Please submit the proper non-military affidavit by visiting the Defense Manpower Data Center’s (DMDC) Military Verification service at https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil.
Daubert/Robinson
A hearing should be requested pursuant to the DCO deadlines. All motions to exclude experts should be filed AND set for hearing WELL IN ADVANCE OF TRIAL. The court will NOT consider such motions filed after the deadline in the docket control order without a motion for leave demonstrating exceptionally good cause. Do not wait until the eve of or morning of trial to file your motion.
MOTIONS TO WITHDRAW
Motions to withdraw as attorney of record must contain the parties telephone number, address, email address if available, current deadlines and trial settings. Orders on motions to withdraw MUST include contact information for the pro se party including name, address, telephone number, and email address.
Hearings
Emergencies/Expedited
If both sides agree to an emergency/expedited hearing, call the court clerk and set up a phone conference with the judge. If only one side feels it is an emergency, e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing.
Oral Docket
Any party may set a motion for oral hearing using the e-hearing system. Only call the court clerk if you need assistance with using the e-hearing system. Non-evidentiary telephone hearings may be allowed under limited circumstances approved by the Court. Zoom hearings will be allowed for minor settlement hearings if requested by the parties.
APPEARANCE BY PHONE
The court allows attorneys to appear by phone. Please contact the court clerk to make arrangements. If more than one person wants to appear by phone at a scheduled hearing, the attorneys must all conference in on one line and then call the Court. The Court will not arrange the conference.
Submission Docket
The submission docket is Mondays at 8:00 am after 10 days notice. Summary Judgments require 21 days notice.
All motions for reconsideration shall be placed on the submission docket first.
Temporary Injunctions
Temporary injunctions and evidentiary hearings are set on Thursdays unless otherwise directed by the Court. Please call the Court Clerk before your scheduled hearing to confirm the hearing. Before the scheduled hearing, please contact the Court and advise: (1) whether or not you are ready to proceed; (2) whether the parties were properly served; and (3) the length of time requested for hearing and number of witnesses. We may need to reschedule your hearing and extend the TRO (as permitted by law) if there are trial conflicts. Do not bring your witnesses to court until you have spoken with the Court Clerk.
Trials
All cases are automatically set for trial after the answer of a defendant. On resettings, most are reset within 2 to 4 months if not reached at the first setting.
Pretrial
All Pre trial Matters will be heard at the time of trial just prior to jury selection.
If the parties believe more than an hour is needed for the pre-trial conference, contact the trial coordinator so additional time can be scheduled.
Exchange motions in limine, witness lists, exhibit lists, deposition excerpts and any objections thereto at least one day prior to the pre trial hearing. Discuss the matters among yourselves and attempt agreements. Advanced rulings on deposition excerpts are available by request, depending on the case. Captioning should be included on deposition videos used at trial.
The Court has adopted a standing Order in Limine applicable to all cases. Do not duplicate these items in your motions in limine. Your motion should be limited to only those items specific to the facts and circumstances in your case. Attached is the courts stand Order in Limine
61st Limine.Standing order.doc
Voir Dire
Time for voir dire depends on the complexity of the case and will be discussed with the parties during pretrial. After the general voir dire, individual jurors can be questioned at the bench for cause.
During voir dire, general contentions may be stated but the case should not be argued.
Challenges for Cause
Jury Venire are excused for all challenges for cause between voir dire and peremptory. Liberal with cause determinations and hardships are provided if I have enough on the panel to seat a jury.
Peremptory Challenges
Clerk prepares strike list for the lawyers to mark and sign their peremptory challenges.
Questionnaires
Questionnaires are discouraged as they to extend the length of voir dire. If the parties desire questionnaires, a hearing should be set to discuss them in certain cases at an earlier date before the first day of voir dire.
Proposed Jury Charge
Drafts of proposed jury charges should be exchanged PRIOR to trial. Parties should email or bring a thumb drive with their proposed charge in Word format to the court reporter.
Exhibits
Use numbers for the exhibits, not letters. Have a list prepared for the Court and another for the court reporter. Also, have a thumb drive of the exhibits for the court reporter.
Courtroom decorum
All litigants and counsel are expected to show respect for each other and the court. Stand when the jury and the judge enters and exits the courtroom. Stand when talking to the judge. Request permission to approach the bench or the witness. Do not interrupt opposing counsel or witnesses. Address the judge, opposing counsel or witnesses professionally and respectfully. You may examine witnesses at the counsel table or from a podium. Address the witness as "Mr." or "Ms." Please read the attached Administrative Order and The Texas Lawyer's Creed a Mandate For Professionalism
/JustexDocuments/3/Admin Order & Lawyer's Creed.PDF
Minor Settlements
The Court must approve the disposition of all cases involving minors. In motions requesting the appointment of a guardian ad litem, please include a brief description of the nature of the suit and the alleged damages. The motion must advise the Court if a guardian or attoney ad litem should be fluent in a language other than English. The Court will appoint ad litems based on the complexity of the case and the ad litem's experience.
Other
Please contact the Court if you need a sign language interpreter, auxiliary aid, or any other ADA accommodation or service.