**Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson** was appointed to the Eastern District of Texas on August 31, 2021. She serves in the Beaumont and Lufkin Divisions. Before her appointment, Judge Stetson had an extensive legal practice spanning nearly three decades. She was an attorney at the Bernsen Law Firm in Beaumont from 2011 until her judicial appointment in 2021. Prior to that, she was a partner at Germer Gertz, LLP in Beaumont from 2000 to 2006. She also practiced at Gardere & Wynne, L.L.P. in Dallas and at Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox, L.L.P. in Dallas, where she focused on commercial litigation, insurance coverage, environmental, and securities matters. **Education** - Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., cum laude, 1992 (Associate Editor, Albany Law Review) **Career** - Attorney, Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox, L.L.P., Dallas, TX (1993–1999) - Attorney, Gardere & Wynne, L.L.P., Dallas, TX (2000) - Partner, Germer Gertz, LLP, Beaumont, TX (2000–2006) - Attorney, Bernsen Law Firm, Beaumont, TX (2011–2021)
**Courthouse:** Jack Brooks Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 300 Willow Street, Suite 234, Beaumont, TX 77701 **Chambers:** Suite 234 **Phone:** (409) 654-2845 **Fax:** (409) 654-6271 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Sherre White (sherre_white@txed.uscourts.gov) - Career Law Clerk: Jennifer Fisher - Law Clerk: Bradley Kucera
Courtesy copies are required for joint pretrial orders. Details: 2 copies, delivery on day of filing, by hand delivery. Two color courtesy copies of the joint pretrial order and attachments, bound in looseleaf three-ring notebooks with dividers, must be delivered to chambers on the day of filing.
Judge Christine L. Stetson's formatting rule includes margins top 6 inches, bottom 6 inches, left 6 inches, right 6 inches and face mask required. Judge Stetson requires 6-foot distancing between non-household spectators and masks for all spectators.
The rule requires sanitization. All persons must use hand sanitizer upon entering the Courthouse.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The trial paragraph must state whether trial will be jury or non-jury.
Parties may contact Judge Christine L. Stetson's chambers by phone only as allowed by the rule. CSOs must deny entry to anyone violating protocols and contact Marshal for uncertain cases.
Judge Christine L. Stetson's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Process: file redacted on ecf. Personal identifiers must be redacted from the witness list before filing.
Judge Christine L. Stetson's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Persons who tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days are prohibited from entering the Courthouse.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. The agreed charge for jury trials must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
The rule states that filing is treated as not specified. Objections to exhibits, witnesses, deposition excerpts, and responses to motions in limine must be filed by the deadline in the scheduling order.
The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Counsel must assemble trial exhibits and make them available to opposing counsel on or before the date the joint pretrial order is due.
Judge Crone's courtroom limits spectators to 12, requires 6-foot distancing, and prohibits those under 18.
Judge Stetson requires 6-foot distancing between non-household spectators and masks for all spectators.
All persons must maintain appropriate distancing and follow staff instructions in the Courthouse.
All persons must use hand sanitizer upon entering the Courthouse.
Persons who tested positive for COVID-19 within 5 days are prohibited from entering the Courthouse.
Two copies of the exhibit list must be attached to the joint pretrial order.
The trial paragraph must state whether trial will be jury or non-jury.
Two color courtesy copies of the joint pretrial order and attachments, bound in looseleaf three-ring notebooks with dividers, must be delivered to chambers on the day of filing.
The agreed charge for jury trials must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
Authentication notification must be in writing.
Joint pretrial order must include motions in limine, proposed charge and interrogatories (or proposed findings and conclusions), and be signed by all counsel.
Motion to amend scheduling order must attach a proposed scheduling order following the format of the most recently entered scheduling order.
Proposed interrogatories must be placed at the end of the agreed charge document, after all instructions and definitions.
Each requested jury instruction and definition must be simple, concise, and include citation of authority.
Disputed jury instructions and alternate requests must be submitted on separate pages.
The joint pretrial order must include memoranda of law on disputed issues of law.
The joint pretrial order must include motions in limine.
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
Proposed findings and conclusions must be in a form suitable for ruling from the bench after closing arguments.
Post-trial briefs should be limited to specific issues requested by the court.
For hearings, the joint pretrial order must include exhibit lists and objections, witness lists and objections, and deposition designations and objections.
Joint exhibits must be marked with case name, case number, and exhibit number.
If no joint exhibits, each party must mark their own exhibits with party name, case number, and exhibit number.
Counsel must assemble trial exhibits and make them available to opposing counsel on or before the date the joint pretrial order is due.
Counsel requiring authentication must notify offering counsel in writing within 3 business days after exhibit is made available.
A final revised exhibit list must be submitted to the court administrator prior to the final pretrial conference.
Objections to exhibits, witnesses, deposition excerpts, and responses to motions in limine must be filed by the deadline in the scheduling order.
Objections must be in writing and supported by authority.
Two courtesy copies of exhibits must be delivered to chambers in looseleaf three-ring notebooks with specific formatting, on the date objections to the pretrial order are due.
Exhibit notebooks must be looseleaf three-ring, with numbered stickers and tabs, labeled, max 3 inches, different colors per party, red tab for agreed exhibits.