification of persons or
documents, dates, places, transactions, and amounts. Argumentative
interrogatories, attempts to cross-examine, and multiple repetitive interrogatories
are objectionable.
The parties are directed to consult Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
26(b) and 33(b)-(d) about the permissible scope of discovery and objections.
Counsel’s or a pro se litigant’s signature on the answer constitutes a
certification of compliance with the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(g).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(3) requires the respondent to provide separate written
answers to each interrogatory unless it is objected to. If an objection is made, the
reason(s) for the objection shall be stated and the interrogatory is to be answered
14
to the extent it is not objectionable. When in doubt about the meaning of an
interrogatory, give it a reasonable interpretation (which may be specified in the
response) and answer it so as to provide rather than deny information. Generally,
the responding party is required to produce information only in the form in
which it is maintained or is available. If an answer is made by reference to a
document, attach it or identify it and make it available for inspection.
Generalized cross-references, such as to a deposition, are not acceptable answers.
If an objection is based on privilege, the claim of privilege must be
supported by a statement of particulars sufficient to enable the Court to assess
its validity. In the case of a document, such a statement should specify the
privilege relied on and include the date, title, description, subject, and purpose of
the document, the name and position of the author, and the addresses of other
recipients. In the case of a communication, the statement should include the
privilege relied on and the date, place, subject, and purpose of the
communication and the names and positions of all persons present. See Fed. R.
Civ. P. 26(b)(5).
iv. Requests for Production or Inspection
Please consult Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b) and 34 about the permissible scope
of discovery and objections. To the extent possible, requests should specify
with particularity the title and description of documents or records
requested. (Information needed for specification can often be obtained by
informal discovery, deposition, or interrogatories, if necessary.) The certification
15
requirement of Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(g) applies.
When responding to requests, materials (including electronically stored
information) should be produced in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b)(2)(E).
All documents should be Bates-numbered or labeled with a unique identifier on
each page. Documents should be produced either (1) with labels corresponding
to the categories in the specific requests to which they respond, or (2) in a
format where it is clear which document is responsive to each particular request.
Opening a warehouse for inspection by the requesting party, burying the
responsive documents in a mass of materials, and similar procedures do not
meet the good faith requirements of the rules. The certification procedure of
Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(g) is applicable.
v. Requests for Admission
Requests for admission are an economical and efficient means of
narrowing issues and making a record of informal exchanges of information,
stipulations, and matters subject to judicial notice. Each request should be brief,
clear, simple, addressed to a single point and stated in neutral, non-
argumentative words. Requests ordinarily should deal with only objective facts.
They may be combined with interrogatories to ask for the factual basis of a claim
or a denial. The counsel’s or pro se litigant’s signature certifies compliance with
FED. R. CIV. P. 26(g). FED. R. CIV. P. 36(a)(4) requires that a response specifically
deny a matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the party cannot admit or
deny. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the request, and when good faith
16
requires, a party shall specify so much as is true and qualify or deny the
remainder. The responding party has a duty to make reasonable inquiry before
responding.
vi. Depositions
Barring extraordinary circumstances, opposing counsel and pro se
litigants should be consulted, and the convenience of counsel, witnesses, and
the parties accommodated, before a deposition is noticed.
When counsel or a party enter into stipulations at the beginning of a
deposition, the terms of the stipulation should be fully stated on the record of
the deposition.
Questions should be brief, clear, and simple. A deposition should not be
used to harass or intimidate a witness.
Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(c)(2), objections to the manner of taking the
deposition, to the evidence, or to the conduct of a party shall be noted on the
record, but the evidence objected to shall be taken subject to the objection. In the
absence of a good faith claim of privilege, instructions not to answer are rarely
justified and may lead to sanctions under Fed. R. Civ. P. 37. Speaking objections
and other tactics for coaching a witness during the deposition are not
permissible. If counsel or a pro se litigant believes that a motion to terminate or
limit the examination under Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(d) would be warranted or that
counsel is obstructing the deposition to the extent that sanctions or another
deposition will be requested, counsel and/or the pro se litigant should promptly
17
initiate a conference call to the Court with opposing counsel for a conference to
attempt to resolve the problem. The Court prefers handling such situations with a
conference call rather than a later motion.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(4) should be consulted regarding expert disclosures.
