Court Procedures
Procedures for the 190th Civil District Court
1. Purpose
These court procedures are to facilitate Rule 1 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the fair, equitable, and efficient administration of justice.
2. Contacting the Court
Before contacting the clerk of the court for filings or outstanding orders, Parties are encouraged to review the district courts website first. Updated filings and orders may not appear in the file for up to three (3) days of the filing or entry of the order.
2.1. Contacting the Court on Outstanding Rulings on Pending Motions and other Matters
Parties are encouraged to contact the Lead Clerk of the Court if:
(a) the Court has not ruled on a motion outside of 14 days from the consideration date of that motion;
(b) a Party files a letter for the Court to consider;
(c) a Party files a proposed order or pleading requested by the Court at a hearing; and
(d) for any other matter for which the Court needs to be aware.
3. Court Attire
All counsels are expected to appear in business attire in the courtroom or zoom. Men are expected to be in suit and tie, and women the proper equivalent.
4. Mandatory Electronic Filing
In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 190th District Court shall be electronically filed. When filing documents, please type the entire title of your pleading in the description field and clearly label all exhibits. Do not use all caps. Each exhibit should be filed separately. Exhibits should be numbered, not by letter.
5. Motions
All motions can be heard by submission or by oral hearing, except those applicable under 5.5.2 and 5.6. If a motion is agreed to, parties should have the proposed order filed for the Judge to review and sign.
5.1 Certificate of Conference
A certificate of conference is required for all motions (including discovery motions), pleas, and special exceptions except for:
· motions for summary judgment;
· default judgments;
· motions for voluntary dismissal or non-suit; and
· motions involving service of citations.
Certificates of conference must state how and when parties have conferred on the matters on which relief is sought, and whether the relief is opposed, agreed, or agreed in part. For all motions which a certification of conference is required, the Court reserves the right to deny all motions that do not have a certificate of conference.
5.2 Proposed Orders
All motions and responses must have a proposed order. The Court may pass hearings on motions filed without a proposed order. All motions should have their own proposed order (Please do not combine multiple motions into one order). The proposed order should include the exact title of the motion being considered. Do not title the order submitted as “proposed”.
5.3 Courtesy Copies
Parties filing pleadings more than twenty pages in length or with more than 50 pages of exhibits must provide a courtesy copy of those pleadings and accompanying exhibits to the Court, and give written notice to all parties stating the specific documents that were provided. If a party highlights or otherwise marks a document in a courtesy copy provided to the Court, that party shall provide all other parties to the litigation an exact copy of what was provided to the Court. Also include a copy of the proposed order, latest live pleading and answer, latest DCO, and any legal authority, with any courtesy copy provided to the court.
5.3.1 Footnotes and Hyperlinks
Footnotes on filings are accepted. If you have hyperlinks on motions that have been filed, you can provide a courtesy copy of the motion in a USB thumb drive with your courtesy copies.
5.4 Discovery Motions
The Court expects that parties will make every effort to resolve all discovery issues without court intervention. If such attempts prove unsuccessful, litigants may request a hearing. The complaining party should file a motion containing:
· a brief description of the dispute;
· a certificate of conference stating the name of all counsel participating in the discussions, including the date, time, and place the parties have had out of-court discovery discussions, and the results of those discussions; and
· a copy or verbatim reproduction of the discovery requests and responses at issue.
After filing the motion, the complaining party should contact the Court about a hearing. The Court will then determine the need for briefing and/or a conference on the matter.
Proposed orders should list each discovery issue separately. Both the movant and non-movant must submit a proposed order.
5.5 Settlements, Nonsuits, and Agreed Judgments
5.5.1 Settlement Announcements
It is not necessary to appear in Court to announce a settlement; a phone call or email to the Trial Coordinator is sufficient. However, a plaintiff who announces settlement without an enforceable Rule 11 agreement does so at his/her own risk. Once the Court is notified of the settlement, the Parties have 45 days to submit a proposed final judgement/dismissal. Parties who fail to submit a proposed judgment/dismissal will be ordered to appear in person. If the Parties do not appear, the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution. Failure to obtain an enforceable settlement agreement will not be good cause to avoid dismissal or to reinstate the case.
