Judge Victoria A. Valentine
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Exhibits
Reconsideration Motions
Summary Disposition Filing
Adjournments
- The first adjournment of the initial scheduling order is limited to 60 days, and the request must include the old and new dates.
Communication
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Briefs are limited to 10 pages, not including exhibits, unless otherwise expressly granted by the Court.
- Brief
- Up to 10 pages
Excluded from page count
- •Exhibits
Document Format Requirements3 rules
The jury instructions provided to the Court must be in a Word document.
- File type
- Word
Court's wording
The parties shall jointly provide the Court, in a Word document, a FULL COPY of the JURY INSTRUCTIONS, fully filled-in (and ready to be printed for the jury) via valentinechambers@oakgov.com and nemera@oakgov.com.
If the Court does allow a remote Zoom Witness, he/she MUST have a hard-wired fast internet connection.
Confidential material must be conspicuously designated; paper may be marked on the first or applicable pages, and electronic designation must not alter metadata or may be placed on the storage medium.
Formatting
- •Confidential designations must be conspicuously stamped or appended
Court's wording
A producing party may designate any document or other tangible information or thing as “Confidential” by conspicuously stamping or appending the appropriate designation. In the case of a paper document, a producing party may so mark the first page of a multipage document or each applicable page. In the case of an electronic document, a producing party may append to that document the appropriate designation that does not alter the metadata associated with the document or may place the appropriate designation mark “CONFIDENTIAL” on the outside of the medium (whether disc, hard drive, etc.) containing the document.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
The parties must jointly provide the Court a complete, fully filled-in copy of the jury instructions ready for printing.
Court's wording
The parties shall jointly provide the Court, in a Word document, a FULL COPY of the JURY INSTRUCTIONS, fully filled-in (and ready to be printed for the jury) via valentinechambers@oakgov.com and nemera@oakgov.com.
Witnesses must have been named on a prior Witness List or must be stipulated to by all parties.
Counsel or pro per parties must prepare and serve all parties, and email chambers, a short settlement-conference statement one week before the conference addressing the listed topics.
Court's wording
COUNSEL AND/OR PRO PER PARTY shall prepare and serve on all parties and email the Judge’s chambers valentinechambers@oakgov.com, ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE CONFERENCE, a SHORT statement, which: Summarizes the background of the action and the principal factual and legal issues; Detail all issues remaining; REV: 10/13/2022 ===== PAGE 2 ===== List all outstanding motions; Summarize settlement efforts, including whether the parties engaged in facilitation and/or other ADR proceedings; Whether parties have discussed arbitration; Discloses insurance available to satisfy all/part of a judgment, including indemnification agreements; and
Include this statement above signature: I certify that I reviewed the most recent Scheduling Order and this motion for summary disposition is timely and conforms to the applicable court rules.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Signature block
Arraignments by Mail (ABM): This Court allows ABM. Please include the Pretrial date, which is not to exceed three weeks after the arraignment date.
The parties are required to use the most current jury instructions, the links are:
- Document
- Jury instructions
Must include
- •Use the most current jury instructions
Parties are required to discuss their statements with each other, prior to Settlement Conference.
This statement must not be filed with the Clerk of the Court.
All cases OPTED OUT of case evaluation. To OPT IN, provide a stipulated order to the Case Management Office.
Defendants on bond are set for a Tuesday at 8:30AM and Defendants in custody are set for a Tuesday at 9AM.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Motions for rehearing or reconsideration must be e-filed with the Court, and a copy must be submitted to chambers by email.
MCR 2.119(F) governs Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration. Please e-file with the Court and submit a copy to chambers via valentinechambers@oakgov.com.
Page 3 | Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration
Emergency motions must be filed with the Clerk’s Office and a copy must be sent to chambers by email.
Emergency Motions must be filed with the Clerks' Office and a copy MUST be sent to Chambers at valentinechambers@oakgov.com.
Page 3 | Emergency Motions
Criminal adjournments may be submitted by stipulated order through e-filing or email, with opposing counsel copied; faxed orders will not be considered.
