Jury Trials
All cases set for trial during a monthly trial term will be listed on a trial calendar distributed to all counsel and pro se parties the preceding month. The cases will generally be tried in the order they are listed on the calendar. Criminal cases are listed first. Trial dates certain are not granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Proposed jury instructions and verdict forms are filed at the time of the pretrial conference. Parties should file any proposed voir dire questions five days before jury selection. The jury instructions and verdict form should also be provided to the court on a disk in WordPerfect format (.wpd).

Exhibit lists and witness lists (an original and three copies) must be filed with the courtroom deputy on the morning of trial, before jury selection.

Motion Practice
Judge Kovachevich issues a standing order in civil cases. This order requires that a party provide copies to her office of all motions, responses or other filings that exceed 25 pages, including exhibits or attachments.

Judge Kovachevich does not regularly hear argument on motions, dispositive or otherwise. Her chambers will set oral argument if she determines it is appropriate. Discovery matters are referred to the magistrate judge assigned to the case. The court will approve consents to the magistrate judge for less than the entire case (i.e. for entry of a final order, not report and recommendation, on motion for summary judgment).

Pretrial Conferences
Judge Kovachevich conducts preliminary pretrial conferences under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 16 as necessary. She refers all cases to the assigned magistrate judge to conduct the conference. She requires the parties in a jury trial to bring their proposed jury instructions, jury verdict forms, and trial briefs to the pretrial conference for the magistrate judge to review. In a non-jury case, only the trial brief is required.

Settlement
Most civil cases are referred to mediation before trial. Judge Kovachevich does not conduct settlement conferences but often refers cases to a magistrate judge to conduct a settlement conference in conjunction with a pretrial conference.

Change of Plea
Judge Kovachevich refers changes of plea to the assigned magistrate judge.

Discovery
Discovery issues are referred to the assigned magistrate judge.

Jury Trials
All cases set for trial during a monthly trial term will be listed on a trial calendar distributed to all counsel and pro se parties the preceding month. The cases will generally be tried in the order they are listed on the calendar. Criminal cases are listed first. Trial dates certain are not granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, and any proposed voir dire questions should be filed five days prior to jury selection. A courtesy copy should be sent to Judge Kovachevich's chambers. The jury instructions and verdict form should also be provided to the court on a disk in WordPerfect format (.wpd).

Sentencing
Judge Kovachevich regularly conducts sentencing starting at 10:00 a.m. on Fridays and other days as necessary. Counsel should notify the courtroom deputy in advance if the sentencing is expected to last longer than 30 minutes so the court can set it with ample time to complete the proceeding.