Experts who are prospective witnesses are normally produced for deposition by
the opposing party as a matter of course.
The parties are expected to observe the limitations on depositions specified
in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b) and 30 and, in particular, to avoid unnecessary
depositions.
i. Discovery Disputes
Prior to the filing of a discovery motion (except for unopposed, consent,
or joint motions to extend the discovery period), the parties should email the
Courtroom Deputy Clerk to request a conference with the Court, as the
Court requires the parties to submit their discovery disputes to the Court before
formal motions to compel or for a protective order are filed. The movant, after
conferring with the respondent in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute by
agreement, must send Ms. Poley (with a copy to all counsel of record) a one-page
email summarizing the dispute and the relief sought. If the matter is time-
sensitive, the movant should make that clear in the email. The Courtroom Deputy
Clerk will provide the parties with the avenue by which they may brief the Court
on the dispute (generally short, emailed statements), then she will schedule a
conference with the Court following the conclusion of the briefing if the Court
18
finds that a conference would be helpful. If the dispute involves an interrogatory
or request for production, the text of the request at issue shall be provided in
the statement or attached thereto. These disputes are often resolved in a
conference with the Court, thus avoiding a delay of discovery. The conference
will be recorded by a court reporter. Motions to compel, to quash a subpoena, for
a protective order, or for sanctions ordinarily should NOT be filed without a
prior conference with the Court.
In addition, if any party has a dispute with a non-party (e.g., regarding a
subpoena), the party and the non-party must follow these instructions, and the
party must promptly inform the non-party of this discovery-dispute policy. If the
non-party requires the Court’s involvement in resolving the dispute, it should not
file a motion, but rather, should follow the procedure detailed in the two
preceding paragraphs.
If a bona fide dispute arises during a deposition that the parties cannot
resolve despite a good-faith effort to do so, counsel should not hesitate to call the
Court (404-215-1514 or 404-215-1510). The Court is usually available by
telephone to resolve objections and disputes that arise during depositions.
j. Confidentiality Agreements, Protective Orders, and
Motions to Seal
The Court eschews the excess use of consent protective confidentiality
orders that allow counsel to designate documents, tangible things, and
information as “Confidential” and/or “Confidential—For Attorney’s Eyes Only.”
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While the Court recognizes the legitimacy of such orders in some cases, the
Court’s experience is that such orders are used—and abused—more often than
truly necessary. The Court is aware that the parties will at times agree to
designate documents as “confidential.” However, the Court will not approve
consent protective orders that conflict with the Court’s view on the sealing of
materials.
As a guide to counsel, the Court notes that documents, tangible things, and
information ordinarily are not truly confidential unless they constitute either (1)
a “trade secret,” as defined by Section 1(4) of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, or
for cases applying Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 10-1-761(4); (2) personal identifying
information, such as a Social Security number; or (3) personal health information
protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Counsel
should also be aware that the Court is not hesitant to sanction a party and/or
counsel for abusing a protective confidentiality order by too readily designating
documents, tangible things, and/or information as “Confidential” and/or
“Confidential—For Attorney’s Eyes Only.”
If the parties find that a confidentiality agreement or protective order
is necessary, the parties must follow the practice for filing and sealing
documents as described in the Court’s Procedure for Electronic Filing Under Seal
in Civil Cases, and must include this provision in any proposed agreement or
protective order submitted for the Court’s consideration:
Any documents (including briefs), tangible things, or information
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designated as Confidential that are submitted to the Court in support
of or in opposition to a motion or introduced at a hearing or during
trial may retain their protected confidential status only by
compliance with the Court’s Procedures for Electronic Filing Under
Seal in Civil Cases.
For documents filed other than during a hearing or trial, as a general
matter, this Court will seal only those items enumerated in the Court's Standing
Order 04-02 regarding sensitive information and public access to electronic
case files. Absent extraordinary circumstances making prior consultation
impractical or inappropriate, the party seeking to file the documents shall first
consult with the counsel for the party who designated the document as
confidential to determine if some measure less restrictive than filing the
document under seal may serve to provide adequate protection.
As further clarification, the Court notes that a mere reference or discussion
of confidential information does not warrant sealing of the entire document and
all attachments to be filed. Instead, the Court is only interested in sealing (or
filing in a redacted format) very specific portions of documents that contain or
refer to confidential information. The parties should refrain from sealing an
entire document when only certain information is confidential.
