Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U. S. District Court, District of Massachusetts.
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on April 28, 1992, to a new seat created by 104 Stat. 5089; Confirmed by the Senate on September 23, 1992, and received commission on September 24, 1992.
Education
Dartmouth College, A.B., 1960
Columbia Law School, LL.B., 1966
Courthouse
Boston Courthouse
John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse
1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Courtroom
4, 3rd floor
Courtroom Technology
Contact the courtroom clerk regarding the use of technology in the courtroom. View our courtroom technology page for more information on the technology that is available.
Internet access is available upon request and with the consent of the presiding Judge. Click here for more information.
Staff
Judicial Assistant | Patricia Verrier | ||
Courtroom Clerk | Christine Lima | 617-748-9158 | christine_lima@mad.uscourts.gov |
Docket Clerk | Nicole Cowan | 617-748-4810 | nicole_cowan@mad.uscourts.gov |
Court Reporter | Kristin Kelley | kmob929@gmail.com |
Chambers Procedures/Standing Orders/Sample Orders
USDC Judicial Forum Survey
Civil - Case Management
Q3: Do you have any additional requirement(s) as to the attorneys' obligation that they confer with their client(s) about case budget and ADR pursuant to Local Rule 16.1(D)(3)?
Q4: What, if any, inquiries do you make about settlement prospects and/or interest in mediation at the initial scheduling conference?
Q6: What schedule do you set at the initial scheduling conference?
Q7: After the initial scheduling conference, do you hold status conferences?
Q8: If so, when do you hold status conferences?
Civil - Discovery
Q10: Other than the requirements under Local Rule 16.1(D) for addressing certain discovery topics in the parties' joint statement, what, if any, discovery issues do you like counsel to be prepared to address at the initial scheduling conference?
Q11: What, if any, issues related to electronically stored information should counsel be prepared to address at the initial scheduling conference?
Q12: If the parties intend to file a proposed protective order, do you require any particular format and/or a specific time for doing so?
Q14: Given the new requirement under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1) regarding the proportionality of the scope of discovery, what, if any inquiry do you make about this issue at the initial scheduling conference?
Q15: Other than the requirement that the parties confer in good faith to narrow the issues before filing any discovery motion under Local Rule 37.1(A), what, if any, additional requirements do you make of counsel before considering discovery motions?
Q16: Typically, do you resolve discovery motions or do you refer them to the magistrate judge?
Q18: Please describe your general practice regarding the resolution of discovery motions.
Q19: Under what circumstances will you consider emergency motions regarding discovery matters?
Q20: Do you have any particular practices or requirements about expert disclosures?
Q21: What, if any, expert discovery deadlines do you set at the initial scheduling conference? When do you typically set a schedule for the filing of Daubert motions?
Q22: If the case involves a pro se litigant, do you typically have any different practices in regard to scheduling conferences, status conferences or discovery matters?
Civil - Dispositive Motions
Q23: Other than the presumptive pages limits for memoranda under Rule 7.1(b), do you have any other requirements or preferences about the filing of dispositive motions?
Q25: Do you typically allow reply briefs and/or surreply briefs?
Q26: If you allow reply and/or surreply briefs, do you impose a page limit?
Q27: Do you typically hold a hearing on motions to dismiss?
Q28: Do you typically hold a hearing on summary judgment motions?
Q29: If you typically hold hearings on dispositive motions, what, if any, time limits do you impose on counsel for their arguments?
Q30: Under what, if any, circumstances, would you allow the filing of post-argument briefs?
Civil - Patent Cases
Q31: Do you have any standing order and/or any particular practice regarding the management of patent cases? If so, please describe them.
Q32: If applicable, please upload your standing order regarding the management of patent cases.
Q33: Do you have particular practice about Markman hearings? If so, please describe them including but not limited to whether you allow tutorial(s).
Criminal Matters
Q35: Do you have any particular practices as to scheduling in criminal cases? If so, please describe them.
Q36: If a defendant files a motion for release and/or modification of conditions of release after the case has been referred back to the district judge, is it your typical practice to resolve the motion or refer it back to the magistrate judge?
Q38: Do you have any particular practices regarding the filing of suppression motions or hearings on suppression motions?
General Trial Practice - Pretrial Matters
Q40: If you do not require the filing of a trial brief, under what circumstances do you think it would be helpful to the Court?
Q43: When do you set a deadline for the filing of proposed voir dire, proposed jury instructions and/or special verdict form, witness and exhibits lists, motions in limine? Typically, how far in advance of trial are these deadlines?
Q44: Do you require that proposed voir dire, verdict forms and/or jury instructions be filed in any particular form (i.e., courtesy electronic copy to your deputy clerk in Word or WordPerfect format, etc.)?
Q45: Do you set a page limit for motions in limine? If so, what is it?
Q46: Do you typically hear motions in limine at the final pretrial conference?
Q48: Do you typically hear and/or resolve Daubert motions at the final pretrial conference?
Q52: Do you require trial exhibits to be pre-marked? If so, please describe your practice?
Criminal - Scheduling Trials
Q53: Typically, when do you set a trial date in criminal cases?
Q54: Typically, when do you set a trial date in civil cases?
Q55: What is your typical trial schedule?
Q56: In civil cases, do you set time limits for counsel for opening statements, the presentation of evidence and/or closing arguments? If so, please describe your practice?
Criminal - Jury Selection
Q57: Please describe your jury selection process.
Q58: Under what circumstances, if any, have you or would you consider using a juror questionnaire?
Q59: If you would consider the use of a jury questionnaire, when and in what form should it be proposed?
Q60: Have you or would you consider allowing attorney voir dire?
General Trial Practice - Trial Practices
Q63: Do you require counsel to use the podium during openings, examination of witnesses and/or closings?
Q64: How many rounds of examination do you typically allow?
Q65: Under what, if any, circumstances, will you allow a rebuttal case?
Q66: Do you have any preferences about the use of chalks during openings and closings?
counsel beforehand
Q67: Do you have any particular practice in regard to jury charge conferences? If so, please describe it.
Q69: Will you consider counsel's proposals of a special verdict form? If so, should it be in any particular format?
Q70: If you have any preferences or practices about pretrial or trial matters that has not been solicited by the prior questions, please describe them here.
Q71: If you have any particular practices as to bench trials, please describe them.
Criminal - Sentencing/Revocation Hearings
Q72: Do you require a sentencing memorandum in every case?
Q73: If you do not require a sentencing memorandum in every case, when would it be helpful to you?
Q74: Under what, if any, circumstances, would you consider an expedited sentencing?
Q75: Do you have any particular practices regarding the presentation of victim impact statements at sentencing?
Q76: Under what, if any circumstances, would you consider the postponement of a sentencing hearing?
Q77: Do you have any particular practices as to revocation matters?
Standing Orders & Miscellaneous Matters
Q79: Order #2
Q80: Order #3
Q81: If there is any other guidance about your court practices and preferences that you would like to share with counsel that has not been solicited by any of the prior questions, please provide it here.