Detailed schedule, instructions for upcoming Hunt trial released

New scheduling details in the upcoming trial resulting from former Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt’s lawsuit against the SBC, the SBC Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions were released today (Dec. 3) by Judge William L. Campbell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee Nashville Division.

Hunt’s attorneys filed the lawsuit in March 2023 in response to Hunt being highlighted in the public report released in 2022 following the Guidepost investigation of how sexual abuse accusations were handled by the Executive Committee during the previous 20-year period.

In the order, Campbell, who is the chief U.S. district judge there, announced the trial and pretrial dates as well as the instructions about what has to be filed for the pretrial conference

1. Trial date and location:
   • A jury trial is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
   • Location: Courtroom 6-B, Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse, Nashville, Tennessee
2. Pretrial conference:
   • Scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
   • All lawyers participating in the trial must attend.
3. Key deadlines:
   • May 19, 2025: Written direct testimony for expert witnesses must be placed in writing, filed and served on opposing counsel. 
   • May 26, 2025: Parties must exchange exhibits, deposition designations and file motions about expert testimony or in limine (requests to exclude evidence).
   • June 2, 2025:
     • Joint proposed pretrial order, including summaries of the case, legal theories and key issues, must be filed.
     • Joint proposed jury instructions, verdict forms, witness lists, exhibit lists and stipulations must be filed.
     • Responses to any motions filed on May 26, 2025, are due.

The judge also notes in the order that if the case settles after June 12, 2025, the parties might have to pay for the cost of summoning the jury and that both sides must share copies of exhibits and deposition designations to ensure authenticity and context. They also must make originals available as needed.

Missing the May 19 deadline for expert witness disclosures may result in evidence being excluded or other penalties, according to the order. 

Related to discovery and evidence, updated responses to discovery requests (like interrogatories) must be provided as needed and objections to depositions or evidence must follow local rules.

To read previous articles related to the lawsuit, check out The Baptist Paper’s Sept. 24, 2024, article and The Alabama Baptist’s March 19, 2023, article.