Practices & Procedures

I. Contact Information:

A. Email:

• Email regarding scheduling or other case management matters may be sent to the case manager at Mary_Jane_McNamee@utd.uscourts.gov. Proposed orders may be emailed to utdecf_shelby@utd.uscourts.gov.
• Except in rare circumstances, opposing counsel should be copied on all email correspondence with chambers.

B. Telephone:

• Telephone calls to chambers regarding scheduling and procedural matters are permitted.
• For case scheduling, please call the case manager at (801) 524-6790 or by email at Mary_Jane_McNamee@utd.uscourts.gov.
• Hearings may be requested by written motion or by calling the case manager at (801) 524-6790 or by email at Mary_Jane_McNamee@utd.uscourts.gov.
• TRO Hearings will not be set prior to the filing and review of the Motion for a TRO. Absent extraordinary circumstances, Judge Shelby will not set a TRO hearing without allowing a brief opportunity for the opposing party or counsel to respond. If you seek a hearing without time for opposing counsel to respond, please include the reason in your written motion. The requirements for obtaining an ex parte TRO are set forth in Rule 65(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
  • For procedural questions please call the law clerk assigned to the case:
     

    Case Assignments
    Law Clerk	Cases ending with:	Phone No.
    Anneliese Booher	0, out of district cases	(801)524-6791
    Nate Broadhurst	1, 2, 3	(801)524-6792
    Kaleb LeGore	4, 5, 6	(801)524-6793
    Alexandra Butler	7, 8, 9	(801)524-6794

• For questions regarding sentencings and changes of plea, contact the case manager at (801) 524-6790.

C. Mail:

• Mailing Address: Judge Robert J. Shelby, 351 S. West Temple, Room 10.100, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Copies of correspondence between counsel shall not be sent to the court.

D. Courtroom:

• Our hearings are usually held in Courtroom 3.100, on the 3rd floor. Parties are advised to check the daily court calendar to verify which courtroom we are using.

II. Hearings:

A. Changing Hearing Dates:

• Modifications to any hearing date should be stipulated, and requested by joint filing or email to utdecf_shelby@utd.uscourts.gov. Counsel may also request a modification by phone call to the case manager at (801) 524-6790 provided all counsel are on the call.

B. Courtesy Copies:

• Paper copies of all dispositive motions, memoranda, responses, and exhibits should be delivered directly to chambers at the time the document is filed.

III. Proposed Orders

• Proposed orders should be submitted at the time a motion is filed.
• Proposed orders must refer to the docket entry number(s) for the motion(s) resolved.
• Proposed orders should include the following signature line:
  

  BY THE COURT:

  _________________________
  ROBERT J. SHELBY
  United States District Judge

• The proposed order should be emailed to utdecf_shelby@utd.uscourts.gov. Proposed orders emailed to chambers must be editable and in word processing format.
• If objections to an order are unresolved, the party objecting should email the objections and that party's proposed revision of the order.
• All emails must be copied to all counsel.
• For further information, see the ECF Procedures Manual.

IV. Trial Procedures and Practices

A. Trial Order:

• Our Trial Order generally sets forth the court's procedures and practices for trial. The Trial Order provides information concerning jury instructions, voir dire, exhibit and witness lists, and other trial issues.

Standard Civil Trial Order (word)
Standard Civil Bench Trial Order (word)
Standard Criminal Trial Order (word)

B. Voir Dire:

• The court utilizes the following standard voir dire:
  Standard Civil Voir Dire (word)
  Standard Criminal Voir Dire (word)
   
• The Trial Order describes the procedure and timing for submitting additional proposed voir dire. Jury questionnaires are generally disfavored.

C. Jury Instructions:

• The court utilizes the following stock jury instructions:
  Stock Civil Instructions - Preliminary (word)
  Standard Civil Instructions - General (word)
  Stock Criminal Instructions - Preliminary (word)
  Standard Criminal Instructions - General (word) 
   
• The jury instructions are split into pre-evidence and post-evidence instructions. The Trial Order describes the procedure for supplementing or modifying the stock instructions with case-specific instructions.

D. Courtroom Equipment

• Information about the availability of courtroom equipment may be obtained by calling our case manager at (801) 524-6790. Parties are encouraged to coordinate the use of any electronic media in advance of the trial setting.

E. Courtroom Practices

• Creating the Best Transcript Possible (PDF)

V. Page Limitations

Page limitations for motions and memoranda are set forth in the Local Rules. In accordance with the Local Rules, the court will approve requests for overlength motions and memoranda only for good cause and a showing of exceptional circumstances. Any party seeking to file an overlength motion or memorandum must obtain leave of the court prior to filing the overlength motion or memorandum. As a matter of general practice, the court will strike any overlength motion or memorandum not previously authorized by the court.

Last Updated: 8/22/2023