Hon. Maria Vazquez-Doles

Practitioner Intelligence

From attorneys who have appeared in this courtroom. Last updated: April 2026.

What to Expect

Justice Vazquez-Doles asks detailed questions about every case on the docket. Come prepared to discuss the full status of discovery, depositions, and settlement posture. This is not a courtroom where you can appear, request an adjournment, and leave in five minutes. The judge will want to understand where the case stands and what remains to be done.

Conferences are held in person in Courtroom 2. The court will assign settlement conferences proactively, even when the gap between demand and offer is large, if the judge believes engagement between the parties could be productive.

Tips

• Prepare for extensive questioning. Justice Vazquez-Doles will ask about the status of every aspect of the case: depositions completed, medical records obtained, independent medical examinations conducted, offers and demands exchanged. Have all of this information at your fingertips.
• Discovery deadlines are concrete. When the court sets a discovery completion window, plan your deposition schedule accordingly. Do not wait until the last week to schedule depositions.
• Settlement conferences are working sessions. If your client has a case on for a settlement conference, the client should be present in person. The court expects both sides to come prepared to negotiate.
• If a settlement conference will not be productive, write a letter. The court allows both sides to send a letter to the Part Clerk requesting an adjournment of the settlement conference if negotiations have stalled. The letter should explain what negotiations have taken place and why a later date would be more productive.
• The court tracks offers and demands. Be ready to state your current position on the record. If there has been no movement since the last conference, be prepared to explain why.