Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV
Born 1955 in Royal Oak, MI
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U. S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, Chief Judge, 2019 - Present.
Nominated by George W. Bush on July 30, 2003, to a seat vacated by Robert E. Keeton; Confirmed by the Senate on June 1, 2004, and received commission on June 2, 2004.
Education
Northwestern University, B.S., 1977
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1981
Courthouse
Boston Courthouse
John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse
1 Courthouse Way, Suite 2300
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Courtroom
10, 5th 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 | Julie Piltzecker | ||
Courtroom Clerk | Matthew McKillop | 617-748-9212 | matthew_mckillop@mad.uscourts.gov |
Docket Clerk | Flaviana de Oliveira | 617-748-9178 | flaviana_deoliveira@mad.uscourts.gov |
Court Reporter | Valerie O'Hara | vaohara@gmail.com |
Chambers Procedures/Standing Orders/Sample Orders
USDC Judicial Forum Survey
Civil - Case Management
Q1: Do you have any specific scheduling order or any particular topics that counsel must address in the joint statement in addition to/or in lieu of the topics required to be addressed under Local Rule 16.1(D) for the initial scheduling conference?
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?
Q8: If so, when do you hold status conferences?
Q9: If so, what issues do you address at 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?
Q13: Under what circumstances would you consider a bifurcation of discovery ?
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?
Q17: Do you typically hold a hearing on discovery?
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
Q24: In connection with dispositive motions, do you require the filing of any courtesy copies of exhibits, depositions and/or other materials in addition to the electronic versions that are filed on ECF?
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?
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?
General Trial Practice - Pretrial Matters
Q39: Do you require the filing of a trial brief?
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?
Q41: Do you typically hold an initial pretrial conference in criminal cases? If so, what issues do you want counsel to be able to address at each conference in addition to those addressed under Local Rule 117.1(a)?
Q42: Do you typically hold an initial pretrial conference in civil cases?
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?
Q47: Do you typically resolve motions in limine at the final pretrial conference?
Q48: Do you typically hear and/or resolve Daubert motions at the final pretrial conference?
Q50: If courtesy copies of trial exhibits are required, when do you require them?
Q51: If courtesy copies of trial exhibits are required, what particular form is required?
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
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?
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.
Criminal - Sentencing/Revocation Hearings
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?
Q76: Under what, if any circumstances, would you consider the postponement of a sentencing hearing?
Standing Orders & Miscellaneous Matters
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.
Post-Pandemic Practices
Q82: As of Fall 2022, are there any case events that you routinely conduct via Zoom in civil cases? If so, what are they?
Q83: As of Fall 2022, are there any case events that you routinely conduct via Zoom in criminal cases? If so, what are they?