Court Rules

Eastern District of Texas Page & Word Limits

28 rules from official source documents

Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge. This page is scoped to Eastern District of Texas; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Limit
12 pages
Applies to
Spectator

Judge Crone's courtroom limits spectators to 12, requires 6-foot distancing, and prohibits those under 18.

Cases before United States District Judge Marcia A. Crone - Limit of twelve (12) spectators, sitting six (6) feet apart. No persons under 18 years of age will be permitted in the courtroom; and

Judge Marcia A. CroneCRITICAL
Attorney limit
15 minutes
Attorney limit
20 minutes
Applies to
Voir dire

Each side gets 15-20 minutes for voir dire after court's preliminary examination.

Following the court's examination, each side will be allowed from fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes to examine the panel.

Judge Marcia A. CroneCRITICAL
Attorney limit
7 pages
Attorney limit
5 pages
Attorney limit
0 pages
Applies to
Discovery motion

Discovery motions and responses limited to 7 pages; attachments limited to 5 pages; no further briefing without court order.

An opposed discovery related motion, or any response thereto, shall not exceed 7 pages. Attachments to a discovery related motion, or a response thereto, shall not exceed 5 pages. No further briefing is allowed absent a request or order from the Court.

Judge Robert W. Schroeder IIICRITICAL
Attorney limit
7 pages
Attorney limit
5 pages
Applies to
Discovery motion

Discovery motions and responses are limited to 7 pages of briefing and 5 pages of attachments.

limiting any motion or response to no more than 7 pages of briefing and 5 pages of attachments (all of which must comply with the spacing and type requirements of the Local Rules).

Judge Robert W. Schroeder IIICRITICAL
Attorney limit
12 pages
Applies to
Motion to strike

Motions to Strike limited to 12 pages (excluding attachments); responses limited to 12 pages; replies/sur-replies limited to 5 pages.

a. A Motion to Strike shall not exceed twelve pages, excluding attachments, unless leave of court is first obtained. Likewise, responses to such motions shall not exceed twelve pages, excluding attachments, unless leave of court is obtained first. Any reply or sur-reply brief to a Motion to Strike shall not exceed five pages, excluding attachments.

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
24 pages
Applies to
Motion to strike

Multiple Motions to Strike limited to 24 pages collectively; responses limited to 24 pages; replies/sur-replies limited to 10 pages collectively.

b. If a side files more than one Motion to Strike, that side’s Motions to Strike shall not exceed 24 pages collectively, excluding attachments. Responses to such motions shall not exceed 24 pages collectively, excluding attachments. Reply briefs shall not exceed ten pages collectively, excluding attachments, and sur-reply briefs shall not exceed ten pages collectively, excluding attachments.

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Limit
4 pages
Applies to
Joint letter

Joint letter limited to 2 pages per side (4 pages total) must be filed within 10 days of § 101 motion if certification reflects disagreement.

To the extent such certification reflects disagreement, the parties shall submit a joint letter containing not more than two (2) pages from each side (four pages total) to the Court within ten (10) days from the filing of the § 101 motion, setting forth their respective specifics surrounding such disagreement, including, in particular, any claim terms that the respondent believes need to be construed, why such is needed, and what intrinsic references support such position.

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
7 pages
Attorney limit
5 pages
Applies to
Discovery motion

Discovery motions and responses limited to 7 pages; attachments limited to 5 pages; no further briefing without court order.

An opposed discovery related motion, or any response thereto, shall not exceed 7 pages. Attachments to a discovery related motion, or a response thereto, shall not exceed 5 pages. No further briefing is allowed absent a request or order from the Court.

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
2 pages
Applies to
Joint report

Joint report of meeting results limited to 2 pages.

Counsel shall promptly notify the Court of the results of that meeting by filing a joint report of no more than 2 pages.

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
7 pages
Attorney limit
5 pages
Applies to
Brief

Discovery motions and responses are limited to 7 pages of briefing and 5 pages of attachments.

limiting any motion or response to no more than 7 pages of briefing and 5 pages of attachments (all of which must comply with the spacing and type requirements of the Local Rules).

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
3 pages
Applies to
Motion for leave

Motion for leave to file more than one Motion to Strike per expert is limited to 3 pages.

the requesting party may file a three (3) page motion with the Court

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Attorney limit
3 pages
Applies to
Response

Response to motion for leave is limited to 3 pages.

The opposing party may then file a response that is no more than three (3) pages long

Judge Rodney GilstrapCRITICAL
Limit
12 pages
Applies to
Spectator
Margins
6 in

Judge Crone's courtroom limits spectators to 12, requires 6-foot distancing, and prohibits those under 18.

Cases before United States District Judge Marcia A. Crone - Limit of twelve (12) spectators, sitting six (6) feet apart. No persons under 18 years of age will be permitted in the courtroom; and

Magistrate Judge Christine L. StetsonCRITICAL
Attorney limit
5 pages
Attorney limit
3 pages
Applies to
Letter brief

Opening/response letter briefs limited to 5 pages; reply letter briefs limited to 3 pages.

Opening letter briefs and responsive letter briefs shall be no longer than 5 pages. Reply briefs shall be no longer than 3 pages.