Adjournments may be submitted by stipulated Order via e-filing or email to nemera@oakgov.com with opposing counsel copied. Faxed Orders will not be considered.
Page 4 | Criminal Adjournments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
At least one week before the bench trial or hearing, submit an exhibit list identifying stipulated and/or proposed exhibits by email to the judge’s staff attorney and deliver hard copies of all exhibits to chambers.
▪ A LIST of EXHIBITS indicating Stipulated and/or Proposed must be submitted to Judge Valentine’s Staff Attorney, Shelli Feinberg, at feinbergs@oakgov.com at least ONE (1) WEEK prior to Bench Trial/Hearing AND A HARD COPY of all EXHIBITS MUST BE DELIVERED TO CHAMBERS.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
The bench trial or hearing brief must be filed and served on opposing parties two weeks before the proceeding.
▪ BENCH TRIAL/HEARING BRIEF shall be filed and served on opposing parties.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
Each party must file a final list of intended trial or hearing witnesses and experts, excluding rebuttal witnesses, two weeks before the proceeding.
▪ Each Party shall file a FINAL LIST OF WITNESSES/EXPERTS intended to be called at the Trial/Hearing, excluding rebuttal witnesses.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
A party wishing to use audio or video technology must identify the items no later than two weeks before trial or hearing.
Any party wishing to use AUDIO/VIDEO TECHNOLOGY during the Trial/Hearing, must identify the items no later than TWO (2) WEEKS prior to Trial/Hearing.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
A party requiring an interpreter must notify the Court no later than two weeks before trial or hearing.
▪ Any party requiring the assistance of an INTERPRETER, must notify the Court no later than TWO (2) WEEKS prior to Trial/Hearing.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
The Court must approve a witness’s remote testimony by Zoom at least two weeks before trial or hearing.
The Court must approve a witness testifying by Zoom at least TWO (2) WEEKS prior to Trial/Hearing.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
The oral-argument hearing date must be e-praeciped and noticed under the court rule at least 21 days after filing.
Hearing date for ORAL ARGUMENT must be e-praeciped and noticed for hearing pursuant to court rule at least 21 days after filing.
Page 2 | Summary Dispositions Motions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
All other parties must receive notice of a request for a witness to testify by Zoom.
Notice of the Request must be provided to all other parties.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
The bench trial or hearing brief must be served on opposing parties.
▪ BENCH TRIAL/HEARING BRIEF shall be filed and served on opposing parties.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
The settlement-conference statement must be served on all parties one week before the conference.
COUNSEL AND/OR PRO PER PARTY shall prepare and serve on all parties and email the Judge’s chambers valentinechambers@oakgov.com, ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE CONFERENCE, a SHORT statement, which:
Page 1 | NOTICE TO APPEAR FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE WITH CLIENTS
A subpoena seeking documents or information from a non-party must be served with a copy of the protective order.
A copy of this protective order shall be served with any subpoena seeking documents or information from a non-party.
Civil cases
Page 2 | STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER
All motions must be praeciped and served with a Notice of Hearing under the Court Rules.
Motions: All motions MUST be praeciped, e- and served with a Notice of Hearing pursuant to Court Rules.
Page 2 | Motions
Adjournments may be submitted by stipulated Order via e-filing or email to nemera@oakgov.com with opposing counsel copied. Faxed Orders will not be considered.
Adjournments may be submitted by stipulated Order via e-filing or email to nemera@oakgov.com with opposing counsel copied. Faxed Orders will not be considered.
Page 4 | Criminal Adjournments
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Hard copies of all exhibits must be delivered to chambers.
AND A HARD COPY of all EXHIBITS MUST BE DELIVERED TO CHAMBERS.
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
Submit a physical copy of all summary disposition filings, with exhibits tabbed, to Chambers 5A.
A PHYSICAL copy of all summary disposition filings with tabbed exhibits must be submitted to chambers 5A.
Page 2 | Summary Dispositions Motions
A copy of each motion for rehearing or reconsideration must be submitted to chambers by email.
MCR 2.119(F) governs Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration. Please e-file with the Court and submit a copy to chambers via valentinechambers@oakgov.com.
