Chamber Procedures for Civil Cases: Judge Jodi W. Dishman
Issued January 24, 2025
Counsel and pro se parties are expected to diligently review and strictly adhere to the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure, Local Civil Rules, Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures Manual, and WDOK
General Orders. In addition, unless otherwise ordered by Judge Dishman, these procedures apply to all civil
matters:
1. Requests for Extension of Time and Extension of Scheduling Order:
a. Must be in writing.
b. Absent an emergency, any request for extension should be filed at least forty-eight hours
before the scheduled deadline.
c. Must follow the standards outlined in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as interpreted
and applied by the Tenth Circuit, and must meet the requirements of LCvR6.3.
2. Pre-Motion Conferences: The Court strongly encourages pre-motion conferences in a good-faith
attempt to resolve the issue without Court intervention, even if not required by the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, Local Rules, or the Court’s scheduling order. For example, if a motion to dismiss is
an attack on the pleadings that can be cured by amendment, the Court strongly encourages the parties
to confer before filing such a motion and to advise the Court in the motion whether the parties have
conferred.
3. Motions for Protective Orders; Sealing; and Redacting: See separate guidance.
4. Discovery Disputes: The Court will generally order expedited briefing and, if necessary, set a
hearing on discovery disputes. If a hearing is set, the parties might be required to confer again
through counsel before the hearing. This second conference requirement does not excuse the
conference requirement under LCvR37.1 before a discovery motion is filed.
5. Daubert Motions: Motions challenging the testimony of experts shall be made by the deadline for
Daubert motions. The Court will strike Daubert motions filed as motions in limine.
6. Judicial Settlement Conferences:
a. If agreed and jointly requested, the Court does not need a motion. You may arrange by
contacting the Courtroom Deputy Nyssa Vasquez at
[email protected].
b. If opposed, please file a motion to explain why a settlement conference should be ordered.
c. The Court prefers that a settlement conference be requested at least thirty days before the
pretrial conference date. Pretrial conference dates typically will be set the week before trial.
7. Settlement: In addition to filings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, you may call chambers
and request an administrative closing order on behalf of the parties, absent case-specific special
circumstances (e.g., certain class actions, collective actions).
8. Advocacy: Federal courtroom advocacy opportunities are rare. To assist in the training of the next
generation of attorneys, the Court strongly encourages new or inexperienced attorneys to participate
in courtroom proceedings and conferences. The Court is amenable to having multiple attorneys
speak if it creates opportunities for junior lawyers.
9. Proposed orders: Times New Roman, 13 point, left justified.
