Judge Ada Brown
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings
Not Required
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Number Of Previous Requests
- 4Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
- 5Adversary Position
- 6Proposed New Dates
- 7Proposed Rescheduled Date
- 8Affects Other Dates
- 9Emergency Nature
Must Include
- 1Conference With Opposing Counsel
- 2Written Motion
Communication
Letter Ecf
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Detailed Drafting Rules
Parties must file motion for leave to seal with specific identification and detailed analysis
a Party seeking to file a specific document under seal must move for leave to do so and must: a. identify precisely what information (pages, lines, etc.) the Party wants sealed; b. conduct a line-by-line, page-by-page analysis explaining and briefing why
Protocol
Sealing Procedure
Hearing/conference requests must be preceded by consultation with opposing counsel and include notice if no agreement was reached.
Judge Brown will consider written requests for hearings or conferences with the Court provided they are made after conferencing with opposing counsel to attempt to reach agreement as to proposed hearing dates and times. If agreement has not been reached, the party seeking the hearing or conference should so notify the Court in their written request and copy opposing counsel with the request.
Letter via ECF
- Advance Notice Requiredconsultation with opposing counsel
Motions and briefs limited to 6,250 words; replies limited to 2,500 words.
Limit any motion, response, brief, or memorandum to 6,250 words; limit any reply to 2,500 words.
14-point font required for body text; 11-point font for footnotes.
Use 14-point font in the body of the briefing and 11-point font for footnotes.
Word count excludes caption, TOC, TOA, signature block, certificates; includes footnotes.
Word limits shall not include the case caption, table of contents, table of authorities, signature block, and certificates. However, word counts shall include footnotes.
Documents over 10 pages of argument require TOC, TOA, statement of proceeding, issues/standard of review, summary, informative headings, and conclusion.
Any motion, response, reply, brief, or memorandum that has more than ten (10) pages of argument must contain all of the following: 1. A table of contents setting forth the page number of each section, including all headings designated in the body of the brief or memorandum; 2. A table of citations of cases, statutes, rules, textbooks, and other authorities, alphabetically arranged; 3. A short statement of the nature and stage of the proceeding; 4. A statement of the issues to be ruled on by the court and a short statement, supported by authority, of the standard of review for each issue; 5. A short summary of the argument; 6. Informative headings identifying separate sections of the argument; and 7. A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought.
Document Type
Brief
Summary judgment principal briefs limited to 12,500 words; replies to 6,250 words.
Limit any summary judgment principal brief to 12,500 words; limit any reply to 6,250 words. See N.D. Tex. Civ. R. 56.5(b). Use 14-point font in the body of the briefing and 11-point font for footnotes. Do not file a sur-reply absent alternate permission from the Court.
Certificate of word count required after signature block; footnotes included in count.
PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE BLOCK. Reliance on word-processor register is sufficient in this regard. Word limits shall not include the case caption, table of contents, table of authorities, signature block, and certificates. However, word counts shall include footnotes.
Document Type
Brief
Appendix formatting requirements: PDF format, page numbers, table of contents, bookmarks, combined into single file.
Regarding appendices, the Court strongly prefers Parties adhere to the following practices: • Submit your Appendix in PDF format with Appendix page numbers stamped on every page. Include the Appendix page number span in the name of the PDF (for example, “Appendix 1 - App. 1 to 100.pdf” or “Exhibit B – Doe Declaration - App. 45 to 200.pdf”). • Provide a table of contents with each Appendix, which enumerates each document in the Appendix along with the corresponding Appendix page number(s). • Bookmark each document in the Appendix within the PDF. • Combine Appendix documents into a single attachment to file as few separate PDF attachments as possible. If more than one PDF must be filed,
Footnotes limited to explanatory statements only; all citations must be in-line.
Limit footnotes to only explanatory statements and dicta. Do not use footnotes for necessary citations to law or the record. Use only in-line citations for necessary citations to law or the record.
Contact Cynthia Thornton for civil case management inquiries
A. For civil case management, telephone or e-mail inquiries should be made to Cynthia Thornton, 214-753-2343, cynthia_thornton@txnd.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Contact Lisa Matz for criminal case management inquiries
B. For criminal case management, telephone or e-mail inquires should be made to Lisa Matz, 214-753-2683, lisa_matz@txnd.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Do not contact Judge Brown or her law clerks
C. Do not make any inquiries to Judge Brown or her law clerks.
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Motion and case status inquiries must be in writing
D. Inquiries about motions and the case status should be in writing.
Letter via ECF
- Status Inquiries
Do not call to inquire about pending motion status.
Please do not call to inquire about the status of a pending motion.
Phone
Emergency calls to court require good faith attempt to include opposing counsel and leaving detailed message.
If you have a bonafide emergency situation of which the Court should be aware, please make a good faith attempt to include opposing counsel on the call. Leave a message explaining the situation. Leave your name and the name of the party you are represent along with the case number, and the Court will respond to your emergency as soon as possible.
Phone
- Advance Notice Requiredgood_faith_attempt_to_include_opposing_counsel
Notify court by letter/email of serious settlement discussions; court will postpone pending motions.
Notify the Court by letter or email whenever serious settlement discussions are underway. The Court will postpone consideration of pending motions until advised of success or impasse.