I have eliminated the traditional Monday morning calendar call for civil terms of court. Instead, I have been employing an "e-calendar call". The goal of the e-calendar call is to reduce the amount of time that lawyers, clients, and pro se parties spend in court for matters other than the trial of the case scheduled during that term. Ideally, those involved in a lawsuit should only be in court when trying a matter scheduled. You no longer need to appear on the first day of a civil term to report information about your case(s). This is all provided prior to the term with the use of the case information form. By taking 5 or 10 minutes to fill out and submit this form, you can potentially save you and your clients hours.

When the attorneys and pro se participants on a civil calendar fill out and submit the case information form, that information is posted to this web site prior to the term of court (click here for an example). You can see which cases have been settled or continued and get an idea of the estimated duration of those cases which are listed for trial. I hope that this information allows you to better gauge the likelihood of your case being called.

This pre-term information allows me to publish a trial/hearing calendar which sets the specific times for specific cases to be heard. This calendar is generally published one week in advance of the term. If your cases are not listed for hearing on Monday morning of the term, you will know that you are free to attend another court or set appointments for that day. Lawyers and parties will not need to come to court unless your case is called for trial.

As indicated in an earlier memorandum, there will be no in-court calendar call for this term of court. If your case is not among the cases listed for hearing Tuesday morning, there is no reason for you or your client(s) to make an appearance in court at that time. There will be no need for you to appear until your case is called for trial or hearing.

If there has been any change in the status of your case(s) since reporting to me earlier, please re-submit the case information form before the beginning of the term to let me know of the change.

I have scheduled the first 3 days of this term of court as shown below. I will update the calendar on the web site each night after court. You will be contacted by phone or by email to advise you of any cases set for hearing after the first 3 days. You can follow the progress of the term during the day by clicking the "Updates" button, below. I will try to let you know periodically if things are on schedule in the courtroom.

I have tried to schedule around the conflicts that you have with other courts that you have reported. If I have failed to do that and you have a court conflict for one of the times your case is scheduled, please let me know as soon as possible. If I don’t hear from you, we will assume you will be present at the scheduled time.

The numbers below, positioned in front of the case names, are an abbreviation of the case numbers. The first number is the last digit of the year of filing and the remaining numbers are the numbers that come after the "CVD".

In the past, I tried to update the civil calendars, both prior to and during the term, by using a blog I developed. Unfortunately, this proved a bit cumbersome and wasn't used as much as I would have liked. I have now opened a Twitter account that I think more effectively allows me to provide these updates.. If you want to get the latest information regarding civil calendar updates you can click on the "updates" button, below.. This will take you to the Twitter page where I will post messages regarding ongoing terms of court. Each message will identify the term to which it applies.

Alternatively, you can set up your own Twitter account and the "follow" my entries. Any time I post a civil calendar related entry it will automatically post to your Twitter home page. If you set up a Twitter account, just run a search for "Steven J. Bryant". You should find two accounts. The one that you're interested in is titled "Civil Calendar" and has a picture of a gavel as shown below.

(Second column indicates the reported likelihood of settlement)
(Attorneys' names shown in red have indicated a scheduling conflict during the term)

CASE INFORMATION FORM ^©

As many of you know, I have been utilizing the equivalent of an "electronic" calendar call for the past couple of years. Rather than receiving basic information concerning the readiness and duration of a case on the first morning of court, this data has been collected in advance of the term in the hope of maximizing trial time and minimizing your wasted time.

In the past this information has often been submitted by email. I have created the form below in an attempt to make the gathering and organizing of this information a little easier for you and for me. You can simply tab from box to box below to fill in the necessary information. I have provided enough space to submit information for up to 6 cases at one time. If you have more than 6 cases on a given calendar, you can submit the first 6 cases by clicking on the send button at the bottom of the form and then start the process over.

I have included a space for comments. I hope this will be used to advise me of matters such as the likelihood of settlement, scheduling problems, or anything that you think might help me organize the calendar.