In addition, the Court will normally not seal documents used in open court
at a hearing or trial absent extraordinary circumstances.
k. Electronic Filing of Exhibits and Attachments
The parties should make every effort to label all electronically uploaded
exhibits and attachments according to their content to assist the Court in making
21
its ruling. For example, documents should be uploaded as Ex. A: Smith
Deposition, Ex. B: Employment Contract, and Ex. C: Jones Letter, rather than Ex.
A, Ex. B, and Ex. C.
l. Brief Nomenclature
Briefs should be titled on CM/ECF as follows: The initial brief of a movant
should be titled “Brief in Support of [state the motion].” The brief of the
responding party should be titled “[name of respondent]’s Response in
Opposition to [state the motion].” The reply of the moving party should be titled
“Reply in Support of [state the motion].” Though surreplies should not be filed in
the normal course, if the Court authorizes a surreply, it should be titled “[name of
party filing the surreply]’s Surreply to [name of motion].”
m. Motions for Temporary Restraining Order or
Preliminary Injunction
Any request for a temporary restraining order or for preliminary injunctive
relief must be made by a separate motion. A request for a temporary restraining
order or preliminary injunction found only in the complaint will not be
considered. After filing an appropriate motion, the movant must contact Ms.
Poley to request expedited consideration.
n. Motions for Summary Judgment
All citations to the record evidence should be contained in each party’s
brief, not just in the party’s statement of undisputed (or disputed) facts. If citing a
document that has previously been docketed, the party’s citation should include
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the number of the docket entry where the document appears. Pinpoint citations
should provide the page number stamped by the Court’s electronic filing system
on the heading of the docketed document. For example: Dkt. No. [100] at 20.
The party should include in the brief, immediately following a deposition
reference, a citation indicating the page and line numbers of the transcript where
the referenced testimony can be found. The party should also attach to the brief a
copy of the specific pages of the deposition that are referenced in the brief. The
party should not attach to the brief a copy of the entire deposition transcript. The
entire deposition transcript is to be filed separately under a notice of filing
original deposition transcript.
o. Form of Statement of Material Facts
In addition to following the form instructions set out in Local Rule 56.1(B),
NDGa, a party responding to a statement of material facts shall copy into its
response document the numbered statement to which it is responding and
provide its response to that statement immediately following. A party that
chooses to reply to a response that raises additional facts (pursuant to Local Rule
56.1(B)(3), NDGa), shall (1) copy into its reply document its original numbered
statement of material fact and the opposing party's response, and then (2)
provide its reply to that statement immediately following. Each party shall file its
documents in a text-searchable PDF format. Statements of material fact that do
not conform with these instructions will be returned to counsel for revision.
p. Requests for Oral Argument on Motions
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In accordance with Local Rule 7.1(E), motions are usually decided
without oral argument, but the Court will consider any request for hearing. If
oral argument is requested, the party or parties should specify the particular
reasons argument may be helpful to the Court and what issues will be the
focus of the proposed argument.
Moreover, the Court shall grant a request for oral argument on a contested
substantive motion if the request states that a lawyer of less than five years out of
law school will conduct the oral argument (or at least a large majority), it being
the Court’s belief that new lawyers need more opportunities for Court
appearances than they usually receive.
q. Proposed Orders
For all consent, unopposed, or joint motions, the filing party shall include a
proposed order granting the motion.
r. Pretrial Conference
The Court will conduct a pretrial conference prior to trial. The purpose
of the conference is to simplify the issues to be tried and to rule on
evidentiary objections raised in the pretrial order.1 Parties should bring to
the conference a copy of the proposed pretrial order and attachments thereto, as
well as any outstanding motions.
1 Local Rule 16.4, NDGa contains a detailed explanation of what should be in the
pretrial order.
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Unless otherwise directed, all motions in limine shall be filed at least
fourteen (14) days before the pretrial conference. Briefs in opposition to motions
in limine should be filed at least seven (7) days before the pretrial conference.
The motions in limine and responses shall take the form of a consolidated
pleading.
The attorneys for all parties are further directed to meet together by
agreement, initiated by counsel for the plaintiff, no later than ten (10) days
before the date of the pretrial conference to:
a. discuss settlement; and,
b. stipulate to as many facts and issues as possible.
