Virginia Rocket Docket

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is infamously known as the “Rocket Docket,” and is the fastest federal docket in the country. The average case, including a jury trial, is resolved in five to eight months. Discovery – even in complex business litigation – is typically compressed into 90 to120 days, motions practice is rapid-fire, and many cases are resolved on dispositive motions. A “continuance” is a foreign term in the Rocket Docket; extensions of time are virtually non-existent for any reason.

The Rocket Docket can be a trap for the inexperienced litigant or litigator, but it can be a decided advantage when your case is in the hands of a seasoned veteran of the court and its practices.

Williams Mullen’s Rocket Docket Team is well-versed in the unique rules and idiosyncrasies of the Rocket Docket. With experienced lawyers in the three divisions of the court (Alexandria, Norfolk/Newport News and Richmond), Williams Mullen has the capability to help our clients navigate the Rocket Docket in matters ranging from the Blackberry® patent infringement case to complex business litigation. Our Rocket Docket Team has the in-depth experience and proven track record in this fast, yet business-friendly, forum to make the court’s speed and predilections work to our clients’ advantage.