Opinion ID: 1737782
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Failure to issue scheduling orders or conduct status conferences

Text: Canon 3 A(7) of the Code of Judicial Conduct requires a judge to dispose promptly of the business of the court. Judge Emanuel's admitted policy and practice of not holding status conferences and of refusing to issue scheduling orders setting discovery deadlines and trial dates unless he felt that the case was ready for trial based on the attorneys' answers to his questionnaire violated Canon 3 A(7). Although Local Rule 9, before its amendment, did not require a judge to hold status conferences or issue scheduling orders, Judge Emanuel was required under Canon 3 A(7) to promptly dispose of the court's business and there is no evidence that the alternative procedures he employed achieved this requirement. Indeed, the evidence shows that his use of questionnaires actually slowed down the pre-trial process. As found by the Commission, the setting of a trial date, which takes a few minutes at a conference, took at the minimum, days and more often weeks and months. Further, a status conference is often needed, not just to set a trial date, but to enable the judge to possibly remove impediments to the progress of the litigation. Judge Emanuel's absolute failure to recognize this resulted in a breach of Canon 3 A(7). In addition, in the five cases cited by the Commission, after an attorney requested a conference or a scheduling order, Judge Emanuel would not respond to the request for months. When he finally did respond, often after the third or fourth request, he would either send out a questionnaire or offer specific trial dates, about which the attorneys would have to reach an agreement. If the dates were not available for counsel, the process would start again. The record supports the other First Judicial District Court judges' accounts of complaints from members of the bar and of their efforts to persuade Judge Emanuel to improve his pre-trial management procedures. The record also supports the allegation that the First Judicial District Court amended Rule 9 because Judge Emanuel would not follow their suggestions that he either hold status conferences or issue scheduling orders. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission has proven by clear and convincing evidence that Judge Emanuel's pre-trial management procedures of refusing to issue scheduling orders or conduct status conferences, and of failing to promptly respond to requests for such, violated his duty under Canon 3 A(7) to promptly dispose of the business of his court.