Opinion
TRIAL SETTING ORDER AND PRETRIAL SCHEDULE
YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, District Judge.
On June 5, 2014, the Court convened a regularly scheduled status conference. John Hemann and Randy Luskey appeared on behalf of the Government. Raj Chatterjee appeared on behalf of defendant Ayman Shahid, who was present and out of custody.
The Indictment filed on May 15, 2014 charges eighteen counts: Counts One for conspiracy to commit bank fraud under Title 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and Counts Two through Eighteen for bank fraud under Title 18 U.S.C. § 1344. The conduct alleged in the Indictment spanned from the period on or about June 26, 2006 through the period on or about October 2008.
Having considered the record in this action, the arguments of all parties, and for good cause shown, the Court enters the following orders:
A. PRETRIAL SCHEDULE
1. The government shall complete its non-expert Rule 16 discovery production by August 11, 2014, subject to further productions following any motions to compel discovery. Pursuant to its stipulation, the Government shall voluntarily produce the majority of the FBI 302s promptly after a trial date is set. The Government shall produce any remaining Jencks Act material, and designate any Rule 404(b) evidence and co-conspirator statements it intends to offer at trial by January 31, 2015.
2. Motions to Dismiss: Defendant shall file motions to dismiss by August 21, 2014; the Government shall file oppositions by September 11, 2014; and the defendant shall file any replies by September 25, 2014. Motions to dismiss shall be heard on October 2, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.
3. Motions to Suppress: Defendant shall file any suppression motions by October 17, 2014; the Government shall file oppositions by October 31, 2014; and the defendant shall file any replies by November 7, 2014. Motions to suppress shall be heard on November 20, 2014 at 3:00 p.m.
B. Trial Setting and Deadlines
1. Trial Date and Schedule: The trial of this matter is scheduled to begin on March 9, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1 of the above-referenced Court. Parties are advised that jury selection may be advanced to Friday, March 6, 2015. The Court will make the final determination on this issue at the Pretrial Conference.
Trial schedule will be generally as follows: Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with two fifteen-minute breaks. Additional time may be scheduled for matters outside the presence of the jury as necessary and determined by the Court. Side bars are not permitted. Counsel should be prepared to anticipate issues so that they may be addressed outside of normal trial hours.
2. Pretrial Conference:
a. A pretrial conference shall be held on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.
b. The parties shall comply with Local Rule 17.1-1(b) and the Court's Standing Order in Criminal Cases and shall timely file the pretrial conference statement addressing all fifteen (15) issues identified therein and all related filings by February 6, 2015.
c. The Government shall disclose any Henthorn or Giglio information to the defense by the date that the witness lists are due to be filed.
3. Motions in Limine: A motion in limine refers "to any motion, whether made before or during trial, to exclude anticipated prejudicial evidence before the evidence is actually offered." Luce v. United States, 469 U.S. 38, 40 n. 2 (1984).
Not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the pretrial conference, the parties shall serve, but not file, motions in limine. Not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the pretrial conference, the parties shall serve any oppositions thereto. The parties shall then meet and confer to resolve the motions. Any motions not resolved shall be filed not less than seven (7) days prior to the pretrial conference. The parties shall submit one JOINT CHAMBERS set, including collating the motion with the respective opposition. The proponent of the motion shall also submit a COMPREHENSIVE proposed form of order summarizing each motion and the requested relief.
The Court hereby orders that witnesses shall be excluded until testimony is completed. The parties are ordered to admonish witnesses of the Court's rulings. Failure to comply with a ruling by the Court may result in sanctions, including without limitation, the striking of the witness's entire testimony.
4. Experts: The parties shall meet and confer on the issue of timing of expert disclosures and shall file a stipulation and/or joint statement regarding the same with a proposed form of order no later than July 10, 2014.
5. Exhibits and Exhibit Lists: No witness may be shown any document or other object until it has been marked for identification using an exhibit number. The jury may not be shown any exhibits until admitted into evidence or stipulated by the parties as to admissibility without the express permission of the Court.
To the extent agreed upon, the parties shall file Exhibit Lists identifying those for which a stipulation of admissibility exists with an "S" in the appropriate box. When printing and providing these documents to the Court, please use the "portrait" orientation only. (Do not use "landscape" orientation.) A sample format is provided below:
A binder of anticipated exhibits shall be provided to the Court no later than seven (7) days prior to the pretrial conference. Physical evidence must also be pre-marked. For purposes of the Court's binder of anticipated exhibits, a picture of any physical evidence should be taken and placed in the binder.
The parties are advised to review their exhibits critically and determine whether sub-designations are appropriate for both the record and rulings on any potential objections. For instance, if an exhibit consists of a series of pictures, rather than designate the exhibit collectively as Exhibit 1, each picture should have a designation, i.e. Exhibit 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 1-E and 1-F. Further, to the extent that the evidence includes voluminous records, the Court may not need a copy set of the entire exhibit and will consider proposals for reducing the amount of paper necessary to be included, including use of digital forms of media and/or summaries.
6. Equipment: Computers, projectors, screens and similar equipment must be tested in the courtroom prior to the day when it will be used. Arrangements may be made with the Courtroom Deputy, Frances Stone, at (510) 637-3540, as to the appropriate time for doing so. The U.S. Marshals require a court order to allow equipment. Any party needing such an order must file a request and proposed order.
7. Failure to Comply: Failure to comply with the obligations set forth in this order will result in sanctions commensurate with the gravity of the failure.
8. Speedy Trial Act: In addition, for the reasons set forth on the record on June 5, 2014, the Court understands the parties to request that the Court exclude time under the Speedy Trial Act between June 5, 2014 and March 9, 2015. The parties stipulate that the time is excludable from the time limitations of the Speedy Trial Act because the interests of justice are served by granting a continuance, pursuant to Title 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A) and (B)(iv). Such continuance is required because government counsel has produced voluminous discovery, and defense counsel needs the time to review the discovery and prepare motions. This continuance will allow reasonable time necessary for effective preparation and continuity of counsel, taking into account the exercise of due diligence. As such, and pursuant to the parties' stipulation, the Court excludes time between June 12, 2014 and March 9, 2015 under Title 18 U.S.C. §3161(h)(7)(A) and (B)(iv). The Court notes that counsel for Defendant Shahid have represented that they have consulted with their client regarding this delay and his right to a speedy trial, and confirm that he knowingly and voluntarily agrees to the delay and waives his right to a speedy trial.
IT IS SO ORDERED.