Judge Deborah M. Turner
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Filings > 20 pages
- Hand Delivery
Adjournments
- All continuance and extension requests must be made in writing.
- Counsel are encouraged to contact opposing counsel before filing a continuance motion to determine whether the motion will be opposed.
- A continuance request should identify a specific requested date, preferably supported by opposing counsel's concurrence.
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Exhibits must be bound and marked before trial and submitted to the court before trial.
Exhibits shall be bound and marked before trial and submitted to the court prior to trial.
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Opposing briefs on motions in limine must be filed no later than seven days before trial.
Opposing briefs to motions in limine shall be filed no later than seven (7) days before trial.
Document Type
Opposing Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Unlisted witnesses or exhibits may not testify or be introduced at trial without a showing of good cause.
Witnesses or exhibits not listed in the trial brief shall not testify or be introduced at trial absent a showing of good cause.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Parties must prepare a stipulated statement of the case for the court to read to the jury under Civil Rule 47(a).
Parties shall prepare a stipulated statement of the case for the court to read to the jury pursuant to Civ. R. 47(a).
Document Type
Stipulated Statement Of Case
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Trial briefs and motions in limine must be submitted no later than 14 days before trial.
Parties shall submit trial briefs, motions in limine, no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Parties must serve and file the pretrial statement at least one week before the final pretrial.
Parties to serve and file pretrial statement no less than one week prior to the final pretrial.
Document Type
Pretrial Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Trial briefs, motions in limine, jury interrogatories, and jury instructions must be submitted no later than 14 days before trial.
Parties shall submit trial briefs, motions in limine, jury interrogatories and jury instructions, no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Trial briefs must include the facts, controlling-law discussion, stipulations, witness list with testimony descriptions, and exhibit list with exhibit descriptions.
Trial briefs are to include: a statement of the facts; a discussion of the controlling law; any stipulations; witness list along with a brief description of the subject matter of the testimony of each witness; exhibit list containing a brief description of each exhibit.
Document Type
Trial Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Each party must include the curriculum vitae of any expert who may testify or present evidence at trial as an exhibit for the court's use.
Each party shall include as one of their exhibits the curriculum vitae of any expert(s) that may be called to present evidence or testimony at trial for the use of the court.
Document Type
Exhibit
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
Counsel must confer about proposed jury interrogatories and instructions and attempt to reach agreement.
Counsel for the parties are required to confer with one another with respect to the proposed jury interrogatories/instructions, with a view to reaching agreement on interrogatories/instructions to be requested.
Document Type
Jury Interrogatories
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
The final pretrial statement should provide a case synopsis, settlement-negotiation status, expected trial length and witness count, and anticipated special issues or trial needs.
The final pretrial statement should provide the Court with a brief synopsis of the case, the status of any settlement negotiations, the expected length of trial including the number of potential witnesses, and any special issues or trial needs anticipated.
Document Type
Pretrial Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
The submission must identify agreed and disputed jury interrogatories or instructions, with separate legal authority cited for each disputed item.
The interrogatories/instructions agreed upon by all counsel shall be identified. Disputed interrogatories/instructions shall likewise be identified along with separate citation to legal authority for each.
Document Type
Jury Interrogatories
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
All parties and chosen representatives must be present at the final pretrial with full, final, and immediate settlement authority.
Summary: All parties and their chosen representatives must attend the final pretrial with full, final, and immediate settlement authority.
Document Type
Final Pretrial
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If the real party in interest is an insurance company, corporation, common carrier, or other artificial entity, then the chosen representative must be the person with full, final, and immediate authority to negotiate and enter into a binding settlement agreement as to all claims.
Summary: When an artificial entity is the real party in interest, its representative at final pretrial must have authority to negotiate and execute a binding settlement of all claims.
Document Type
Final Pretrial
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
All possible stipulations are to be made prior to trial.
Summary: All possible stipulations must be made before trial.
Document Type
Stipulations
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A hard copy of any motion exceeding 20 pages, including exhibits in the page count, must be delivered to the Court, either to the staff attorney on the 11th floor of the Justice Center or to the bailiff in Courtroom 20-D.
Parties are required to deliver a hard copy of all motions which exceed twenty (20) pages to the Court. Exhibits are included in the page count. Hard copies may be delivered to the staff attorney on the 11th floor of the Justice Center, or to the bailiff in Courtroom 20-D.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
The Court will schedule a settlement or pretrial conference when requested by the parties.
The Court will schedule a settlement conference or pretrial conference upon the request of the parties.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Settlement Conference
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
All continuance and extension requests must be made in writing.
All requests for continuances or extensions of time must be made in writing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances
A continuance request should identify a specific requested date, preferably supported by opposing counsel's concurrence.
When requesting a continuance, parties should provide the Court with a specific date for the continuance, preferably with the concurrence of opposing counsel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances
Counsel are encouraged to contact opposing counsel before filing a continuance motion to determine whether the motion will be opposed.
Counsel are encouraged to contact opposing counsel prior to filing the motion so that they can see if the motion will be opposed.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Calendaring and Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
Parties must contact the staff attorney by phone before filing a motion to compel when discovery disputes remain unresolved.
If discovery disputes remain, the parties are to contact the staff attorney at (216) 443-8602 prior to filing any motions to compel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery
Plaintiff's counsel must email the proposed jury instructions, interrogatories, and verdict forms in Word format to the staff attorney at least 14 days before trial.
Counsel for the plaintiff shall be responsible for ensuring that a copy of the proposed jury instructions, interrogatories and verdict forms are emailed in word format to the staff attorney at doakley@cuyahogacounty.us at least fourteen (14) days before the scheduled trial date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Trials — Jury Trials