Hon. Richard G. Stearns

Absent pre-approval from the court in exceptional circumstances, the parties will be permitted to submit one summary judgement motion of no more than 30 pages.

Do you typically allow reply briefs and/or surreply briefs? A25: Only with leave of court. Q26: ... A26: Yes, ten pages or less.

In addition, parties will submit paper courtesy copies of electronic documents relating to Markman filings, discovery disputes, or dispositive motions, oppositions, replies or sur-replies (including all affidavits and exhibits) that exceed twenty pages in length. The courtesy copy shall be stamped “Courtesy Copy for the Court: DO NOT SCAN.”

The courtesy copy shall be stamped “Courtesy Copy for the Court: DO NOT SCAN.”

In complex (such as patent, trade secret, securities fraud) cases where the parties reasonably believe a protective order is necessary to preserve the confidentiality of documents and information produced in discovery, until such a time that the parties propose and the court adopts a stipulated protective order (or present competing proposals for the court's decision), the court will impose the following the default protective order. Documents and information that either party in good faith believes is confidential may be produced in discovery with the designation “Confidential Pursuant to the Court's Default PO,” and until such a time the designation is altered or removed by the parties' agreement or by court order, a so-designated document may only be accessed by the parties' outside counsel and the court and their personnel.

Do you typically hold a hearing on motions to dismiss? A27: No, unless a review of the filings indicate a hearing will be helpful. Q28: ... A28: Only if, based on a review of the papers, a hearing will be helpful. If a hearing is scheduled, the court will entertain counsel's request for it to be heard via Zoom/video conference.

Yes — motions decided on the papers without oral argument.

The court will permit non-evidentiary hearings (Rule 11 proceedings and sentencings) to be conducted by video conference if a criminal defendant, with the advice of his or her counsel, is willing to waive personal presence in the courtroom. For civil hearings, the parties may jointly elect to proceed in-person or by video conference. In the event of a dispute, the parties shall submit brief position statements (of no more than 1 page) to the court.

Typically, do you resolve discovery motions or do you refer them to the magistrate judge? A16: I typically resolve them.

Do you typically hold a hearing on discovery? A17: No. Q18: ... A18: Timely ruling on the papers.