Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-03723/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-03723-21/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Employment Discrimination

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TEH Trial Rules and Procedures (Rev. 04/02)

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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CLARK WALKER

Plaintiff,

v.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,

KEITH RICHTER, and RICHARD

GRACE,

Defendants.

No. C -03-3723 TEH 

No. C -05-2800 TEH 

TRIAL RULES AND 

PROCEDURES

In order to ensure the orderly and efficient presentation of evidence at trial, the parties

shall adhere to the following rules and procedures unless specifically ordered otherwise by

the Court.

1. EXHIBITS

Before the first witness is called to testify, the parties shall identify and provide to the

Court a list of all exhibits to which there is no objection regarding their admission into

evidence. Such exhibits shall then be formally admitted into evidence at that time. When the

Court recesses each day, counsel shall inform opposing counsel of which exhibits, if any,

they intend to introduce during the next trial day. If any such exhibits are still objected to,

counsel shall immediately notify the Court. The Court will then schedule an early

conference, prior to the starting time of the next trial day, to resolve the dispute. 

2. WITNESSES

(a) Counsel are expected to have sufficient witnesses ready to testify each trial day. In

cases where the parties have been allocated a specific amount of trial time, any delays caused

by the failure to have sufficient witnesses ready shall be counted toward that party’s

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TEH Trial Rules and Procedures 2 (Rev. 04/02)

allocated time. Counsel are expected to cooperate with each other in the scheduling and

production of witnesses. Witnesses may be taken out of order if necessary. Every effort

should be made to avoid calling a witness twice (as an adverse witness and later as a party’s

witness). 

(b) Only one lawyer for each party may examine any single witness. 

(c) If a witness is testifying at the time of a recess or adjournment and has not been

excused, the witness shall be seated back on the stand when the court reconvenes. If a new

witness is to be called immediately following recess or adjournment, the witness should be

seated in the front row, ready to be sworn in.

(d) Counsel shall refrain from eliciting testimony regarding undisputed facts set forth

in the parties’ joint pretrial conference statement. If the case is being tried before a jury, the

Court may read to the jury such undisputed facts at appropriate points in the trial.

(e) Counsel are instructed to have their witnesses review, prior to taking the stand, all

exhibits the counsel intends to question the witness about during direct examination. 

(f) Immediately before each new witness takes the stand, counsel calling the witness

shall place on the witness stand a clearly marked copy of each exhibit that counsel expects to

have the witness refer to during his or her direct examination. Immediately before beginning

cross-examination, counsel conducting cross-examination shall do the same with any

additional exhibits to be referenced on cross.

(g) If counsel intends to have the witness draw diagrams or put markings on visual

exhibits or diagrams prepared by the party calling the witness, the witness shall do so before

taking the stand. Once on the stand, the witness shall adopt the diagrams and/or markings

and explain what they represent. If the diagram or visual exhibit is prepared by the opposing

party, the witness shall not make any markings on the diagram or visual exhibit without leave

of the Court.

(h) The deposition of an adverse party may be used for any purpose. It is

unnecessary to ask the witness if s/he “recalls” it or otherwise lay a foundation. Counsel

need only identify the deposition and page and line numbers and read the relevant portion. 

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TEH Trial Rules and Procedures 3 (Rev. 04/02)

Opposing counsel may then immediately ask to read any additional testimony that is

necessary to complete the context.

(i) The deposition of a non-party witness may be used for impeachment or if the

witness has been shown to be unavailable. For impeachment, counsel shall first allow the

witness to read to him- or herself the designated portion; then ask simply if the witness gave

that testimony; and then read the testimony into the record. Opposing counsel may

immediately ask to read additional testimony that is necessary to complete the context. If a

deposition is introduced because a witness is unavailable, counsel shall offer only relevant

portions of the deposition and may not offer the deposition wholesale.

(j) When the Court recesses each day, counsel shall inform opposing counsel of

which witnesses they intend to call during the next trial day.

3. OBJECTIONS

To make an objection, counsel shall rise, say “objection,” and briefly state the legal

ground (e.g., “hearsay” or “irrelevant”). There shall be no “speaking objections” or

argument from either counsel unless requested by the Court. 

4. SIDEBARS

Bench conferences, or the equivalent of “sidebars,” will not be permitted absent truly

extenuating circumstances. Disputes regarding exhibits shall be resolved as set forth in

paragraph 1 above. Any other disputes or problems should be addressed either before the

trial day commences, at the end of the trial day, or during a recess, if necessary. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 21, 2006 

 THELTON E. HENDERSON, JUDGE

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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