COMMISSIONER SUSAN C. BRADFORD
THIRD DISTRICT

1. What Judicial Districts do you cover?

Third.

2. Do you have an office in each District?

Matheson Courthouse W312.

3. What days are you available in each District?

Monday through Friday.

4. What is the name of your scheduling clerk?  How can s/he be reached?

Julie DeYoung at 238-7123.

5. What is the name of your in-court clerk?  How can s/he be reached?

Rachelle Adams at 238-7131.

6. Do you have a set calendar for law and motion?

Yes, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. each day.
Some Fridays at 9:00 a.m.

7. Do you have a set calendar for protective orders?

Yes, Thursday 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

8. How do you conduct the call on a calendar?  Do you take resolved cases first?

Call through calendar to see if there are any defaults, continuances or stipulations.  Go back through calendar to hear oral argument on disputed matters.
 
9. What if a client is late? What if the attorney is late?

May result in their default if matter has been called and the other party has left the courtroom.
Generally, do not mention lateness if the attorney has called prior to the hearing, explains the delay and advises the court when they will arrive.  However, again, it may result in a default if both the attorney and client arrive after the matter is called.

10. Do you have case managers? What do they do? What is the process when a case manager is involved?

No.

11. Do you use mediation?

Yes. Litigants should attend mediation prior to pre-trial conference or agree to a mediation session at the pre-trial.

12. Do you use Special Masters?

Not generally.

13. Do you conduct evidentiary hearings?

No.

14. Do you handle matters through proffer?

Yes.

15. Does your clerk send out the notice for a pretrial?

Yes.

16. What do you require the parties to bring to a pretrial?

Certification for Readiness, Financial declaration with income verification, divorce education course certificate, if minor children are involved.  No outstanding motions. Proposed settlement.

17. How do you view your role in pre-trials?

Use pre-trials as settlement conferences.  If I can't resolve, identify issues for trial and make suggestions for the judge.

18. Do you guide settlement of the issues?

Yes.

19. Do you have a particular form that you use for financial declarations?

Yes. Click here for a copy.

20. What financial verification do you require?

Tax return with W-2, pay stubs (recent).

21. When is it appropriate to bring a child to court?

Never, unless the child is being interviewed as instructed by the court.

22. How do you handle allegations of abuse?

Appoint GAL.

23. How long do you schedule for a law and motion matter? 

15 minutes (may).

24. How long for a pre-trial?

15 minutes.

25. What if we anticipate that the matter will exceed that time?

Although they frequently exceed 15 minutes, the parties need to try to limit themselves to the time permitted.

26. Is a minute entry signed by the Commissioner a final order?

No, not a final order.

27. What expectation do you have regarding the dress of the parties?

Appropriate court attire.

28. Can you appoint a guardian-ad-litem? What is the process?

Yes. Make recommendations, parties given form to fill out and provide to GAL office.

29. What if there is a concurrent action in juvenile court?

Case is certified to juvenile court.

30. What authority do you exercise with regard to contempt?

Certify issues to the judge.

31. What if the action is a violation of a recent order by the judge? Does the matter have to come before the Commissioner for certification before it can be taken to the judge?

Same as above.

32. Do you hear Motions for Summary Judgment?


33. What if the matter is taken under advisement and quite a bit of time has elapsed? Do we need to file a document, or is a call to the clerk sufficient?

Generally do not take matters under advisement.  If so, I will specify a certain time and the recommendation will be mailed.

34. What complaints or concerns do you see with the practitioners who appear before you?

35. What should practitioners do to improve their representation?

36. Do you sanction attorneys for abuse of process?

37. Do you sanction attorneys for inappropriate courtroom behavior?

38. What should attorneys do when a child emancipates and the child support is automatically adjusted?

Assist parties in setting a new child support amount.

39. What types of evidence do you expect to see in cases in which a non-guidelines support amount is requested (i.e. the incomes exceed the guideline table, the parties have more than 6 children, there is a disabled child for whom one party is requesting support beyond the age of graduation)?

Needs of children should be very specifically outlined.

40. What problems do you see in pleadings?

No specific prayer for relief.

41. In Orders?

42. Do you have any special concerns (pet peeves)?

Limit oral argument to a brief summary or rebuttal.  Do not read from pleadings, as I read all pleadings in advance of the hearing.

43. Do you have any concerns about ethical issues you see?

44. Do you require an Order to Show Cause for contempt?