Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-05434/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-05434-26/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

TION ALONZO HILL,

Plaintiff,

v.

JOSHUA ARNOLD, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 09-cv-05434-TEH 

ORDER SETTING TRIAL RULES 

AND PROCEDURES

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 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. 

Case 3:09-cv-05434-TEH Document 186 Filed 05/28/15 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

Northern District of California

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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) 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. 

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

necessary to complete the context. 

(h) 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 

Case 3:09-cv-05434-TEH Document 186 Filed 05/28/15 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

Northern District of California

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

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

(i) 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: 05/28/15 _____________________________________ 

THELTON E. HENDERSON 

United States District Judge

Case 3:09-cv-05434-TEH Document 186 Filed 05/28/15 Page 3 of 3