Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tennessee Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

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The court will hear a Restraining Order ex parte, if the attorney assures her that he or she does not know if there is an attorney or if on diligent effort the attorney has been advised of the request but chose not to appear. If the party or attorney is available the court will require that the requesting attorney invite the other party or attorney to an emergency conference. The remainder of the process follows the Civil Rules.

Summary: Ex parte restraining orders are permitted only when opposing counsel could not be identified or, after diligent effort, was notified but declined to appear; if the other party is available, the requesting attorney must invite them to an emergency conference.

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A Motion for Default must be filed and granted before obtaining a final hearing date in a default divorce proceeding. The Court does not conduct a final hearing on a default divorce in tandem with the Motion for Default.

Summary: A Motion for Default must be filed and granted before securing a final hearing date, and the final hearing cannot be combined with the default motion.

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Civil cases

The party filing the motion shall refer to the procedure outlined in Section III(A)(ii) of the Eighth Circuit Court’s Chamber Rules to schedule a pretrial conference and have the Motion(s) in Limine heard prior to trial. The Court will offer available dates approximately two weeks prior to trial. Only upon a finding of exceptional circumstances will the Court grant permission to hold a pretrial conference to hear Motions in Limine on the morning of trial.

Summary: Motions in limine must be heard at a pretrial conference scheduled per Section III(A)(ii) before trial; morning-of-trial hearings require exceptional circumstances.

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Required

Always ?

Judicial Settlement Conferences are conducted by the Special Master and are mandatory in all contested cases. Judicial Settlement Conferences are scheduled after a Motion to Set is granted, and the date of the settlement conference must be included in the Order to Set the matter for final hearing. Attorneys and self-represented litigants must contact Ms. Ronnell Griffin by telephone: 615-862-5910 or e-mail: ronnellgriffin@jisnashville.gov to obtain Judicial Settlement Conference dates.

Summary: Judicial Settlement Conferences are mandatory in all contested cases, scheduled after a Motion to Set is granted, with the date included in the Order to Set.

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If your argument is expected to exceed a total of one-half hour, you should schedule the motion specially or alert the court.

Summary: Motions with arguments expected to exceed one-half hour should be specially scheduled or brought to the court's attention.

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Civil cases

Judge Ingram generally will not resolve discovery disputes by telephone. Attorneys or parties must file the appropriate motion and set for hearing.

Summary: Discovery disputes must be raised by filing a motion set for hearing; the Court generally will not resolve them by telephone.

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Required

Always ?

If a case is not fully resolved in the Judicial Settlement Conference, the case then proceeds to a Pretrial Conference with Judge Williams. This conference is conducted remotely using Microsoft Teams and is utilized to discuss procedure, order of proof, time constraints, deadlines for required filings, and other preliminary matters prior to the commencement of trial. Only attorneys for the parties and self-represented litigants are required to participate in the Pretrial Conference.

Summary: Cases not resolved in Judicial Settlement Conference proceed to a remote Pretrial Conference with Judge Williams to discuss procedure and deadlines.