5.5.2 Settlements Involving Minor Children
A Guardian Ad Litem will be required for all settlements involving minor children. This applies when there is a conflict of interest between the minor(s) and the parent or legal guardian. The parties are to submit an agreed motion and order for appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem. The Court will then select the Guardian Ad Litem for that case, and will inform the parties of the Court's decision. Once a Guardian Ad Litem has been appointed, the parties may contact the Court Clerk in order to obtain a Minor Settlement hearing date. At the time of the hearing, the parties are to present the proposed Judgment, as well as the Supreme Court ad litem fee report.
5.6 Default Judgments
An oral hearing is required on all default judgments. For default judgments, Parties must file a notice of an oral hearing, a Non-Military Affidavit compliant with the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act, a certificate of last known address, a citation/receipt of service, and a proposed final judgment order.
5.7 Special Note Regarding Homeowners' Association Defaults
The Court makes a special attempt to work together with Homeowners’ Associations and property owners in judicial foreclosure cases. Motions for Default Judgment based upon unpaid assessments or deed restriction violations must be set for an oral hearing; however, a board member or property manager does not need to be present at the hearing.
The Court would like to review the following three documents at the hearing:
· the lien foreclosure language in the declarations;
· the deed; and
· the accounting.
5.8 Severance
Motions for Severance may be set either for submission or oral hearing. The motion must state the basis for the severance. The proposed Order of Severance should include the following:
· how the severed case is to be styled;
· the cause number;
· the parties to be included in the severed case;
· all the pleadings that are to be severed into the new file;
· whether the Order disposes of the severed case, or whether it will remain an active case; and
· who will pay for the costs of severance.
5.9 Motions to Withdraw as Attorney of Record
Motions for withdrawal of counsel must be set on the oral hearing/submission docket. The motion must contain:
· a statement of the particular circumstances and disciplinary rules requiring withdrawal;
· a certificate of the attorney of record of the client’s name, address, telephone number, and the last known time the information was correct;
· a copy of a letter from the attorney of record to the client giving notice: (a) that the attorney is withdrawing; (b) that the client is deemed to have knowledge of and is required to abide by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure if the client proceeds pro se; (c) that all notices from the Court to the client's current address will be deemed to have been received unless the client notifies the Court of any change of address; (d) that no continuances or extensions will be granted to the pro se client in order to obtain other counsel; and (e) notice of the hearing at which the motion to withdraw will be considered; and
· a signed acceptance of the terms of the letter described above, if the client has agreed to the withdrawal. If the client has not agreed to the withdrawal, proof of service of the letter described above must be filed.
5.10 Rule 106 Motions for Substituted Service
Parties requesting an Order for Substituted Service under Rule 106 should use the court’s suggested form: 190TH Order Granting Rule 106 Substitute Service.docx. Rule 106 Motions can be submitted to the Court without the need for an oral hearing but must be accompanied by an affidavit that includes the following information:
· efforts taken to verify that defendant actually lives or works at the subject address;
· each attempt at service, with date and time;
· identity of persons who were present at the subject address and what was said; and
· identity of cars in driveway or other indications that defendant resides at the subject address.
6. Hearings
6.1 Filings
Unless otherwise governed by statute or by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, parties are not to file a response to any motion within two (2) days of their hearing date on that motion.
6.1 Oral Hearings
The Court’s oral hearing docket is on Monday, and as follows:
10:30 AM: Default Judgements
11:00-12:00 Minor Settlements (in person)
1:30 Docket
2:30 Motion for Summary Judgment
3:00 Any other motion
Any party requesting an oral hearing should call the Court Clerk for a date and time for a hearing and be ready to state an approximate amount of time needed for the hearing. Please advise the court clerk of the amount of time necessary for your hearing and weather you require a court reporter.
Once the clerk assigns a hearing date the party requesting the hearing must file a notice of oral hearing and serve it on all counsel and self-represented parties. The hearing notice must state the exact title of the motion or motions to be heard.
Any responsive pleading must be filed by 3:00 pm the last business day before the hearing. If Friday before oral hearing setting is a Court holiday, then responsive pleadings must be filed by 3:00 PM on the Thursday before. Late filed responsive pleadings will not be considered by the court.
