BRIEN McMAHON FEDERAL BUILDING United States Courthouse 915 Lafayette Boulevard - Suite 266 Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
Driving Directions
Location: Courtroom 4
Chambers’ Copies of Filings
Unless otherwise ordered, counsel must provide chambers with one paper copy of the following e-filed documents, including all exhibits and attachments:
a. Dispositive motions, including supporting memoranda and exhibits and opposition memoranda and exhibits;
b. Joint Trial Memoranda; and
c. Post-trial briefing.
Please ensure that Chambers’ copies are properly bound and tabbed. The Court appreciates, but does not require, exhibits to be separated by index tabs so that the particular exhibit may be readily located within the group of exhibits. Any Chambers’ copy that cannot be secured by a staple or medium binder clip must be placed in a three-ring hole punch binder or bound in some other fashion on the left side (e.g., Velo bound or GBC bound). Chambers’ copies may be printed double-sided. All chambers copies should be printed from the docket and should bear the header of the Court’s electronic filing system.
Formatting of Motions and Memoranda of Law
The parties are reminded that pursuant to the District’s Electronic Filing Policies and Procedures, memoranda of law and other documents filed electronically should be submitted in PDF format and be text searchable via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology.
Counsel need not attach as exhibits unreported cases cited in a memorandum of law unless the case is not available on Westlaw.
Attorney Affidavits
Judge Dooley does not require that documentary exhibits and deposition transcripts attached to dispositive motions be identified or authenticated via attorney affidavit. However, to the extent there is a known dispute as to the identification or authentication of any document, appropriate affidavits should be submitted.
Oral Argument
Requests for oral argument should be made in accordance with Local Rule 7(a). Generally, if the parties request oral argument on dispositive motions, oral argument will be scheduled. The exception to this general practice is if Judge Dooley does not believe that oral argument will be helpful to the Court.
Judge Dooley does not have a motion day but hears oral argument as her schedule permits. Judge Dooley does not generally schedule oral argument on non-dispositive motions but will entertain requests for oral argument.
The Court encourages the practice of allowing junior members of the bar to argue motions that they helped to prepare. To facilitate this practice, Judge Dooley permits counsel to “split” the issues to be argued. That is, Judge Dooley will permit a second, more senior lawyer to argue as well if doing so will create an opportunity for a junior lawyer to participate. Judge Dooley recognizes that the ultimate decision of who speaks on behalf of the client is for counsel or the client, not the Court.
Referral to Magistrate Judges
Judge Dooley may refer discovery motions to a Magistrate Judge and will refer settlement conferences to a Magistrate Judge upon request of the parties. Parties interested in referral for mediation or settlement conference can either contact Chambers to request such a referral or file an appropriate motion requesting a referral.
Requests to Reschedule
Requests to reschedule scheduled court proceedings, including telephonic conferences, should be made by motion. Counsel should identify three (3) alternative dates on which counsel for all parties are available. When the motion is not filed jointly, counsel should indicate the position of the non-moving party.
The Trial Schedule
Jury selections are generally scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month. Jury trials are scheduled for Monday through Friday. Courtside trials are scheduled after consultation with counsel.
Judge Dooley asks lawyers to arrive by 9:00 a.m. and the jurors to arrive by 9:30 a.m., with evidence commencing as soon as practicable thereafter.
Judge Dooley prefers to dismiss the jurors by 4:45 p.m. but will keep them longer if it is more efficient to do so, i.e., to avoid a witness having to return the following day. Lawyers may be asked to arrive earlier or stay later as may be necessary to address procedural or other issues which arise during trial.
Opening Statements
Judge Dooley disfavors opening statements. Parties may seek permission to give opening statements, and the Court will assess the propriety of any such request on a case by case basis.
Closing Arguments
Judge Dooley will set time limits for closing arguments in consultation with counsel and in view of the complexities of the case.
Exhibits
Judge Dooley requires the parties to pre-mark exhibits numerically. The Plaintiff’s exhibits shall be numbered sequentially beginning with the Number One (1). The Defendant’s exhibits shall be numbered sequentially beginning with the Number Five Hundred (500). Where there are multiple plaintiffs or defendants, counsel shall coordinate exhibit identification to ensure that exhibits and numbers are not duplicated. The Exhibit List shall briefly describe each exhibit and indicate whether any party objects to the admission of such exhibit and the grounds for such objection. Counsel shall confer to mark exhibits as full or for identification prior to the trial.
