Pre-trial Information (Criminal) Guilty Pleas, Motion Practice, Final Pre-trial Conferences

Plea agreements should be in writing, accompanied by a stipulation of the facts. The elements of the offense(s), including the maximum penalty for each offense, shall be provided to Judge Stiehl before the scheduled plea.

Judge Stiehl will accept plea agreements which involve sentencing recommendations, but is not bound by any such recommendation. The sentence will be imposed by Judge Stiehl after review of the Presentence Investigative Report and any objections filed.

2. Motion Practice

Criminal Motions should be filed in accordance with the Order for Pre-trial Discovery and Inspection which is entered at the time of the defendant's arraignment. All motions should be specific, non-boilerplate, and supported by case authority. Motions to suppress evidence or statements must specify the exact nature of the evidence sought to be suppressed and the legal grounds on which suppression is warranted. If an evidentiary hearing is required on motions to suppress, or any other motion, the hearing will be scheduled by the Courtroom Deputy.

3. Final Pre-trial Conferences

At the Final Pre-trial Conference, a trial date and schedule will be set. In addition, the Judge will determine a cut-off date for filing motions in limine and will indicate when proposed jury instructions and voir dire questions are due. Jury instructions and voir dire questions are not to be filed with the Clerk of the Court, but rather should be submitted directly to Chambers. Proposed jury instructions must be accompanied by a Jury Instruction Order Form which includes the instruction, the supporting authority and any objections, with supporting authority. The jury instruction order will be filed as a part of the case file after the jury instruction conference at the close of the evidence. A copy of the jury instruction order format may be downloaded by linking to "Jury Instruction Order." A copy of the directions for preparing the jury instructions order may be downloaded by linking to "Instructions for Preparing Jury Instruction Order."

Staff:
Judicial Assistant: Judy Baehr (618) 482-9230
Courtroom Deputy: Sandy Pannier  (618) 482-9374
Court Reporter: Daveanna Ramsey (618) 482-9124
Sr. Law Clerk: Julie Fix (618) 482-9228
Law Clerk: Jason Winslow (618) 482-9227

Address:
Courtroom 1
Melvin Price Federal Courthouse
750 Missouri Avenue
East St. Louis, IL  62201
Fax: (618) 482-9155 (do not fax without prior permission of Chambers)

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