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Judge sets final discovery dates after attorneys report late phone extractions and lab work
Summary
Attorneys told the 187th District Court that phone extractions, forensic scans and lab analyses were outstanding; the judge ordered final discovery/reset dates and warned that the bench would not tolerate repeated late production.
During calendar calls and contested-status conferences on Dec. 18, multiple defense attorneys and prosecutors told the presiding judge that crucial evidence — including phone extractions ("phone dumps"), Leica scans and GSR analyses — had not been provided to the defense or remained incomplete. The judge questioned why the material had not been provided earlier and announced that the date set that morning would be the last discovery setting for those matters.
Counsel described a mix of practical delays: evidence still pending from law enforcement, recent extractions that had not yet been transferred to prosecutors, and outstanding laboratory work. The court responded by ordering final discovery dates in late January and warning attorneys that newly produced evidence that the defense considered ‘‘not new’’ but previously available could be challenged by filing appropriate motions; the judge said the court may require law enforcement to appear for discovery hearings if the pattern continued.
A prosecutor noted on the record that collection policies at law enforcement agencies have complicated timely transfer of digital extractions and certification materials under recently referenced procedural guidance; the judge suggested sending administrative requests to local agencies if necessary and ordered counsel to confer and file motions before the court if discovery problems persist.
The court repeatedly required counsel to file discovery acknowledgments, produce offers where tendered and sign reset forms. Cases without completed discovery were given final dates for discovery and plea-deadline or jury settings.
The judge told the courtroom: "This is going to be the last setting for discovery. If something pops up that's new discovery ... the court will entertain any motions that the defense files." The instruction was followed by multiple docket settings requiring discovery acknowledgments and explicit dates for return appearances.
