Judge Theresa L. Springmann Ross Adair Courthouse 1300 South Harrison Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 423-3050 (260) 423-3055 (fax) Jury Trial Procedure Trial dates are firm and motions to reset trial dates are discouraged. If it is necessary to file such a motion, it should be made at the earliest possible date. Side bars during trial are discouraged. Matters in dispute are usually taken up outside the jury's presence. Counsel do not need to ask permission to approach the witness. Counsel need not use the podium. Counsel should stand when questioning witnesses and when addressing the Court. At all times, counsel should refrain from invading the space of the jurors or touching the rail of the jury box. Judge Springmann's courtroom is fully equipped with state of the art technology. To make the trial more efficient and to enhance the presentation of the case, use of the courtroom technology is strongly encouraged. For example, it is unnecessary to approach a witness to show him a document. The courtroom's ELMO system may be used instead. Training for use of the technology is available by contacting the Courtroom Deputy at (260) 423-3051. All exhibits are to be marked and numbered or lettered before trial and copies are to be furnished to opposing counsel and the Court with an exhibit list. Plaintiffs should use numbers; defendants should use letters. If it is anticipated that more than 26 defendant exhibits are required, the number sequence could be D-1, D-2, etc., to avoid the AAAA through DDDD method. The Courtroom Deputy is the custodian of all exhibits admitted into evidence during trial. Offering counsel may retain any offered but not admitted exhibits. Exhibits are kept at the corner of the Deputy Clerk's table and are available for your use during the trial. At the conclusion of a witness's testimony, counsel should retrieve any exhibits used and place them on the Clerk's table. All admitted exhibits must be in the Clerk's possession during each recess or adjournment of the Court. At the conclusion of trial, exhibits admitted into evidence will be returned to parties' counsel upon signing a Clerk's Receipt. Counsel are to meet before trial for the purpose of designating agreed exhibits. Counsel will file a list of agreed exhibits by the first day of trial. If a civil case is resolved by the parties, counsel in the case should immediately file an electronic notice of resolution. Jury costs will be assessed if the Court is not notified of resolution before the first day of trial. Upon a report of resolution of a civil case, Judge Springmann generally enters an Order Dismissing the Case Without Prejudice, vacating all pending motions and vacating the trial date. The parties should file their stipulated motion for dismissal with prejudice when it is appropriate.

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