CHAMBERS PROCEDURES
FOR
JUDGE BERNARD M. JONES
I. Introduction
In addition to the procedures set forth below, I expect counsel and pro se parties to comply
with the federal and local rules of procedure, the Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual,
District Court’s General Orders, and any other information available on the District Court’s
website (www.okwd.uscourts.gov). For pro se parties, this includes the Pro Se Guide available on
the website. All counsel should pay close attention to the requirements for entries of appearance
and disclosure statements.
II. Communication protocols
All requests made of the Court, or notifications regarding a case, shall be made in writing
and filed in the proper manner. Telephone communication will not suffice. If a procedural
question must be raised, you should contact Courtroom Deputy D. Wayne Lee at 405-609-5042 or
[email protected].
III. Discovery matters in civil cases
As a general matter, I expect the parties to resolve discovery disputes without the Court’s
intervention and I will not hesitate to award attorney fees or impose other sanctions if I find that
discovery disputes have unnecessarily wasted judicial resources. I strictly adhere to the
requirements of the federal and local rules that counsel personally meet and confer in good faith
to resolve discovery disputes without court involvement. If I do set a hearing for a discovery
dispute, I may require counsel to meet and confer again prior the hearing.
IV. Scheduling in civil cases
The interval between the deadline for dispositive and Daubert motions and the trial docket
is relatively inflexible, and you should not assume that a motion to extend a deadline – or the time
for responding to such a motion – will be granted. You must make a strong showing and mere
failure to do your discovery earlier in the case usually will not justify an extension. Additionally,
any extension of deadlines related to such motions will likely also postpone the trial docket,
perhaps significantly, regardless of whether that was requested.
V. Settlement conferences
I strongly encourage mediation as a cost-effective means of resolving disputes at a
relatively early pretrial stage as it gives the parties an opportunity to make a serious attempt to
settle the case at a significantly earlier stage than the late stage at which judicial settlement
conferences are usually scheduled.
The judicial settlement conference, if one is held, shall be attended by lead trial counsel.
If lead counsel does not have full settlement authority, a party or representative with full settlement
authority must also attend. Do not plan to proceed as lead counsel at trial if you did not attend the
settlement conference.
VI. Pending motions
My Chambers is committed to the efficient resolution of outstanding controversies. To
assist in this commitment, I require the moving party to email my Courtroom Deputy D. Wayne
Lee at
[email protected] if any motion has been pending for more than ninety
(90) days after it is fully briefed.
VII. Proposed orders
The font for all proposed orders shall be Times New Roman, 12 point, and fully justified.
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Thank you for your cooperation.
BERNARD M. JONES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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