Court Rules
Judge Bruce F. Hilton
Chief Judge

Judge Bruce F. Hilton

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

St. Louis County Circuit Court

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

  • 1 copy • Email

Motion, Pretrial Motion, Motion In Limine, Proposed Jury Instructions

  • Email • At Least One Week Prior To Trial
Cases:
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingExhibitsConferencesLettersJuryEvidence/WitnessesMemorandaDiscovery

Document Format Requirements2 rules

FormattingCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

of the evidence (ex: “Pltf Ex.1.pdf), Multi-page evidence shall be paginated. Plaintiffs (1,2,3…) forlabeling, Defendants letters (A,B,C,..) for labeling. Please include an Exhibit index.

Summary: Exhibits must be named per the evidence convention (e.g., 'Pltf Ex.1.pdf'), multi-page evidence must be paginated, plaintiff exhibits labeled with numbers and defendant exhibits with letters, and an exhibit index must be included.

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FormattingCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Note?

The jury instructions should be in Word format.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions should be submitted in Word format.

Required Format

DOCX

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Document Filing Requirements8 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

The party filing the motion shall file a Notice of hearing for an agreed upon date and shall state whether the motion will be heard in person or by WebEx.

Summary: The party filing a motion must file a notice of hearing for an agreed-upon date stating whether the motion will be heard in person or by WebEx.

Document Type

Notice Of Hearing

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties shall present any objections to the designated deposition testimony that they intend to enter into the record to the court for a ruling at the time of the pre-trial conference.

Summary: Parties must present objections to designated deposition testimony they intend to enter into the record to the court for a ruling at the pre-trial conference.

Document Type

Deposition Testimony Objections

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

Parties are responsible for providing copies of all exhibits for the other parties, witnesses and the Court.

Summary: Parties must provide copies of all exhibits for the other parties, witnesses, and the Court.

Document Type

Exhibit Copies

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties shall alsobe required to present an exhibit list and the exhibits to the court and the court reporter for marking at the time of thepre-trial conference.

Summary: Parties must present an exhibit list and the exhibits to the court and court reporter for marking at the pre-trial conference.

Document Type

Exhibits

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

Any Notice for a hearing conducted by WebExshall include the following information: WebEx Meeting ID: 146 015 3265 Meeting Room Link: https://mocourts.webex.com/meet/vcdiv13mtg WebEx Call in Number: 1-408-418-9388 (long distance charges may apply)

Summary: Any notice for a WebEx hearing must include the WebEx Meeting ID (146 015 3265), meeting room link (https://mocourts.webex.com/meet/vcdiv13mtg), and call-in number (1-408-418-9388).

Document Type

Notice Of Webex Hearing

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

In the event of such refusal, the moving party shall advise the Court in its motion as to what sanctions it seeks against the non-complying party.

Summary: When excusal is sought because opposing counsel refused to meet and confer, the moving party's motion must state what sanctions it seeks against the non-complying party.

Document Type

Discovery Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

setting forth: 1. The date of the meeting, and whether the meeting was in person or by video conference; 2. The names and bar numbers of the attorneys attending the meeting; 3. The length of the meeting; 4. A brief description of the discovery disputes not resolved at the meeting, with a copy of the discovery request(s) and the objection(s) thereto attached; and 5. A certification by counsel that their respective clients have been informed of the meeting and the inability of counsel to resolve their discovery disputes without a court appearance.

Summary: The joint Memorandum regarding the good faith meet-and-confer effort must set forth the meeting date and format, attending attorneys' names and bar numbers, meeting length, a description of unresolved disputes with the discovery requests and objections attached, and a certification that clients were informed of the meeting.

Document Type

Memorandum Regarding Good Faith Effort To Resolve Discovery Dispute

Content & Formatting
Certificate Of Conference
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Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

The parties shall comply with LOCAL RULE 29: USE OF INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT IN THE COURT in order to utilize any technology during the course of thetrial.

Summary: Parties must comply with Local Rule 29 (Use of Information Technology Equipment in the Court) to use any technology at trial.

Document Type

Trial Technology

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
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Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Counsel must set a pre-trial conference at which outstanding motions are heard no later than 10 calendar days (including weekends) before trial, and motions not heard by then are deemed abandoned.

Counsel are responsible for setting a pre-trial conference where said motion(s) will be heard nolater than 10 days (including Saturday and Sunday) before the trial date. All motions not heard at that timeare deemed abandoned.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Discovery must be served no later than 30 days before the discovery deadline.