I think that the form is fairly self-explanatory. If you have questions, you can email me at sbryant@judgebryant.com .

JUDGE BRYANT'S CASE INFORMATION FORM ^©

*Attorney's or unrepresented party's name:

*Attorney's or unrepresented party's email address:

* Please be sure to include your name and email address.

Case #1

1. Select county of court term:

2. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

3.    vs.
    Plaintiff (last name)                          Defendant (last name)

4. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

5. Expected duration of hearing:

6. Likelihood of settlement:

7. Notice:

8 Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

Case #2

1. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

2.    vs.
        Plaintiff (last name)                                 Defendant (last name)

3. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

4. Expected duration of hearing:

5. Likelihood of settlement:

6. Notice:

7. Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

Case #3

1. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

2.     vs.
    Plaintiff (last name)                                 Defendant (last name)

3. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

4. Expected duration of hearing:

5. Likelihood of settlement:

6. Notice:

7. Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

Case #4

1. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

2.    vs.
      Plaintiff (last name)                                      Defendant (last name)

3. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

4. Expected duration of hearing:

5. Likelihood of settlement:

6. Notice:

7. Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

Case #5

1. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

2.    vs.
         Plaintiff (last name)                            Defendant (last name)

3. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

4. Expected duration of hearing:

5. Likelihood of settlement:

6. Notice:

7. Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

Case #6

1. Case Number (e.g. 03 CVD 123)

2.    vs.
         Plaintiff (last name)                               Defendant (last name)

3. Ready for hearing/trial?
   (If you answered "no", please file motion to continue)

4. Expected duration of hearing:

5. Likelihood of settlement:

6. Notice:

7. Scheduling comments:

Send this file:

Click "Send" Button at the bottom of this form.

CHEROKEE l CLAY l GRAHAM l HAYWOOD l JACKSON l MACON l SWAIN I TRIBAL COURT

RULE 2 - 30th JUDICIAL DISTRICT LOCAL RULES
(CONTINUANCES)

(If you click on the underlined "30A" in paragraph 2.2, below, it will take you directly to the "motion and order for continuance" form.)

2.1 Requests for continuances may be filed as follows:

(A) At any time prior to the 10th day before the term begins
(B) For good cause at any time before trial

2.2 Any request, at any time prior to the beginning of the calendared session, for a continuance of any matter on the docket, shall be made to the presiding judge on form 30A or by letter, which includes the same information. The reason for the request must be clearly stated. The position of the case on the trial calendar alone will not necessarily be considered a valid reason for granting the requested continuance. Any engagement in another court as a reason for a continuance must state the case number, the court in which the other case is pending, its position on that calendar, and date of trial. The counsel or unrepresented party making the request shall include, if they know, the response of the opposing counsel or unrepresented parties making the request for continuance.

2.3 Opposing counsel must be notified in writing, with certification of service, of the request for continuance prior to or at the same time of the delivery of this request to the presiding judge. If the party objects to the request, they must immediately file a reply to the request for continuance to the presiding judge.

2.4 A continuance will be granted five (5) working days after the mailing date, if no objection is made or received and the presiding judge finds good cause to continue the matter.

2.5 The attorney or unrepresented party requesting a continuance prior to the ten (10 ) day cut off date will enclose, with the motion for continuance, a stamped, self-addressed, envelope for return of the order. The movant shall be responsible for filing the original with the clerk and notifying the opposing parties of the granting or denial of the motion.

2.6 Motions for continuances will be heard at the calendar call at the beginning of that particular session unless a continuance has been granted by the presiding judge. If a party objects to a continuance request and it is important that the motion for continuance be heard before the beginning of the session, the presiding judge will try to hear the motion at any time before the court date if it can be arranged at a time convenient to the presiding judge.

2.7 If good cause arises to request a continuance after the ten (10) day cut off time passes, the party requesting a continuance should notify the other parties in writing, with certification of service, if enough time remains for delivery. If not enough time, notice should be made by phone, even as late as the day before the beginning of the term.

