Patel Trial
Patel Trial
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SCHEDULING ORDER
TRIAL is SET before Judge Edwards on March 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Trial is
anticipated to last 10 days, not including jury selection. A pretrial conference will be
HELD on March 18, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. by video teleconference. An invitation will
be sent to all counsel of record prior to the conference. Only counsel of record may
attend. Attendance by trial counsel is required. The pretrial deadlines are as follows:
    3. January 29, 2026           Expert Witness Disclosure by party with the burden of
       60 days before trial       proof.
    4. February 18, 2026                Expert Witness Disclosure by party without the burden
       40 days before trial             of proof.
    9. March 23, 2026                   Real Time Glossary. By this date, each party shall
       7 days before trial              submit to the court reporter a witness list, glossary of
                                        names and unusual terms, and/or word index of terms
                                        likely to be stated on the record during trial that are
                                        technical, scientific, medical, or otherwise uncommon.
    10. March 25, 2026                  Witness Lists (with witnesses designated as “fact” or
        5 days before trial             “expert,” and the expected length of testimony).
1
  For instructions regarding these documents, see Appendix, § I.
2
  See Appendix, § IV.
3
  Absent permission otherwise, counsel must provide 2 bench books to chambers, 1 to the Courtroom
Deputy, and 1 to each opposing party. Counsel must also provide the Courtroom Deputy with a flash drive
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containing all trial exhibits. Prior to jury selection, counsel must deliver 1 bench book to the courtroom for
the use of testifying witnesses at trial.
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Appendix
I. Pretrial Conference
       For discussion at the pretrial conference, counsel will file a list of ALL
foreseeable issues that will arise on admissibility of evidence, burden of proof, and
any other issues that can or must be dealt with in advance of trial. The purpose to
be served is to eliminate, to the extent possible, delays during the course of the trial,
and to permit advance preparation and research of issues expected to be raised at
trial. The issue list will include counsel's opinion whether a pretrial hearing will be
necessary to resolve any of these foreseeable issues. Examples of such issues which
may require a hearing include, but are not limited to:
      1. Extrinsic evidence questions under U.S. v. Beechum, 582 F.2d 898 (5th Cir.
         1978);
      2. Voluntariness of statements under 18 U.S.C. § 3501;
      3. Admissibility questions; and/or
      4. Any other issue resolvable by a pretrial hearing.
      The Court will conduct voir dire. Counsel may submit proposed voir dire
questions specific to a party or the case for the Court’s consideration.
C. Jury Instructions
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instruction. Fifth Circuit authority is preferable. A simple case citation will not be
sufficient.
II. Continuances
       Any request for a continuance of the trial setting or a pretrial deadline MUST
include the specific reasons why the scheduled trial date or pretrial deadlines do not
afford sufficient time, the exact amount of additional time requested and, if the party
is requesting a trial continuance, the motion MUST include the relevant provision(s)
of 18 U.S.C. § 3161 authorizing the continuance.
A. Guilty Pleas
      Prior to the taking of a guilty plea, counsel are to submit a plea packet to the
Court, which includes each of the following documents:
Absent good cause, guilty pleas will not be set until after receipt of the foregoing
documents, signed by defendant and all counsel.
B. Sentencing
4The Court may accept oral testimony in lieu of a written, stipulated factual basis for the
guilty plea.
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presentencing memorandum does not relieve the parties from the obligation of
providing the probation officer with written objections to the presentence report
within fourteen (14) days from the day of disclosure. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(f); LCrR
32.1.