No discovery shall be served no later than 30 days prior to discovery deadline.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Parties must provide the court with proposed or agreed-upon questions regarding juror litigation history (per Rule 69.025) no later than 5 days before the pre-trial conference.

Parties to provide the court with proposed or agreed upon questions regarding juror litigation history pursuant to Rule 69.025 no later than five (5) days prior to the pre-trial conference.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 2 | PRE-TRIAL AND INSTRUCTION CONFERENCE DATE

Parties must provide the court with proposed or agreed-upon Early Case Summary language (per Rule E1.01) no later than 5 days before the pre-trial conference.

Parties to provide the court with proposed or agreed upon language for Early Case Summary as required by Rule E!.01 no later than five (5) days prior to the pre-trial conference.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 2 | PRE-TRIAL AND INSTRUCTION CONFERENCE DATE

Jury instructions must be filed no later than the pretrial conference date.

Jury instructions to be filed by pretrial conference date.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Criminal cases

Page 1 | OTHER ORDERS/DIRECTIVES

Motions to suppress and motions in limine must be filed at least three business days before the pretrial conference and will be heard at that conference.

All motions to suppress and all motions in limine shall be filed no later than three business days before the pretrial conference and shall be heard at the pretrial conference.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Criminal cases

Page 1 | PRETRIAL DEADLINES

Courtesy Copy Requirements

All outstanding motions, pre-trial motions, motions in limine, and proposed jury instructions must be e-mailed to chambers at Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov at least one week before trial.

All outstanding motions, pre-trial motions, motions in limine and proposed jury instructions mustbe e-mailed to Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo,gov, at least one week prior to trial.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

A copy of the summary judgment package must be e-mailed to Judge Hilton's chambers at Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov in Word format.

A copy of the package must be e-mailed to Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov in Word format.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Filing Bundling Requirements

Summary judgment motions under Rule 74.04 RSMo must be filed as a single package containing the motion, statement of uncontroverted facts, supporting memorandum, response in opposition with statement of uncontroverted facts, reply, and any permitted sur-replies, by the court-set deadline.

Any Motions for Summary Judgment filed pursuant to 74.04 RSMo shall be filed in a packagecontaining the Motion; Statement of Uncontroverted Facts; Memorandum in Support of the Motion; Response in Opposition to the Motion and Statement of Uncontroverted Facts; the Reply in Support of the Motion; and anySur-Replies permitted by 74.04(c) RSMo no later than

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Before any discovery dispute (including motions to compel or for sanctions) will be heard in Division 13, counsel must meet at least once in person or by video conference in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute and file the joint Memorandum before obtaining a hearing date from the Division Clerk.

no discovery disputes, including motions to compel discovery responses or motions for sanctions, will be heard in Division 13 unless, prior to obtaining a hearing date from the Division Clerk, counsel for the parties meet at least once in person or by video conference in a good faith effort to resolve their discovery disputes and file their joint Memorandum with the Court, substantially in the form attached hereto

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | Discovery Disputes in All Civil Cases

A party may be excused from the in-person meet-and-confer requirement for good cause shown, such as opposing counsel's refusal to respond to requests to meet and confer.

A party may request excusal from the in-person meeting requirement of this Order for good cause shown, such as opposing counsel's refusal to respond to requests to meet and confer.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | Good Cause Exception and Sanctions

About Chief Judge Bruce F. Hilton

Bruce F. Hilton is chief district on the St. Louis County Circuit Court (Missouri's 21st Judicial Circuit) and is assigned to Division 13. The circuit serves St. Louis County.

This judge's published procedures are found in the Division 13 document.

Common questions about Judge Bruce F. Hilton's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Bruce F. Hilton?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions, pretrial motions, motion in limines, and proposed jury instructions. Details: delivery at least one week prior to trial, by email. All outstanding motions, pre-trial motions, motions in limine, and proposed jury instructions must be e-mailed to chambers at Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov at least one week before trial.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Does Judge Bruce F. Hilton require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery and sanctions. Before any discovery dispute (including motions to compel or for sanctions) will be heard in Division 13, counsel must meet at least once in person or by video conference in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute and file the joint Memorandum before obtaining a hearing date from the Division Clerk.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Discovery Disputes in All Civil Cases

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Bruce F. Hilton?

