Civil Cases Generally:
Judge Wood has a civil week every month in Faulkner County. Civl cases are also heard on other weeks as docket space permits.
If you need a hearing, please contact Linda Ahlen, lahlen@faulknercc.org, for a list of dates. We will then ask you to contact opposing counsel to agree on a date and report back to Ms. Ahlen to have it added to the docket.
Pre-Trials:
If both attorneys agree there is no need for a pre-trial, please e-mail Ms. Ahlen and she will remove the case from the pre-trial docket.
Mediation: Judge Wood encourages resolution through mediation. If you have questions concerning mediation, please refer to the Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission at
http://courts.arkansas.gov/adr/index.cfm
If you are requesting more than a 1 day Jury Trial, the Court will enter a Mediation Order compelling the parties to attempt mediation prior to scheduling the case.
Scheduling Orders: You should receive a Scheduling Order one week after setting a trial date with the Court. If you have not received one, please contact Ms. Ahlen.
Jury Instructions: All jury instructions shall be submitted at least 48 hours before trial (if not set out specifically in the Scheduling Order) electronically to Judge Wood by e-mail with opposing counsel included in the e-mail correspondence.
Short Bench Trials: The Court will automatically schedule short bench trials. You will receive approximately a 2 month notice of the setting. If your case will take longer than 2 hours, please notify Ms. Ahlen and it will be reset to allow for the time.
Continuances:
A request for a continuance must be in writing, submitted with an Order, sent to opposing counsel, and requested 48 hours before the hearing date absent extreme circumstances. Please have opposing counsel sign the Order if the parties are in agreement.