2.8 Motions for continuance may be heard b telephone conference calls ( all parties and the judge on line ). The moving party must arrange and pay for these conference calls.

CHEROKEE l CLAY l GRAHAM l HAYWOOD l JACKSON l MACON l SWAIN I TRIBAL COURT

DOMESTIC RELATIONS
09 CVD 866 Graham v. McKay	-	motion to continue?	-
Holloway & pro se
1071 Barton v. Barton	X	no service	-
Bryson & pro se
NON-JURY
5266 Ambler v. Countertops	25-75%	ready (jury case?)	1/2 day
McKinney & Cowan
7331 Adams v. Adams	25-75%	ready 1	2 hours -1 day
Parker & McKinney
7697 Roskelly v. Upchurch	50%	ready	1/2 - 1 1/2 day
Parker & Lewis
889 Bezanson v. Cherokee Co.	50%	ready	2 hours - 3/4 day
McKinney & Lindsay
8715 Bryson v. McKay	-	motion to continue?	-
Holloway & Lindsay
9108 Roskelly v. Upchurch	75%	ready 1 (motion to consolidate/motion re:discovery)	1 hour
Parker & Sumpter
9310 Shields v. Patten	0%	ready 1	2 hours
Lay & Steinbronn
9311 Shields v. Patten	0%	ready 1	2 hours - 1 day
Stewart & Steinbronn
9413 Bohanon v. Bassett	X	continued	-
Sumpter & Davis
9458 Discover v. Patton	X	dismissed	-
Washington & pro se
9478 Discover v. Green		-	-
pro se & pro se
9507 Discover v. Bennett	X	judgment entered	-
Taylor & pro se
9540 Arrow v. Canal		-	-
Babb & pro se
9561 AMEX v. Speigel	X	judgment entered	-
Taylor & pro se
9562 AMEX v. Shanaberger		-	-
Babb & pro se
9566 Rosen v. Loveless	-	ready - pending motions	-
Sumpter & Davis
9590 Travelers v. Farmer's	X	continued	-
Small & Sumpter
9596 Portfolio v. Yarbrough	`X`	`default judgment entered`	`-`
Zabala & pro se
Puronic v. Bruce	X	judgment entered	-
Ellison & pro se
9716 Patten v. Hicks	0%	ready 1	2 hours
Steinbronn & Lay
9723 Patten v. Shields	0%	ready 1	2 hours - 1 day
Steinbronn & Stewart
MOTIONS
7586 Gant v. Bryson		ready 1 (peremptorily set)	2 days
Blomeley & Collins
6507 Talbott v. House	50%	ready 1+	1 hour - 1/2 day
Sumpter & Buckner/McNew/Lewis/Pinkston/Hunt/McNeill
8528 Pressley v. Pressley	25-75%	ready 1	2 hours -1/2 day
Duncan & Cook
9419 Wake Forest v. Fields	X	reported settled	-
Truesdell & pro se
9798 BB&T v. Radford		ready	15 minutes
Stein & pro se
1023 Waters v. Cherokee DSS		ready 1	15 minutes
Parker & Lindsay
E.D. TRIAL
6347 Turner v. Turner		ready 1	1/2 day
Davis & McKinney
6526 Reid v. Reid	0-25%	ready 1+	3/4 - 1 day
Cook & Fowler
7525 Bass v. Bass	75%	ready 1	1/2 -1 day
McKinney & Parker
7760 Sutton v. Sutton	50%	ready 1+	1 hour -1 day
Cook & McNew
8644 McNabb v. McNabb	X	continued	-
Goldstein & Cook
FINAL E.D. PRE-TRIAL
8742 Jones v. Jones	-	pre-trial motions as well	30 minutes
Parker & Sumpter
`INITIAL E.D. PRETRIAL`
`9302 Neel v. Neel`	`X`	`settled`	`-`
`McKinney & Cook`
`9455 Glenn v. Glenn`	`X`	`reported settled`	`-`
`McKinney & Davis`
SCHEDULING AND DISCOVERY PRE-TRIAL
`9268 Bennett v. Bennett`	`-`	`reported settled`	`-`
`Davis & pro se`
`9490 Muse v. Muse`		`ready`	`brief`
`McKinney & Cook`
`9509 Mashburn v. Mashburn`		`ready`	`brief`
`Blomeley & McKinney`
`9567 Carpenter v. Carpenter`	`-`	`for dismissal`	`-`
`Lindsay & pro se`
9592 McCoy v. McCoy		`ready`	`brief`
`McNew & Bryson`
`9643 Aragao-Teixeira v. Aragao-Teixeira`		`ready 1`	brief
`Davis & McKinney`
`9680 Wilson v. Wilson`		`ready`	`brief`
`McNew & pro se`
`9748 Waldroup v. Waldroup`		`ready (divorce ready)`	`-`
`Blomeley & Cook`
`9971 Anderson v. Anderson`		`ready (divorce ready)`	`brief`
`Fowler & pro se`
`DELINQUENT JUDGMENTS`
`7794 Ensley v. Ensley`	`-`	`-`	`-`
`Cook & Fowler`
`8354 Riddle v. Riddle`	X	judgment tendered	-
`McKinney & pro se`
ADD-ON CASES
`976 Bandy v. Bandy`		ready	-
pro se & pro se
9737 Gibby v. McDonald		ready	-
Holloway & pro se
9793 Cooper v. Cooper		ready	very brief
Fowler & Cook
1075 Ellison v.Gibby		ready	-
pro se & pro se
1076 Ellison v.McDonald		ready	-
pro se & pro se
1077 Ellison v. Gibby		ready	-
pro se & pro se
1078 Ellison v. McDonald		ready	-
pro se & pro se
0?? Neubert v. Neubert		ready	very brief
pro se & pro se
`Copyright © 2000-2009 www.judgebryant.com & Steven J. Bryant. All rights reserved.`

