Courtroom Technology
Counsel should make an appointment with the courtroom deputy prior to a trial or hearing to become familiar with the availability, operation, and compatibility of the courtroom technology systems should they wish to utilize them.

Jury/Bench Trials
All cases are set for trial during a monthly trial term. About 15 days prior to the scheduled trial term, the court will distribute a trial calendar listing the cases to all counsel and pro se parties. The cases are not necessarily tried in the order they appear on the calendar. Judge Adams does not conduct a calendar call. The courtroom deputy will notify counsel or pro se parties when a case has been called up for trial. The court makes every effort to provide as much notice as possible. Absent exceptional circumstances, the court does not regularly provide trial dates certain. If the court does not reach a case during the scheduled trial term, the case will be rescheduled on the next trial docket.

Counsel and pro se parties should file proposed jury instructions with citations, verdict forms, and voir dire by the deadline set forth in an order entered following the pretrial conference, which is generally 15 days before the trial term. In addition, they should email copies of the proposed verdict form and jury instructions without citations in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or WordPerfect format (.wpd) to chambers.

Judge Adams personally conducts voir dire.

Each side is limited to a total of three peremptory challenges. In multiple-party cases, each side shares the peremptory challenges.

Counsel are generally limited to 30 minutes for opening statement. With prior approval, exhibits may be used in opening statements.

The court conducts Daubert hearings before trial when appropriate.

Counsel and pro se parties should electronically file exhibit and witness lists by the Friday before trial. They should provide three copies of the exhibit and witness lists to the courtroom deputy the morning of trial. All questions regarding the marking of exhibits should be directed to the courtroom deputy.

Trial briefs are required in bench trials. The briefs may not exceed 10 pages. The deadline for filing briefs is set forth in the order entered following the pretrial conference.

Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are generally required within 30 days after conclusion of bench trials.

Motion Practice
All dispositive motions should include citation to authority, including pinpoint cites. Initially, the court accepts deposition excerpts in support of summary-judgment motions, but the court may request submission of the entire transcript at a later date.

Judge Adams does not regularly provide oral argument on dispositive motions.

Counsel and pro se parties must provide a courtesy copy of any document filed that exceeds 25 pages (including exhibits) to chambers as promptly as possible after the document's filing via United States mail or other reliable service.

Judge Adams does not allow hearings by telephone.

The court will establish the deadline for filing motions in limine at the pretrial conference.

Pretrial Conference
Judge Adams personally conducts pretrial conferences. There is no standing order regarding pretrial conferences. 

Proposed Orders
Parties must comply with the Administrative Procedures for Electronic Filing in Civil and Criminal Cases in the submitting proposed orders. They should not docket the proposed orders with the motion on CM/ECF.

Settlement
Judge Adams generally requires the use of alternative dispute resolution such as court-annexed, non-binding arbitration and mediation. Judge Adams does not conduct settlement conferences. Parties must immediately notify the court when a case settles. Any case scheduled for trial will remain on the trial docket until an order of dismissal is entered.

Change of Plea
A change of plea must be entered before the assigned magistrate judge by the deadline established on the trial calendar for the specific trial term.

Discovery
The court generally refers discovery issues to the assigned magistrate judge.

Sentencing
Counsel should notify chambers at (904) 549-1930 if a scheduled sentencing is expected to last longer than 30 minutes.

Status Conference
Status conferences are not conducted in cases assigned to Judge Adams.