In accordance with Local Rule 26.2C, Daubert motions must be filed no later
than the date the proposed pretrial order is submitted. Briefs in opposition must
be filed within fourteen (14) days following the Daubert motion, and reply briefs
must be filed seven (7) days thereafter.
s. Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
When counsel is required to submit proposed findings of fact and
conclusions of law, the parties should confer and provide the court a single,
unified set of proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. In other words,
the Court requires a consolidated set of proposed findings to which all parties
agree. Following the agreed upon proposed findings, the parties should include
their proposed findings to which opposing counsel objects. Where a proposed
finding is not agreed upon, the parties should indicate who is proposing the
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finding, the legal or factual basis for the proposed finding, and the other party’s
objection to the proposed finding. The Court should be able to work out of one
document, not a myriad of filings on the docket.
In addition to electronically filing the consolidated proposed findings,
counsel should provide an electronic copy thereof (in Microsoft Word format) to
the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Ms. Poley at Brittany_Poley@ gand.uscourts.gov.
t. Courtroom Technology
Our courtroom has various electronic equipment for use by counsel at
trial. For more information on the equipment, or to schedule an opportunity to
test the equipment, please contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk, Ms. Poley at
[email protected] or 404-215-1514. It is the parties’
responsibility to make sure they know how to use the equipment available, to
have the cables necessary to hook up their equipment, and to ensure that their
equipment will interface with the Court’s technology.
Any party or counsel without a blue attorney ID card issued through the
U.S. Marshals Service who would like to bring in the courthouse electronic
equipment, such as a laptop computer or cellphone with a camera, must file a
proposed order in the case allowing the same. The proposed order should identify
the electronic equipment, specify the date(s) of the hearing or trial to which the
party or counsel desires to bring the equipment, and identify the courtroom to
which the equipment will be brought. This should be done not less than three (3)
business days prior to the hearing or trial, to allow for proper notification to the
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U.S. Marshals Service.
u. Jury Trial
The Court usually is in session from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There will be
a ten (10) minute recess mid-morning and again mid-afternoon, as well as a
lunch break.
When the jury is in the courtroom, it is the Court’s and the litigants’
responsibility to use the jury’s time efficiently. If matters need to be taken up
outside the presence of the jury, they should be raised during breaks or before the
start of the trial day. It is each party’s responsibility to have enough witnesses on
hand for each day’s proceedings.
i. Voir Dire
Proposed voir dire questions shall be filed with the pretrial order as
provided in LR 16.4(B), NDGa.
During voir dire, the Court will ask certain qualifying questions and
request the jurors to verbally respond to a printed juror questionnaire
(containing general questions regarding their residence, occupation, education,
recreational activities, prior jury service and children, if applicable). The Court’s
printed juror questionnaire is attached as Exhibit A.
The Court will then permit the attorneys to ask voir dire questions–as
previously approved by the Court. All challenges for cause will be heard at the
close of the questioning of all jurors.
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There will be a fifteen (15) minute break at the conclusion of juror
questioning to give all the attorneys time to review their notes prior to striking
the jury.
In all civil cases, eight jurors will be selected to deliberate for cases
expected to last one week or less. The Court may empanel additional jurors for
cases expected to last more than one week. The number to empanel will be
determined after receiving input from the parties.
ii. Courtroom Communications
To assist the Court Reporter, all communications to the Court should be
made before a microphone from a position at counsel table or from the lectern.
Counsel should refrain from making disparaging remarks or displaying ill
will toward other counsel and from causing or encouraging any ill feeling among
the litigants. Counsel and litigants are to refrain from making gestures, facial
expressions, or audible comments as manifestations of approval or disapproval of
testimony, argument, or rulings by the Court.
Only one attorney per party may object to the testimony of a witness being
questioned by an opposing party. The objection must be made by the attorney
who has conducted or is to conduct the examination of the witness.
Examination of a witness should be limited to questions addressed to the
witness. Counsel and witnesses are to refrain from making extraneous
statements, comments, or remarks during examination.
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Offers or requests for stipulations should be made privately, not within the
hearing of the jury.
