Court Rules
Common questions about Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

Courtesy copies are required for sealed documents, joint pretrial orders, and trial materials. Details: 1 copy, delivery promptly. Courtesy copies are required promptly for sealed documents, Joint Pretrial Orders, and trial material; all other filings require courtesy copies only upon request.

View ruleSource: page 6, section Court copies

Does Judge Charles R. Eskridge III require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's rules set a pre-motion procedure for other. Parties must confer on any continuance request in criminal cases before filing.

View ruleSource: page 11, section Continuances

What page or word limits apply to letter before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's rule states these limits: 2 pages. Opposing parties must submit responsive letters of similar length (~2 single-spaced pages) to discovery dispute permission requests.

View ruleSource: page 15, section Discovery and scheduling disputes

What page or word limits apply to amicus brief before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's rule states these limits: 4000 words. Amicus curiae briefs are limited to 4,000 words unless other permission is granted.

View ruleSource: page 18, section Motion practice and hearings

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's formatting rule includes 13 point type, double spacing, letter paper, margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches, and double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.. Motion papers must use letter-size paper, minimum 13-point font, 1-inch margins, and be double-spaced except for quotations, headings, and footnotes.

View ruleSource: page 18, section Briefing requirements

What must be included with notice of removal filings before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

The rule requires certificate of service. Removing parties must file a certificate of service and required additional information within 10 days of case removal.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Additional requirements in removed cases

What must be included with consent to proceed magistrate judge filings before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Consent to proceed before a Magistrate Judge must be submitted using unaltered Form 2 with all instructions followed.

View ruleSource: page 5, section Consent to proceed before Magistrate Judge

How may parties contact Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Jennelle_Gonzalez@txs.uscourts.gov and phone (713) 250–5257. All inquiries regarding cases assigned to Judge Eskridge must be directed to Case Manager Jennelle Gonzalez via the provided contact information.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Court Procedures

How does Judge Charles R. Eskridge III handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III. Process: file redacted on ecf and file unredacted to clerk. Filing documents under seal requires a motion establishing good cause, with redacted versions filed publicly, unredacted versions filed under seal, and proper SEALED designation on CM/ECF.

View ruleSource: page 11, section Protective orders and filings under seal

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Charles R. Eskridge III?

Judge Charles R. Eskridge III's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Continuances of Scheduling and Docket Control Orders require showing of actual diligence and extraordinary circumstances; continuances in Section 10 matters only permitted for health exigencies or emergencies.

View ruleSource: page 10, section 11. Continuances

Does Judge Charles R. Eskridge III require motion papers to be bundled?

Yes. Judge Charles R. Eskridge III requires bundling for covered papers. Exhibits must be uploaded as a single attachment on CM/ECF; cover sheets required for each exhibit, table of contents for numerous attachments.

View ruleSource: page 20, section g. Supporting evidence
Complete rules summary for Judge Charles R. Eskridge III

Deposition designations must be prepared using Form 15.

Draft proposed orders must be prepared using Form 11.

All inquiries regarding cases assigned to Judge Eskridge must be directed to Case Manager Jennelle Gonzalez via the provided contact information.

Removing parties must file a certificate of service and required additional information within 10 days of case removal.

All emergency-related communications must be made through the Case Manager via telephone or email.

Motions for extension of deadlines and discovery disputes are not considered emergencies.

Magistrate Judges must be addressed as 'Magistrate Judge' in briefs.

Consent to proceed before a Magistrate Judge must be submitted using unaltered Form 2 with all instructions followed.

Opposing parties must submit responsive letters of similar length (~2 single-spaced pages) to discovery dispute permission requests.

Informal case-related communication is disfavored, substantive issues must be raised via written filings or in-person hearings, and court personnel may not provide legal advice.

All case-related informal communications must go through the Case Manager, with specific approved methods for different inquiry types.

Pro se and attorney contact with Law Clerks is prohibited unless returning a message, and must be limited to the stated subject.

Prior to contacting the Court for status updates, check the court website and CM/ECF system; filing questions must be directed to the Office of the Clerk.

Letters and emails to the Court must be served on all parties via the same method prior to delivery, and are not to be filed on CM/ECF unless the Court determines otherwise.

Letters requesting in camera inspection of privilege log documents may not exceed approximately three single-spaced pages.

Courtesy copies are required promptly for sealed documents, Joint Pretrial Orders, and trial material; all other filings require courtesy copies only upon request.

Courtesy copies of filings exceeding 100 pages must be double-sided, bound in tabbed binders no larger than 4 inches, and marked with the ECF docket number unless urgent.

Courtesy copies must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Case Manager with a transmittal letter, which must be served on all parties without attachments and not filed with the Court.

Counsel seeking CM/ECF notices must file a notice of appearance; inclusion in a pleading's signature block does not satisfy this requirement.

Pro hac vice applications must include an averment of familiarization with court procedures and Local Rules.

Plaintiff's counsel must file a single, completed Joint Discovery/Case Management Plan signed by all parties, complying with Rule 26(f).

Continuances of Scheduling and Docket Control Orders require showing of actual diligence and extraordinary circumstances; continuances in Section 10 matters only permitted for health exigencies or emergencies.

Scheduling orders cannot be altered solely by party agreement; court approval is required for continuances.

Plaintiff may request a reasonable continuance if service has not been perfected.

Parties may request reinstatement of the initial pretrial conference via email, providing an explanation of necessity.

Parties may agree to extend discovery deadlines without court approval if the extension does not affect the scheduling order or other ordered deadlines.

Parties must confer on any continuance request in criminal cases before filing.

Continuance requests in criminal cases must include a certificate of conference addressing all parties' positions.

Filing documents under seal requires a motion establishing good cause, with redacted versions filed publicly, unredacted versions filed under seal, and proper SEALED designation on CM/ECF.

Parties must confer in good faith before filing a motion for a protective order differing from the standard Form 9.

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