Page 3 | Motions for Rehearing or Reconsideration
A copy of each emergency motion must be sent to chambers by email.
Emergency Motions must be filed with the Clerks' Office and a copy MUST be sent to Chambers at valentinechambers@oakgov.com.
Page 3 | Emergency Motions
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Confidential materials may not be filed except in sealed envelopes bearing the specified caption, inventory, and notice; only confidential portions should be sealed when practical, and non-disclosing references may be filed without sealing.
No documents, information, or things designated as “Confidential,” including that contained in pleadings, motions, briefs, declarations, or exhibits (except in sealed envelopes) shall be filed with the Court. Such sealed envelopes shall bear the case caption and shall recite a concise, non-disclosing inventory of their contents for docketing purposes. Additionally, in the case of materials or information designated “Confidential,” such sealed envelopes shall prominently bear the notice: CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. TO BE OPENED ONLY BY OR AS DIRECTED BY THE COURT. To the extent practical, only those portions of a filing with the Court that contains material designated as “Confidential” shall be filed under seal or provided to the Court for in-camera inspection. The Court and its staff shall maintain all filings so designated pending further order or direction from the Court. Provided that no “Confidential” information is disclosed, the parties may generally refer to documents designated as “Confidential” in pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, or exhibits filed with the Court, without filing such pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, or exhibits under seal.
Civil cases
Page 5 | STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Should any party object to a designation of any information, documents, or things as “Confidential,” the parties or the producing party shall, on an expedited basis, meet and confer in a good faith attempt to reach an agreement regarding the status of the information, documents, or things. If an objection is not thereby resolved, a party may bring the dispute before the Court on an expedited basis for a determination.
Should any party object to a designation of any information, documents, or things as “Confidential,” the parties or the producing party shall, on an expedited basis, meet and confer in a good faith attempt to reach an agreement regarding the status of the information, documents, or things. If an objection is not thereby resolved, a party may bring the dispute before the Court on an expedited basis for a determination.
Civil cases
Page 4 | STIPULATED PROTECTIVE ORDER
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
The first adjournment of the initial scheduling order is limited to 60 days, and the request must include the old and new dates.
Adjournments: irst adjournment of the initial scheduling order for a maximum of (60) days. Old dates and new dates MUST be included.
Page 3 | Adjournments
Pretrial dates should be set for a Friday and Trial dates should be set for a Monday. Please make sure there is a minimum of (45) days between pretrial date and trial date.
Pretrial dates should be set for a Friday and Trial dates should be set for a Monday. Please make sure there is a minimum of (45) days between pretrial date and trial date.
Page 3 | Adjournments
An adjournment that does not affect the trial date may be submitted by stipulated order.
Any adjournment that do not affect the trial date can be by stipulated order.
Page 3 | Adjournments
Chambers Communication Rules
The parties must email the jury instructions to the listed Court addresses.
The parties shall jointly provide the Court, in a Word document, a FULL COPY of the JURY INSTRUCTIONS, fully filled-in (and ready to be printed for the jury) via valentinechambers@oakgov.com and nemera@oakgov.com.
Page 2 | JURY TRIALS
The exhibit list identifying stipulated and/or proposed exhibits must be emailed to the judge’s staff attorney at least one week before the bench trial or hearing.
▪ A LIST of EXHIBITS indicating Stipulated and/or Proposed must be submitted to Judge Valentine’s Staff Attorney, Shelli Feinberg, at feinbergs@oakgov.com at least ONE (1) WEEK prior to Bench Trial/Hearing
Page 3 | Bench Trials/Hearings
Use the listed email address to correspond with Chambers or the Clerks.
Please use valentinechambers@oakgov.com to correspond with Chambers or Clerks.
Page 1 | BUSINESS/CRIMINAL COURT PROTOCOL
Parties may contact the indicated recipient at any time to schedule a status conference and should email dates and times when all parties are available.
Parties may contact at any time to schedule a status conference. Please view the Hearing Schedule and email dates and times that ALL parties are available.
Page 3 | Court Conference