Court Rules
Common questions about Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

Courtesy copies are required for proposed voir dires and proposed charges. Details: 2 copies, delivery upon filing. Required attachments must be filed in duplicate with the court.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 14. Attachments

Does Judge Andrew S. Hanen require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rules set a pre-motion procedure for tro and preliminary injunction. Restraining order applications are presented to the Court by the Case Manager after counsel affirms opposing party contact and both parties' availability for conference.

View ruleSource: page 4, section EMERGENCIES

What page or word limits apply before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rule states these limits: 20 pages. All motions, briefs, legal memoranda, and pleadings are limited to 20 pages, with court permission required to exceed.

View ruleSource: page 9, section MOTION_PRACTICE

What page or word limits apply to letter before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rule states these limits: 2 pages. Pre-motion letters are limited to 1-2 pages and must outline disputes and issues.

View ruleSource: page 11, section DISCOVERY AND OTHER PRETRIAL DISPUTES

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's formatting rule includes file format paper, leave of court required for conventional (paper) filing of documents exceeding 30 pages, and electronic filing preferred when possible. Leave of Court required for conventional filing of documents over 30 pages, with electronic filing preferred.

View ruleSource: page 5, section ELECTRONIC FILINGS

What must be included with pretrial motion filings before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. All pretrial motions including motions to suppress must comply with Local Criminal Rule 12; non-compliant motions to suppress are waived and unsupported pretrial motions are not entertained.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motions to Suppress Compliance with Local Criminal Rule 12

What must be included with motion to suppress filings before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Motions to suppress that do not comply with form requirements are waived under Rule 12.1.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Local Rule 12.1 and 12.2 Pretrial Motion Form Requirements

How may parties contact Judge Andrew S. Hanen's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Andrew S. Hanen's intake unit by phone only as allowed by the rule. Case-related telephone inquiries must be directed to the Case Manager (intake unit), not to the Court, judicial assistant, or law clerks.

View ruleSource: page 3, section CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL

How does Judge Andrew S. Hanen handle sealed or redacted filings?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Process: file redacted on ecf. Counsel must comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a) to protect minor plaintiffs' identities and privileged information.

View ruleSource: page 20, section 18. SETTLEMENT AND ORDERS OF DISMISSAL

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Andrew S. Hanen?

Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Extensions of Scheduling and Docket Control Order deadlines are not considered emergencies.

View ruleSource: page 4, section CONTINUANCES

Does Judge Andrew S. Hanen require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Required attachments must be filed as separate documents, not bundled with the joint pretrial order.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 14. Attachments

Does Judge Andrew S. Hanen encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Andrew S. Hanen's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Lawyers with less than 7 years of experience are young lawyers; court encourages them to have primary speaking roles and considers this when granting oral argument requests.

View ruleSource: page 9, section MOTION_PRACTICE
Complete rules summary for Judge Andrew S. Hanen

All pretrial motions including motions to suppress must comply with Local Criminal Rule 12; non-compliant motions to suppress are waived and unsupported pretrial motions are not entertained.

Pretrial motions must be written, state specific basis, include statement of authority, and be supported by affidavit or declaration with particularity of material facts if presenting factual issues.

Motions to suppress that do not comply with form requirements are waived under Rule 12.1.

Factual allegations in motions to suppress and accompanying affidavits must be definite, specific, detailed, and nonconjectural, not based on suspicion or conjecture.

All motions must include certificates of conference, certificates of service, and a proposed order.

Joint pretrial order must list each party, counsel, counsel's address and telephone number in separate paragraphs.

Joint pretrial order must include a brief case statement suitable for jury introduction, with names, dates, and places.

Joint pretrial order must briefly specify basis for subject matter and party jurisdiction, including unresolved questions.

Joint pretrial order must list all pending motions.

Joint pretrial order must state each party's claims concisely in separate paragraphs.

Joint pretrial order must list all facts requiring no proof.

Joint pretrial order must list all material facts in bona fide controversy.

Joint pretrial order must list all undisputed legal propositions.

Joint pretrial order must state unresolved legal questions with supporting authorities.

Joint pretrial order must include four exhibit lists on Clerk-style forms, with exhibits available before trial except rebuttal/unanticipatable.

Exhibits must be marked with the date and case number on each exhibit.

Joint pretrial order must include four witness lists with names, addresses, and testimony summary.

Joint pretrial order must state that all settlement efforts are exhausted and case must be tried.

Joint pretrial order must state estimated trial length and logistical issues.

Required attachments must be filed as separate documents, not bundled with the joint pretrial order.

Required attachments must be filed in duplicate with the court.

Proposed voir dire questions must be filed as a separate document, captioned, signed by counsel, and with service certified.

Joint pretrial order must include proposed findings of fact with agreed and contested findings separated.

Joint pretrial order must include conclusions of law with supporting authority.

Joint pretrial order must be signed by the Attorney-in-Charge for both plaintiff and defendant.

A case will be set for trial only if a complete Joint Pretrial Order has been filed.

All pleadings must be electronically filed per Local Rule 5.1.

Proposed voir dire questions must be filed with the clerk alongside the Joint Pretrial Order.

Case-related telephone inquiries must be directed to the Case Manager (intake unit), not to the Court, judicial assistant, or law clerks.

Inquiries to the Case Manager should be via e-filed letter except for settings within 14 days, criminal cases, emergencies, or Section 8A matters, where email is allowed.

More Judges in Southern District of Texas

Alfred H. Bennett
Judge
Alfredo R Pérez
Bankruptcy
Andrew M. Edison
Judge
Brian C. Bajew
Judge
Charles R. Eskridge III
Judge
Christina A. Bryan
Judge
Christopher M. Lopez
Bankruptcy
Dena Hanovice Palermo
Judge