JUDGE DAVID NUFFER

Contact Information, Practices & Procedures and Resources 

Contact Information:   

E-mail:  dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov.  Our goal is same-day response. Please include case name and number in the email subject line, and show a copy sent simultaneously to all counsel.  Find lawyers' e-mail addresses at the Utah Bar or Lawyers.com or using the Mailing Info For a Case Utility in CM/ECF.

Telephone:(801) 524-6150. 

We do our best to cover the phone from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but may be in court.  All counsel should conference together before calling the court.  Our phone system cannot conference.  Please help us avoid ex parte contact.

Mailing Address: 350 South Main, Room 235, Salt Lake City, UT  84101

Copies of correspondence between counsel should not be sent to the court.

Courtroom

Our regular courtroom is 230 on the north end of the second floor.  Be sure to check the daily court calendar to verify which courtroom we are using.

Courtesy Copies:

While the local court rule provides that all courtesy copies should be delivered through the clerk's office, there are frequently delays in delivery of such courtesy copies.  E-mail (to dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov) or direct delivery to chambers of a courtesy copy of any document filed in paper (including all sealed documents) is greatly appreciated and ensures that the we will receive the intended courtesy copy.  Electronic filers under CM/ECF can be assured that chambers receives the Notice of Electronic Filing for all unsealed documents and retrieves documents filed and served in that manner within 24-48 hours of filing.  

Faxes:

We do not accept material via fax.  Please email to dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov.

Civil Motions:

Generally, civil motions will be decided without hearing, unless there is some extraordinary deficiency in the papers submitted.  At times, a  request for further information will issue, with or without a notice of hearing, to ensure the record is complete.  Courtesy copies of motion papers are greatly appreciated.  

If expedited treatment of a motion is desired, counsel should secure consent of counsel to an expedited schedule or move for an expedited schedule, submitting a proposed order for expedited treatment.  Orders for Expedited Treatment of Motion Sample 1   Sample 2   

In CM/ECF, be sure to specify that the motion seeks to Expedite, as well as seeks the relief sought.  (Control-click to select all applicable types of relief.)

Please contact the Case Manager at (801) 524-6150 regarding emergency motions on discovery issues.  The Case Manager will often direct that all counsel join in a telephone conference at a specified time, and/or may direct that an e-mail summary be provided.

Motions Ready for Decision:

We make every effort to track motions and attend to them when the prescribed periods of briefing have elapsed.  We may, however, not receive courtesy copies or we may simply err in tracking time periods, so please e-mail us if you are concerned about a possible oversight.  If parties agree to extend time for briefing, please notify the court.  And if no response or reply memorandum will be filed, a notice to that effect is appreciated.  

Hearings on Motions:

Judge Nuffer is usually prepared to pose specific questions to counsel at motion hearings, so counsel should not prepare for conventional argument or repeat contents of memoranda. PowerPoint presentations are usually disfavored because they are pre-determined and linear. If a PowerPoint presentation is proposed, please bring a print of the slides for the Judge to review and evaluate before the hearing. Counsel should be prepared to draft an order after the hearing and propose it to opposing counsel as provided in DUCivR 54-1.

Changing Hearing Dates:

Modifications to any hearing date should be stipulated, and requested by joint filing or e mail to dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov or by phone call with all counsel on the phone, calling the Case Manager at (801) 524-6150.

Proposed Orders:  

At the time a motion is filed (and a .pdf copy of the order is attached to the motion -- see Administrative Procedures II. G.), or after a hearing on a motion after complying with DUCivR-54-1 or  DUCrimR 12(f), the moving party should submit the proposed order to the judge.  All proposed orders must be submitted in a word processing editable format.  We prefer Microsoft Word format.  Proposed orders should not be submitted in .pdf format.  The proposed order must be e-mailed to dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov.  If objections to the order are still unresolved, the party objecting should e-mail the objections and that party's proposed revision of the order.  All e-mails must be copied to all counsel.

The proposed order must refer to the docket entry number(s) for the motion(s) resolved, and should be in a form similar to these sample orders:  

Orders Granting Motion to Compel  Sample 1   Sample 2   Sample 3
Orders Granting Attorney's Fees  Sample 1   Sample 2   Sample 3
Orders for Expedited Treatment of Motion  Sample 1   Sample 2   
Order Granting Motion to Amend  
Order Caption Document 

If you have any problem downloading these documents, try right clicking on the link and then "Save Target as."

Signature Line   

BY THE COURT:

___________________________
David Nuffer
United States District Judge

Trial Information and Forms   

Criminal Trial Order   Criminal Juror Questionnaire  Standard Criminal Jury Instructions
Civil Trial Order    Civil Juror Questionnaire   Standard Civil Jury Instructions

Jury Selection Procedures   Courtroom Seating Chart

Deposition Designation Form

Professionalism and Civility

Attorneys are encouraged to subscribe to and observe the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility.

Writing Style

Judge Nuffer enthusiastically follows the recommendations of Bryan Garner for improved legal writing style (pdf document) by putting citations in footnotes and eliminating substantive footnotes.

Employment

Judge Nuffer's staff all have career status, so no employment applications are currently being considered. 

We welcome intern assistance at all times of the year. We have enjoyed full time or part time intern assistance. We limit intern positions to students who have completed their second year of law school.  Please submit a letter, resume and writing sample to dj.nuffer@utd.uscourts.gov. 

Updated 03/18/2013