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Judge Van Bokkelen: Timing and Time Limits

Trial days ordinarily run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 60 to 75 minutes for lunch break and a 30 minute morning and afternoon break.

Jurors will not be required to go more than two hours without a break.

Judge Van Bokkelen expects the parties to have enough witnesses on hand to fill the trial day. Jurors' time is valuable and the Judge will strive to avoid unexpectedly short trial days that might make the trial last an extra day.

Judge Van Bokkelen tries to cooperate with the schedules of witnesses and will allow them to testify out of sequence in the absence of persuasive objection. Counsel should anticipate any such possibility and discuss it with opposing counsel before raising it with the Court.

At the beginning and conclusion of trial, Judge Van Bokkelen will ask counsel how much time is needed for counsel’s statements.

Judge Van Bokkelen will allow the jury to deliberate as long, or to break for the day as early, as the jury wishes.