6.2 Submission Docket
The submission docket takes place on Mondays at 8:00 a.m. with ten days notice. If you set a matter on the submission docket file a notice of submission with the exact title of the motion or motions set for consideration and serve it on all counsel and self-represented parties.
If any party wants an oral hearing on a motion that has been placed on the submission docket, that party should file a written request with the Court. The court clerk will contact the requesting party with a hearing date, and the party requesting the oral hearing must give notice to all parties of the hearing.
6.3 Emergency Hearing Requests
Parties may request an emergency oral hearing or telephonic conference by contacting the Court Clerk.
6.4 Telephonic Appearances
Telephonic appearances on contested matters are strongly discouraged. You may only appear by telephone upon receiving special permission from the Court in advance of the hearing. Please contact our Court Clerk with your request and state the reasons, with specificity, as to why you need to appear by telephone.
6.5 Zoom Appearances
The court will allow Parties to appear by Zoom for default judgments. All other hearings must be conducted in person unless an emergency requires otherwise. All lawyers are to appear in professional business attire for all hearings, including by Zoom.
7. Temporary Injunctions
Temporary Injunctions are generally set on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. Please contact the Court Clerk before your hearing date to confirm that all necessary parties have been served, that you are ready to proceed, how long your hearing will take, and how many witnesses will be called. It may be necessary to reschedule your hearing and extend the TRO until a convenient time for the Court. The moving party must submit a proposed temporary injunction order before the hearing begins.
8. Trial Continuances/Resets
Parties should not expect a continuance/reset request, even an agreed request, to be granted in the absence of good reasons for the continuance/reset. If you are currently on your 1st trial setting, and have filed an agreed motion, with an order, and an agreed DCO, it does not have to be set for a hearing.
Parties seeking continuance/reset, must submit an agreed motion for continuance/reset, along with a proposed amended DCO agreed to by all parties. If parties cannot agree to a proposed amended DCO, the reasons for non-agreement should be stated with specificity. All deadlines remain in effect until a new DCO is entered. The Court prefers motions to reset the trial date instead of motions for continuences.
9. Trial
9.1 Trial Settings
All cases are set on a two-week trial docket, with trials starting on Tuesdays. There are no docket positions; cases will be set for a date certain by the Trial Coordinator. If a case is not reached within the two-week docket, the Court will automatically issue an order resetting the trial date. Preferential settings are available in special circumstances and may be requested by motion.
9.2 Pretrial Order
The Court has a standing Pretrial Order. The order is on the Court’s website. All parties must comply with the order prior to the pretrial conference. Standing Trial Preparation Order.pdf
9.3 Pretrial Conferences
There will be a pretrial conference, generally held the week before the two-week trial docket, for each case set for trial. The Trial Coordinator will contact the parties to confirm the date of the pretrial conference.
The parties must prepare, exchange and bring to the pretrial conference, one Trial Notebook that contains:
· live pleadings;
· witness lists (with estimated time for examination and cross-examination of each);
· exhibit lists (including copies of exhibits and any objections);
· motions in limine and objections;
· deposition extracts and objections; and
· proposed jury charges.
At the pretrial conference, the Court will rule on any motions in limine and objections to deposition excerpts, pre-admit any agreed exhibits, discuss witnesses and timing issues, and any other relevant matters.
9.4 Expert Witnesses
Any Motions to exclude or challenge expert evidence must be filed and set for hearing on a date at least thirty days prior to trial.
9.5 Trial Testimony by Videotaped Deposition
No Party shall present a witness at trial via videotape in which the excerpts shown to the jury exceed 20 minutes, without first obtaining leave of court.
10. Mediation
The Court does not require mediation in every case. It may, however, order mediation on a case-by-case basis.
11. Bailiff
Please refrain from standing too close to the Bailiff's desk. The bailiff’s desk may contain sensitive information that is not to be seen by any Party.
12. Courtroom Audio/Video Equipment
All courtrooms have state of the art audio-visual equipment, including an ELMO (document camera), computer jacks, projectors, and TV screens. If you are unfamiliar with its use, by appointment with the trial court coordinator, you may visit our courtroom to test the equipment. For detailed instructions on use of the audio-visual equipment, please visit the following web link: https://www.justex.net/generalinfo/46
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