NON-JURY
2394 Dickey v. Mashburn	-	continued	-
McKinney & McNew
4577 Fairlane v. Cheney	0%	ready	<15 minutes
Zabala & pro se
4339 Witt v. Cook		ready	-
pro se & pro se
JURY PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES
476 Burts v. Sumpter	-	ready	very brief
Kane & McKinney
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION TRIALS
3233 Francis v. Francis	X	continued	-
Phillips & Holloway
E.D. FINAL PRE-TRIAL
3176 Harris v. Harris	X	continued	-
Cook & McKinney
3357 Williams v. Williams	X	settled	-
Beck & Cook/McKinney/Blomeley
4190 Dickey v. Dickey	X	settled	-
McKinney & Beck
4196 Foster v. Foster	X	settled	-
McKinney & Davis
E.D. SCHEDULING & DISCOVERY PRE-TRIALS
386 Aiken v. Aiken		ready	very brief
pro se & Mckinney
4153 Payne v. Payne	-	no issues remaining	-
Mckinney & Joe Collins
4336 Dunlap v. Dunlap		ready	very brief
McKinney & Cook
4414 Burchfield v. Burchfield	-	ready	very brief
pro se & pro se
4472 Crisp v. Crisp	-	ready	very brief
Sumpter & pro se
4484 Vaughn v. Vaughn	-	ready	very brief
McKinney & Jerry Collins
4489 Graham v. Graham	-	ready	very brief
Blomeley & Wood
4516 Allen v. Allen	-	ready	very brief
McKinney & Cook
4545 Ambler v. Ambler	-	ready	very brief
Blomeley & Walker
4561 Harr v. Harr	-	ready	very brief
Blomeley & Cook
4563 Bizuka v. Bizuka	-	ready	very brief
Cook & Sumpter
ADD-0N CASES
412 Cantafio v. Carver (Clay Co.)	-	settled	-
Blomeley & pro se
553 Martin v. Martin	-	ready - possible settlement	-
pro se & pro se
598 Langford v. Pringle	-	ready	-
pro se & pro se
`Copyright © 2000-2010 www.judgebryant.com & Steven J. Bryant. All rights reserved.`