Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann ordinarily does not limit time for opening statements or final arguments. During the jury instruction conference, Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann will ask counsel how much time is needed for final argument. Unless the request is unreasonable, counsel will be given the time requested. Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann also will offer to inform counsel of the time remaining at requested points in the final argument.
Trial days ordinarily run from 9:00 to 5:00 with 60 to 75 minutes for lunch break. Jurors will not be required to go more than two hours without a break.
When a jury is deliberating, Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann will allow the jury to deliberate as long, or to break for the day as early, as the jury wishes.
Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann expects the parties to have enough witnesses on hand to fill the trial day. Jurors' time is valuable and she will strive to avoid unexpectedly short trial days that might make the trial last an extra day.
Judge Theresa Lazar Springmann 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.