Judge Bruce F. Hilton's formatting rule includes name evidence files using the convention 'pltf ex.1.pdf', multi-page evidence shall be paginated, plaintiff exhibits labeled numerically (1, 2, 3...), defendant exhibits labeled alphabetically (a, b, c...), and include an exhibit index. Exhibits must be named per the evidence convention (e.g., 'Pltf Ex.1.pdf'), multi-page evidence must be paginated, plaintiff exhibits labeled with numbers and defendant exhibits with letters, and an exhibit index must be included.

View ruleSource: page 2, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

What must be included with notice of hearing filings before Judge Bruce F. Hilton?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The party filing a motion must file a notice of hearing for an agreed-upon date stating whether the motion will be heard in person or by WebEx.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

What must be included with notice of webex hearing filings before Judge Bruce F. Hilton?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Any notice for a WebEx hearing must include the WebEx Meeting ID (146 015 3265), meeting room link (https://mocourts.webex.com/meet/vcdiv13mtg), and call-in number (1-408-418-9388).

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

Does Judge Bruce F. Hilton require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Bruce F. Hilton requires bundling for covered papers. Summary judgment motions under Rule 74.04 RSMo must be filed as a single package containing the motion, statement of uncontroverted facts, supporting memorandum, response in opposition with statement of uncontroverted facts, reply, and any permitted sur-replies, by the court-set deadline.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER

What filing deadlines apply to discovery filings before Judge Bruce F. Hilton?

Discovery must be served no later than 30 days before the discovery deadline.

View ruleSource: page 1, section TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND PRE-TRIAL ORDER
Complete rules summary for Judge Bruce F. Hilton

Discovery must be served no later than 30 days before the discovery deadline.

Summary judgment motions under Rule 74.04 RSMo must be filed as a single package containing the motion, statement of uncontroverted facts, supporting memorandum, response in opposition with statement of uncontroverted facts, reply, and any permitted sur-replies, by the court-set deadline.

All outstanding motions, pre-trial motions, motions in limine, and proposed jury instructions must be e-mailed to chambers at Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov at least one week before trial.

Proposed jury instructions should be submitted in Word format.

The party filing a motion must file a notice of hearing for an agreed-upon date stating whether the motion will be heard in person or by WebEx.

Any notice for a WebEx hearing must include the WebEx Meeting ID (146 015 3265), meeting room link (https://mocourts.webex.com/meet/vcdiv13mtg), and call-in number (1-408-418-9388).

Counsel must set a pre-trial conference at which outstanding motions are heard no later than 10 calendar days (including weekends) before trial, and motions not heard by then are deemed abandoned.

Parties must present objections to designated deposition testimony they intend to enter into the record to the court for a ruling at the pre-trial conference.

Parties must present an exhibit list and the exhibits to the court and court reporter for marking at the pre-trial conference.

Parties must provide copies of all exhibits for the other parties, witnesses, and the Court.

Exhibits must be named per the evidence convention (e.g., 'Pltf Ex.1.pdf'), multi-page evidence must be paginated, plaintiff exhibits labeled with numbers and defendant exhibits with letters, and an exhibit index must be included.

Parties must comply with Local Rule 29 (Use of Information Technology Equipment in the Court) to use any technology at trial.

Parties must provide the court with proposed or agreed-upon Early Case Summary language (per Rule E1.01) no later than 5 days before the pre-trial conference.

Parties must provide the court with proposed or agreed-upon questions regarding juror litigation history (per Rule 69.025) no later than 5 days before the pre-trial conference.

A copy of the summary judgment package must be e-mailed to Judge Hilton's chambers at Bruce.Hilton@courts.mo.gov in Word format.

Motions to suppress and motions in limine must be filed at least three business days before the pretrial conference and will be heard at that conference.

Jury instructions must be filed no later than the pretrial conference date.

Before any discovery dispute (including motions to compel or for sanctions) will be heard in Division 13, counsel must meet at least once in person or by video conference in a good faith effort to resolve the dispute and file the joint Memorandum before obtaining a hearing date from the Division Clerk.

The joint Memorandum regarding the good faith meet-and-confer effort must set forth the meeting date and format, attending attorneys' names and bar numbers, meeting length, a description of unresolved disputes with the discovery requests and objections attached, and a certification that clients were informed of the meeting.

A party may be excused from the in-person meet-and-confer requirement for good cause shown, such as opposing counsel's refusal to respond to requests to meet and confer.

When excusal is sought because opposing counsel refused to meet and confer, the moving party's motion must state what sanctions it seeks against the non-complying party.

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