Counsel should refrain from putting any matter before the jury in the form
of a question that counsel knows or expects will be subject to an objection that is
likely to be sustained. Such matters should be taken up with the Court outside the
presence of the jury.
Counsel should not ordinarily make motions in the presence of the jury.
Such matters may be raised at the first recess or at sidebar. A motion for mistrial
must be made immediately, but the Court may require argument at the next
recess or excuse the jury. When making an objection, counsel shall state only the
legal basis of the objections (e.g., “leading” or “hearsay”) and should not
elaborate, argue, or refer to other evidence unless asked to do so by the Judge.
Counsel are prohibited from addressing comments or questions to each
other. All arguments, objections, and motions should be addressed to the Court.
The Court expects five (5) to six (6) hours of testimony per day in jury trials
and will not allow sidebar conferences or lengthy hearings outside the presence of
the jury to disrupt the orderly presentation of evidence.
iii. Exhibits
Arrangements with the Courtroom Deputy Clerk for the use of
chalkboards, view boxes, tripods, or other visual aids should be made sufficiently
in advance so that they may be set up while court is not in session.
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Exhibits must be examined and marked before trial in compliance with
Local Rule 16.4, NDGa. The parties should confer with the Courtroom Deputy
Clerk prior to the start of trial to determine how the Court will receive a copy of
the exhibits for use by the Judge on the bench during proceedings. Ordinarily, the
Court requests notebooks of exhibits to be provided on the first day of trial.
Because enlarged exhibits and demonstrative boards are often placed on an
easel in front of the jury and thus out of the Court’s view, it would be helpful if
counsel, when showing such an exhibit or board to the jury, would provide the
Court with a small (e.g., letter or legal-sized) copy of the exhibit or board so that
the Court can view its contents.
All papers intended for the Judge should be handed to the Courtroom
Deputy Clerk, who will pass them to the Judge. Counsel are not required to
obtain permission from the Judge to approach a witness in order to show the
witness an exhibit or other document.
iv. Jury Charges
Ordinarily, the Court will charge the jury before closing argument. The jury
will be provided with a written copy of the jury instructions. Requests to charge
and verdict forms shall be filed on CM/ECF no later than noon on the Friday
before the case is calendared or specially set for trial, unless otherwise ordered by
the Court. LR 51.1(A), NDGa. The parties must also email to the Courtroom
Deputy Clerk in Microsoft Word format an electronic copy of the proposed jury
instructions.
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These jury instructions shall be a single, unified set of proposed jury
instructions. In other words, the Court requires a consolidated set of jury
instructions to which all parties agree. Following the agreed upon jury
instructions, the parties should include their instructions to which opposing
counsel objects. Where an instruction is not agreed upon, the parties should
indicate who is proposing the instruction and the legal basis for the instruction
and for the other party’s opposition to the instruction. The jury will be provided
with a written copy of the jury charge.
Counsel must use the Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions and
O’Malley’s Federal Jury Practice and Instructions, if applicable. If state law
applies, counsel shall present the appropriate pattern instruction from the
applicable state.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 15th day of September, 2021.
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Exhibit A: BACKGROUND JURY QUESTIONS
1. State your name.
2. In what city and county do you live?
a. How long have you lived there?
b. What was your previous city and county of residence and how long
did you live there?
3. What is your present occupation?
a. Please tell us the name of the company where you work.
b. Do you have hiring or firing authority?
c. If you have worked there for less than 5 years, for whom did you
work before your current employer?
4. If you are not currently employed, what kind of work did you do and where
did you work before you retired or left employment?
5. Are you married or have a live-in partner? If so, please answer:
a. What does your spouse or live-in partner do?
b. Who is your spouse's or live-in partner’s employer? Please name any
employer(s) over the past 5 years.
6. Do you have children, including stepchildren?
a. If you have adult-aged children (21 or over), what do they do and
where do they work? Please name any employer(s) over the past 5
years.
7. Describe your educational background.
8. Have you ever served in the military? If so, please describe your military
service.
9. Do you belong to any social, civil, political or religious organizations?
10. Have you ever served on a trial jury or appeared as a witness at a trial
before? If so, please answer:
a. What kind of case?
b. Where and when?
c. If you served on a jury, did the jury reach a verdict?
d. Were you the foreperson of the jury?
11. Have you ever served on a grand jury before? If so, in what court?
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