Judge Dooley prefers parties to provide Chambers with one (1) paper copy of all pre-marked exhibits prior to any hearing or trial, but counsel may provide Chambers’ copies of exhibits on the day of the trial or hearing.
Please ensure that Chambers’ copies are properly bound. The Court appreciates, but does not require, exhibits to be separated by index tabs so that the particular exhibit may be readily located within the binder of exhibits. Any Chambers’ copy of exhibits that cannot be secured by a medium binder clip must be placed in a three-ring hole punch binder. Chambers’ copies may be printed double-sided.
Time Limitations
Judge Dooley does not impose time limitations for the trial or the examination of witnesses. She does expect the presentation of evidence to be efficient and the trial to proceed at a reasonable pace.
Technology
Judge Dooley’s courtroom is an electronic courtroom and is outfitted with evidence presentation technology. It is the Court’s preference that counsel present exhibits electronically. An overview of the courtroom technology can be found here: https://www.ctd.uscourts.gov/courtroom-technology
All questions regarding courtroom technology should be directed to the Courtroom Deputy, Kristen Gould (Kristen_Gould@ctd.uscourts.gov) in advance of the hearing or trial.
Guilty Pleas
Judge Dooley does not refer plea hearings to a Magistrate Judge.
Sentencing
Judge Dooley sets a pre-sentencing briefing schedule at the same time a sentencing is scheduled. Counsel should apprise the Court at the earliest opportunity if there needs to be an evidentiary hearing in connection with sentencing.
Motions Relating to Detention, Bond, or Conditions of Release
Judge Dooley typically refers motions for bond or motions concerning conditions of release to the Magistrate Judge who conducted the original detention hearing if one was previously held per district policy. Any proposed bond package should be submitted to the United States Office of Probation at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the hearing.
If the motion seeks relief on an emergency or time-sensitive basis, counsel should also call Judge Dooley’s Chambers at 203-579-5522.
An initial jury selection and trial date will be set at arraignment. Within ten days thereafter, counsel are instructed to contact the Court's Courtroom Deputy to request a telephonic scheduling conference on a date and time all counsel is available. During the telephonic conference, the Court will set a realistic and firm date for jury selection and trial.
Jury selections are generally scheduled for the first Tuesday of every month. Jury trials are scheduled for Tuesday through Friday. Courtside trials are scheduled in consultation with counsel.
Judge Dooley asks lawyers to arrive by 9:00 a.m. and the jurors to arrive by 9:30 a.m., with evidence commencing as soon as practicable thereafter. Judge Dooley prefers to dismiss the jurors between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. but will keep them longer if it is more efficient to do so, i.e., to avoid a witness having to return the following day. Lawyers may be asked to arrive earlier or stay later as may be necessary to address procedural or other issues which arise during trial.
Judge Dooley disfavors opening statements because they tend to devolve into improper argument. Parties may seek permission to give opening statements, and the Court will assess the propriety of any such request on a case by case basis.
Unless the nature of the case dictates otherwise, Judge Dooley requires the parties to pre-mark exhibits that they expect to offer into evidence numerically. The Government’s exhibits shall be numbered sequentially beginning with the Number One (1).
The Defendant’s exhibits shall be numbered sequentially beginning with the Number Five Hundred (500). If there are multiple defendants, Judge Dooley will issue specific instructions regarding exhibit numbering.
Judge Dooley prefers parties to provide Chambers with two (2) paper copies of all exhibits at the time they are offered into evidence. If either party wants to create exhibit binders in advance of the trial and provide them to Chambers, it may do so but is not required to do so.
Victim Rights
For crimes involving identifiable victims, at proceedings identified in 18 U.S.C. § 3771, Judge Dooley will inquire of the Government or a victim representative, if one is present, whether the victim has been notified of the proceeding; whether the victim wishes to be heard; or whether the victim has concerns or wishes which he/she has relayed to the government for conveyance to the Court.
All requests for courtroom technology must be submitted via e-mail to the Courtroom Deputy, Kristen Gould (Kristen_Gould @ctd.uscourts.gov), at least ten (10) days before the hearing for which such technology is requested. The requesting party must use “Request for Courtroom Technology” form found on the District’s website.
Chambers' Copies of Filings
Unless otherwise ordered, counsel are not required to provide Chambers' copies of filings.
