**United States District Judge Alfred H. Bennett** was appointed to the Southern District of Texas by President Barack Obama in 2015. Before his federal appointment, Judge Bennett presided over the 61st Civil District Court in Texas from 2009 to 2015, serving as Harris County Administrative Judge overseeing civil courts from 2010 to 2011. He also taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law from 2003 to 2013. His earlier legal experience includes solo practice from 1998 to 2008 and associate positions at prominent Houston firms including Fulbright & Jaworski and Solar & Fernandes. He has been an active member of the National Bar Association and State Bar of Texas, having chaired multiple committees including the Texas Access to Justice Commission's Strategic Planning Committee, and served as president of the Houston Lawyers Association from 1997 to 1998. His honors include the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston (2024) and the Joyce M. Reynolds Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). **Education** - University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1991 - University of Houston, B.S. in Political Science, 1988 - A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, mediation training, 2007 **Career** - United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (2015–present) - Judge, 61st Civil District Court, Texas (2009–2015) - Harris County Administrative Judge for Civil Courts (2010–2011) - Solo practitioner (1998–2008) - Adjunct Professor, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, trial advocacy (2003–2013) - Associate, Fulbright & Jaworski, Houston - Associate, Solar & Fernandes, Houston - President, Houston Lawyers Association (1997–1998)
**Division:** Houston **Courthouse:** Bob Casey United States Courthouse, 515 Rusk Street, Room 8631, Houston, Texas 77002 **Phone:** (713) 250-5849 **Chambers Staff** - Case Manager/Judicial Assistant: Lisa Edwards, (713) 250-5850 - Judicial Assistant: Donna Smith, (713) 250-5849 - Law Clerk: Karolyne Carloss - Law Clerk: Alessandro Campagna - Law Clerk: Lakshmi Kumar
Courtesy copies are required for emergency expedited. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by email. Counsel filing a sole-emergency motion must email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager upon filing.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for discovery. Details: 2 pages, response due in 3 days. Pre-motion letter (max 2 pages) required before filing discovery dispute motions, emailed to Case Manager and Law Clerks with opposing counsel included; opposing counsel has 3 days to respond.
Judge Alfred H. Bennett's rule states these limits: 10 pages. Additional briefing on discovery disputes limited to 10 pages, except with leave of court.
Judge Alfred H. Bennett's rule states these limits: 20 pages. Briefs and memoranda limited to 20 pages including case style, table of contents/authorities, and signature block, absent leave for extended briefing.
Judge Alfred H. Bennett's formatting rule includes times new roman font, 12 point type, double spacing and footnotes must be in times new roman 12-point font. All filings must use double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font, including footnotes.
The rule requires certificate of service. Proof of service of the Court Procedures and Practices, summons, complaint, and related materials must be filed with the Clerk.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Motions Pro Hac Vice must be filed at least one week before counsel's planned appearance.
Parties may contact Judge Alfred H. Bennett's clerk by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Lisa_Edwards@txs.uscourts.gov. Case-related inquiries must be emailed to Case Manager Lisa Edwards, CC'ing opposing counsel unless the issue is sealed.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Alfred H. Bennett. Parties filing pleadings, motions, or exhibits under seal must first file a Motion to File under Seal.
Judge Alfred H. Bennett's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Parties may agree to discovery deadline extensions without court approval if they do not affect dispositive motion or docket call dates.
No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Motions must be filed as separate CM/ECF documents, not as exhibits or attachments to other documents.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All parties must file documents electronically through the CM/ECF system per Local Rule 5.1.
Contact Case Manager Lisa Edwards via email only after reviewing all Court Procedures and Practices in their entirety.
Proof of service of the Court Procedures and Practices, summons, complaint, and related materials must be filed with the Clerk.
Case-related inquiries must be emailed to Case Manager Lisa Edwards, CC'ing opposing counsel unless the issue is sealed.
Lawyers are prohibited from calling law clerks except to return a call; law clerks will only discuss the subject of their call.
Counsel seeking to appear by telephone at a conference or hearing must email the Case Manager at least three business days in advance.
Parties agreeing to an emergency/expedited hearing must email the Case Manager to schedule a phone conference or hearing with the Judge.
Counsel filing a sole-emergency motion must email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager upon filing.
Court encourages opportunities for lawyers with fewer than 7 years of experience to conduct hearings, especially those who contributed to the underlying motion or response.
Motions Pro Hac Vice must be filed at least one week before counsel's planned appearance.
Physical courtesy copies are prohibited unless requested; only expedited or sealed documents may have courtesy copies emailed to the Case Manager.
All filings must use double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font, including footnotes.
Parties may agree to discovery deadline extensions without court approval if they do not affect dispositive motion or docket call dates.
Continuances of dispositive motion deadlines or docket call dates require a motion with explanation of case age/status and prejudice to opposing party; agreed continuances are not binding and need explanation.
Lead counsel actively engaged in litigation may seek an automatic 120-day continuance of trial setting for birth or adoption of a child.
Pre-motion letter (max 2 pages) required before filing discovery dispute motions, emailed to Case Manager and Law Clerks with opposing counsel included; opposing counsel has 3 days to respond.
Additional briefing on discovery disputes limited to 10 pages, except with leave of court.
Initial pre-motion letter and all additional briefing on discovery disputes must include a proposed order.
Motions must be filed as separate CM/ECF documents, not as exhibits or attachments to other documents.
Parties wishing oral argument must file a separate motion for hearing on the docket.
Separate memoranda of law are prohibited; motions must include all supporting argument.
All legal authority in motions must be cited within the document body, not in footnotes.
All motions except dispositive motions must include a proposed order per Local Rule 7.1(C).
Proposed orders must not include “Proposed” in the title and must use the format of the example order provided.
All motions must include a certificate of conference detailing prior conferring, opposition status, and if applicable, contact attempts; unopposed/joint motions also require the certificate.
Parties filing pleadings, motions, or exhibits under seal must first file a Motion to File under Seal.
Briefs and memoranda limited to 20 pages including case style, table of contents/authorities, and signature block, absent leave for extended briefing.
Motion responses must be filed within 21 days per Local Rule 7.4, unless the Court orders an expedited response.
Reply briefs must be submitted within 7 days of non-movant’s response and limited to 5 pages including case style, TOC/TOA, and signature block.
Reply briefs must be submitted within 7 days of non-movant’s response to the motion.
Sur-replies are rarely considered and require leave of court to file.