Of Fact - Note for Trial Docket: 

Per Local General Rule 1(A)(B)

  1. Any party desiring to bring any issue of fact to trial, except for cases governed by Case Schedule Order, shall file with the Clerk, deliver a copy to Court Administration and serve upon the other parties or their attorneys a Notice of Trial Setting and Certificate of Readiness (see link below) which shall contain:
    • Click HERE see a list of cases not governed by case schedule order.
      • the title for the court;
      • a brief title of the case;
      • the case number;
      • the nature of the case;
      • whether jury or non-jury;
      • whether there has been a 12-person jury demand;
      • whether a 6-person jury would be acceptable;
      • estimated trial time; the name, address, e-mail and telephone number of each attorney assigned to the case;
      • whether there should be a pre-trial conference; preferential trial dates or times; and
      • anything further that would assist the Court in setting a trial date, and shall be subscribed by the attorney filing the same.
    • Notice of Trial Setting and Certificate of Readiness
  2. An attorney noting a case for trial thereby:
    • certifies that the case is at issue;
    • that there has been a reasonable opportunity for discovery;
    • that discovery will be complete by the trial date;
    • that necessary witnesses will be available; and
    • that to his/her knowledge, no other parties will be served with a summons and no further pleadings will be filed prior to trial.
  3. The attorney noting the case for trial shall confer with all other counsel prior to noting the case for trial setting to determine if there is any objection to setting.
    1. If there is no objection, the attorney shall so certify on the notice of setting.
    2. If there is an objection and the setting attorney believes the objections to readiness are not justified, the attorney shall so indicate on the setting notice and the matter shall be noted on the civil motion docket to argue the matter of trial setting.
      • In the event all parties agree the case is ready for trial or will be ready for trial by a specific date, but have objections to particular dates, they shall notify Court Administration of unavailable dates within five (5) days after receiving the notice of trial setting.
  4. Assignment of Cases. 
    1. Court Administration to Assign Dates. Court Administration shall assign trial dates under the supervision of the Presiding Judge, who shall be in direct charge of the trial calendar. To the extent practical, cases shall be set chronologically according to the noting date, except for cases having statutory preference.
    2. Jury and Non-Jury Trials. Upon the serving and filing of a "Notice of Trial Setting and Certificate of Readiness," Court Administration shall forthwith assign a specific trial date and notify the Clerk and counsel of the date assigned. Cases set for trial shall be set for a pre-trial conference hearing by Court Administration.
    3. Advancing Trial Dates. Any case assigned a specific date may, at the discretion of the Presiding Judge, be advanced to an earlier date or may be reset if the court calendar permits. Notice shall be given at least five (5) days prior to the new trial date assigned.

[Updated September 1, 2024; Updated format only April 22, 2025]