Magistrate Judge John D. LoveCRITICAL
Attorney limit
15 pages
Attorney limit
5 pages
Applies to
Combined motion brief

Opening/response briefs limited to 15 pages; reply briefs limited to 5 pages.

The opening and response briefs shall not exceed 15 pages, respectively. Any replies shall not exceed 5 pages.

Magistrate Judge John D. LoveCRITICAL
Attorney limit
2 pages
Applies to
Objection

Unresolved objections to deposition extracts are due 2 weeks before docket call.

File unresolved objections to oral and video deposition extracts.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Pro se limit
0 pages
Applies to
Motion to transfer

Motions to transfer must be filed within 1 week after management conference.

____________________ Deadline for motions to transfer (1 week after mgmt conf.)

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Pro se limit
0 pages
Applies to
Motion to add parties

Deadline to add parties is 6 weeks after management conference.

____________________ Deadline to add parties (6 weeks after mgmt conf.)

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Pro se limit
0 pages
Applies to
Expert report

Expert witness designation deadline is 10 weeks after management conference.

____________________ Deadline to designate expert witnesses and reports on (10 weeks after mgmt conf.) issues for which the party bears the burden of proof, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2) and Local Rule CV-26(b).

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Pro se limit
0 pages
Applies to
Amended pleading

Plaintiffs must file amended pleadings by 12 weeks after management conference without needing a motion for leave.

____________________ Deadline for Plaintiffs to file amended pleadings. A motion for leave to amend is not necessary. (12 weeks after mgmt conf.)

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
4 pages
Applies to
Deposition designation

Deposition designations for non-live witnesses are due 4 weeks before docket call.

For witnesses who are not going to be called live, oral and video deposition designations due.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Pro se limit
0 pages
Applies to
Motion to strike expert

Objections to expert witnesses must be filed within 7 weeks of expert disclosure via motion to strike/limit with expert report attached.

7 weeks after disclosure of an expert is made Deadline to object to any other party’s expert witnesses. Objections shall be made by a motion to strike or limit expert testimony and shall be accompanied by a copy of the expert’s report in order to provide the court with all the information necessary to make a ruling on any objection. The court will not accept objections to experts filed in any form—i.e., motions in limine—after this date.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
18 pages
Applies to
Motion

Deadline for dispositive motions is 18 weeks after management conference.

Deadline for motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, or other dispositive motions.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
6 pages
Applies to
Motion

Motions in limine are due 6 weeks before docket call.

Motions in limine due.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
3 pages
Applies to
Motion

Responses to motions in limine are due 3 weeks before docket call.

Response to motions in limine due.

Senior Judge Ron ClarkCRITICAL
Attorney limit
0 pages
Required
Always

Be judicious in exceeding page limits; brevity preferred.

Finally, the Court requests that the parties be judicious in their requests to exceed the page limits provided for in the local rules. In this Court, less is better.

Magistrate Judge K. Nicole MitchellWARNING
Attorney limit
0 pages
Required
Always

Page limit extensions granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Motions to extend page limits will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances require more than agreement among the parties.

Magistrate Judge Roy PayneWARNING
Attorney limit
2 pages
Applies to
Joint report

Joint report of meet and confer results limited to 2 pages.

Counsel shall promptly notify the Court of the results of that meeting by filing a joint report of no more than 2 pages.

Judge Robert W. Schroeder IIIINFO
Common questions about Eastern District of Texas page & word limits

What page or word limits apply to letter brief in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 5 pages; 3 pages. Opening/response letter briefs limited to 5 pages; reply letter briefs limited to 3 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section STANDING ORDER REGARDING LETTER BRIEF AND BRIEFING PROCEDURES

What page or word limits apply to combined motion brief in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 15 pages; 5 pages. Opening/response briefs limited to 15 pages; reply briefs limited to 5 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Combined Motion for Summary Judgment and claim construction brief

What page or word limits apply to discovery motion in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 7 pages; 7 pages; 5 pages. Discovery motions and responses limited to 7 pages; attachments limited to 5 pages; no further briefing without court order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section REGARDING CASES ASSIGNED TO U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RODNEY GILSTRAP AND U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ROBERT W. SCHROEDER III STANDING ORDER REGARDING “MEET AND CONFER” OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO DISCOVERY DISPUTES

What page or word limits apply to motion to strike in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 12 pages. Excludes attachments. Motions to Strike limited to 12 pages (excluding attachments); responses limited to 12 pages; replies/sur-replies limited to 5 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section a

What page or word limits apply to joint letter in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 4 pages. Joint letter limited to 2 pages per side (4 pages total) must be filed within 10 days of § 101 motion if certification reflects disagreement.

View ruleSource: page 2, section STANDING ORDER REGARDING MOTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 101 AND ACCOMPANYING CERTIFICATIONS IN CASES ASSIGNED TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE RODNEY GILSTRAP

What page or word limits apply to joint report in Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas' rule states these limits: 2 pages. Joint report of meeting results limited to 2 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Standing Order Regarding Meet and Confer Obligations Relating to Discovery Disputes