Meriden Superior Court
Standing Orders for Family Court Trials

1. This case has been assigned for trial before the undersigned. In order to expedite proceedings, the following orders are entered in this case to supplement the standing trial management order. See Practice Book Section 14-14.
2. All parties are to appear at 9:00am on the first date of evidence to pre-mark exhibits. This order changes any previous notice regarding reporting time the parties might have received from the court. See paragraph #5 for further details regarding the pre-marking of exhibits.
3. All motions in limine must be filed at least one week prior to the start of trial. Where practicable, all outstanding motions will be heard and decided prior to the commencement of evidence, unless the court defers argument. Written objections, if any, must be filed for each motion that is opposed.
4. One week prior to the start of trial, each party shall submit to the court and to all other parties a trial memorandum which shall include the following:

1. A list of the witnesses to be called at trial by that party in its case in chief, along with a succinct summary of the witness’s testimony;
2. A list of exhibits;
3. Stipulations as to facts. The court requires counsel to communicate and make good faith efforts to stipulate to facts not in dispute;
4. Current sworn financial affidavits, which shall include detailed income statements, a complete list of liabilities, fair market value of all assets and current value of all retirement and employment benefits;
5. Written proposed orders in accordance with Practice Book Sec. 25-30(c) and (d), which shall be comprehensive and shall set forth the parties’ requested relief;
6. If there are minor children, the parties shall prepare an executed child support guidelines worksheet indicating the presumptive amount of child support and the appropriate percentages for child care and unreimbursed medical expenses;
7. Copies of tax returns and W-2 statements for the past three years;
8. Appraisals, if any, of real or personal property where values are in dispute;
9. Pension valuations, if any, and recent pension statements.

5. Prior to the commencement of trial, the parties shall meet with the clerk and pre-mark all exhibits they may introduce into evidence as part of their cases-in-chief. At the time of pre-marking exhibits, the parties shall submit to each other and the court a list of the exhibits each has pre-marked. Prior to the commencement of evidence, counsel for both parties shall notify the clerk of any exhibits to be offered by the other party to which it intends to object so that the court, to the extent possible, may rule on those objections in advance. Exhibits to which the other party has no objection shall be deemed admitted into evidence.
6. With regard to any depositions that may be used or introduced into evidence at trial:

1. Counsel shall bring the original sealed copy of the deposition into court for the court to open and examine, if necessary, when the witness testifies;
2. Counsel shall provide to the court copies of any depositions to be introduced into evidence at trial,
3. All references to depositions shall refer to page and line numbers.

7. For each day of trial, the parties shall, not later than the mid afternoon recess, give the court advance notice of all evidentiary, scheduling, or other problems and issues they expect to arise the next day, along with such legal memoranda or other authority that counsel may submit to assist the court in resolving such issues.
8. If a new witness or a proposed exhibit comes to counsel’s attention after the time for disclosure established herein, counsel shall disclose the witness or exhibit promptly upon discovery and before offering the witness or exhibit at trial. The only exceptions to these disclosure rules are rebuttal witnesses and exhibits.
9. Parties shall provide the court a chambers copy of each pleading, document, or exhibit capable of being reproduced that is filed with the court or put into evidence.
10. The court, on a case-by-case basis, must approve exceptions to these orders.

So ordered.
The Judges of the Meriden Superior Court

THIS ORDER WAS GIVEN TO THE PARTIES ON ____________________________.

                                                                         ____________________________
                                                                         Judge/Caseflow Coordinator

 Standing Orders