Eastern District of Texas Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-2880

Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the court administrator only, not to the law clerks or to the judge. The court administrator may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.

Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the court administrator only, not to the law clerks or to the judge. The court administrator may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.

CRITICAL

Applications for restraining orders or for other immediate relief should be made through the court administrator. The court administrator will present such applications to the court following counsel’s affirmation that the opposing party has been contacted and that both parties can be available for a hearing on the record.

Applications for restraining orders or for other immediate relief should be made through the court administrator. The court administrator will present such applications to the court following counsel’s affirmation that the opposing party has been contacted and that both parties can be available for a hearing on the record.

CRITICAL

Do not raise substantive issues via letter or email; they are not docketed.

Substantive issues should not be raised in letter form or via email because letters and emails are not docketed or included in the appellate record.

CRITICAL

If a party is interested in having a Newer Attorney argue a motion, after the motion is ripe, the party should contact chambers to request oral argument and inform chambers that a Newer Attorney will argue the motion or a portion of the motion.

If a party is interested in having a Newer Attorney argue a motion, after the motion is ripe, the party should contact chambers to request oral argument and inform chambers that a Newer Attorney will argue the motion or a portion of the motion.

CRITICAL

Prohibits sending access requests to jurors' social media accounts

All attorneys, parties, and their respective employees and agents, including jury consultants, are prohibited from personally or through another sending an access request to the electronic social media ('ESM') platform of any juror or potential juror, including for example a friend request, follow request, or similar access request.

CRITICAL

Prohibits communication with jurors or potential jurors except during official proceedings

All attorneys, parties, and their respective employees and agents, including jury consultants, are prohibited from communicating with or causing another to communicate with in any way, directly or indirectly (including through any non-lawyers or lawyers, connected to the case or not), any juror or potential juror or family members of such individuals, except in the course of official proceedings in this case.

CRITICAL

CSOs must deny entry to anyone violating protocols and contact Marshal for uncertain cases.

It is further ORDERED that all CSOs, following substantive guidance provided by this order and administrative guidance from the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas ( EDTX ), shall deny entry to anyone attempting to enter, or remain in, the Courthouse in violation of these protocols. In the event of any uncertainty as to whether a person should be denied entrance to the Courthouse, the CSOs shall immediately contact the U.S. Marshal for the EDTX or the designated Deputy Marshal for a determination, which shall control.

CRITICALCivil cases

Plaintiff's counsel must immediately notify court upon settlement.

Plaintiff’s counsel shall immediately notify the court upon settlement.

CRITICAL

Parties must notify court at least one month before final pre-trial conference when commissioning mock trials/focus groups, including methodology and participant count.

When a party decides that it will, or is likely to, commission such a study, the party shall notify the court. Notice shall be provided at least one month prior to the final pre-trial conference. The notification may be in camera, and shall include a brief description of the study’s methodology and the expected number of citizen participants. The party shall also notify the court in camera when the study has been completed.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Law clerks may contact counsel at court's direction; counsel should respond promptly, treat courteously, and not extract additional information.

At the court’s direction, the law clerks may contact counsel, but they will not discuss matters other than the subject of the call, and counsel should not attempt to extract additional information. Counsel should respond promptly to a law clerk’s inquiry and treat the law clerk with courtesy.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to clerk

The case load prevents the court administrator from responding to casual telephone inquiries about motions and case status. Inquiries about such matters should be in writing unless time does not permit.

The case load prevents the court administrator from responding to casual telephone inquiries about motions and case status. Inquiries about such matters should be in writing unless time does not permit.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge’s Chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow-up by email.

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge’s Chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow-up by email.

WARNINGCivil cases

Plaintiff's counsel must immediately notify the court when a settlement is reached.

Plaintiff’s counsel shall immediately notify the court upon settlement.

INFO

Contact

Phone to chambers

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

INFO

Contact

Phone

c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and

c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-7000

Contact Deputy Clerk's office for other courthouse matters.

d. For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Be umont Division at (409) 654-7000.

INFO

Phone

(409) 654-2880

All case communications must be directed in writing to the court administrator; urgent matters may be phoned.

All communications concerning the case shall be directed in writing to Julia Colyer, Court Administrator for Judge Crone, 300 Willow St., Suite 239, Beaumont, TX 77701. For urgent matters, Ms. Colyer may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.

INFO

With respect to electronic communication devices, in addition to the restrictions provided in General Order 18-6, impaneled petit and grand jurors may check such devices into the Clerk s Office and access them during breaks in the judicial proceedings.

With respect to electronic communication devices, in addition to the restrictions provided in General Order 18-6, impaneled petit and grand jurors may check such devices into the Clerk s Office and access them during breaks in the judicial proceedings.

INFO

Questions about e-filing procedures, requirements, or attorney registration should be directed to the District Clerk's Office.

Any questions concerning electronic filing procedures, requirements, or attorney registration should be directed to the District Clerk’s Office.

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-7000

Information about e-filing, orders, and docket entries from District Clerk's Office or CM/ECF online database.

Information about the electronic filing of documents, exemptions to the electronic filing of documents, the entry of orders, or docket entries should be obtained from the District Clerk’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas - Beaumont Division at (409) 654-7000. In addition, such information is available through the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) database, which provides attorneys with docketing information, printable images of documents, 24-hour filing capability, and e-mail (rather than fax) notification of the entry of court orders and judgments. This database can be accessed from the Eastern District’s web site at www.txed.uscourts.gov and requires registration.

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-7000

For other Courthouse matters, contact the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Lufkin Division by phone.

For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Lufkin Division at (409) 654-7000.

INFO

Contact

Phone to chambers

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

INFO

Contact

Phone

Contact Probation/PreTrial Services Office directly for meetings

c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-7000

Contact Deputy Clerk's office at (409) 654-7000 for other courthouse matters

d. For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Be umont Division at (409) 654-7000.

INFO

Impaneled jurors may check electronic devices into Clerk's Office and access during breaks

With respect to electronic communication devices, in addition to the restrictions provided in General Order 18-6, impaneled petit and grand jurors may check such devices into the Clerk s Office and access them during breaks in the judicial proceedings.

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(409) 654-7000

Contact Deputy Clerk's office at (409) 654-7000 for other courthouse matters.

d. For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Be umont Division at (409) 654-7000.

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and

c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and

INFO

Contact

Phone to chambers

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

INFO

Contact Lisa Hardwick for scheduling matters, Judge Mitchell's law clerk for substantive matters.

Questions concerning scheduling matters in criminal and civil cases shall be directed to Lisa Hardwick. Questions concerning substantive matters in criminal or civil cases shall be directed to Judge Mitchell=s Law Clerk(s).

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

409-654-7000

For other District Court matters, contact Deputy Clerk in Charge at (409) 654-7000.

For any other District Court matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Lufkin and Beaumont Divisions at (409) 654-7000.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

(903) 590-1198

A magistrate judge hotline is available during business hours for immediate resolution of discovery disputes; the hotline number is (903) 590-1198.

A magistrate judge is available during business hours to immediately hear discovery disputes and to enforce provisions of the rules. The hotline is the best means to obtain an immediate ruling on whether a discovery request is relevant to any claims or defenses and on disputes that arise during depositions. The hotline number is (903) 590-1198. See Local Rule CV-26(e).

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

1-866-251-7534

Electronic filing HelpLine: 1-866-251-7534.

The electronic filing HelpLine is 1-866-251-7534.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

(903) 590-1198

Discovery disputes hotline: (903) 590-1198.

The hotline number is (903) 590-1198. See Local Rule CV-26(e).