Presentation Time Limits Approved by Massachusetts Top Court

A trial court judge is within their right to impose time limits on the presentation of evidence to accommodate their personal schedule, Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court said Friday.

A judge “has broad discretion over setting a schedule for the presentation of evidence, so long as exercise of that discretion is reasonable and does not interfere with a party’s right to present his or her case,” the opinion said.

The guidance comes from a dispute over a wrongful death trial. Joni Babaletos brought a case against Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and DeMoulas Super Markets Inc.—which does business ...