Courtesy copies are required for proposed jury instructions, memorandum of laws, proposed findings of facts, proposed conclusions of laws, exhibit lists, objections to exhibits, and witness lists. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. Courtesy copies of specified trial documents must be delivered to the Case Manager, captioned, signed by counsel, and include a certificate of service.
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.'s rules set a pre-motion procedure for tro and preliminary injunction. Applications for restraining orders or immediate relief must be submitted through the Case Manager, with affirmation that opposing party was contacted and both parties are available for an in-chambers conference.
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.'s rule states these limits: 25 pages. Briefs and memoranda are limited to 25 pages without leave of court.
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.'s formatting rule includes binding tabbed 3-ring and indexed notebook. Each party must provide the Court with a tabbed, indexed notebook copy of their exhibits.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Joint pretrial orders must be signed by all counsel of record.
The rule requires certificate of conference. Discovery motions must include a statement certifying good faith efforts to confer, with details of the conference or attempts to confer.
Parties may contact Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.'s clerk by letter ecf only as allowed by the rule. All case-related correspondence must be mailed to the United States District Clerk at the specified Houston PO Box.
Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr.'s rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Motions for extension of discovery deadlines must be filed far enough in advance for opposing counsel to respond before the deadline.
The Court will respect bona fide vacation requests.
Joint pretrial orders must be signed by all counsel of record.
Case-related telephone inquiries must be directed only to the Case Manager, not the Court's secretary or law clerk.
The Case Manager cannot respond to casual telephone inquiries regarding motions or case status.
Filing, order, and docket entry information is available from the Clerk’s Office (713-250-5500) or the Court’s website.
Law clerks may contact counsel only to discuss the specific subject of the call.
All case-related correspondence must be mailed to the United States District Clerk at the specified Houston PO Box.
Substantive issues must not be addressed in letters, as they are not docketed or included in the appellate record.
Urgent documents and letters may be sent to chambers.
Applications for restraining orders or immediate relief must be submitted through the Case Manager, with affirmation that opposing party was contacted and both parties are available for an in-chambers conference.
Ex parte restraining order applications are only considered if they meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b) requirements.
Motions to extend deadlines or cut-off dates are not classified as emergencies.
Joint motions for continuance are not binding and are granted only at the Court's discretion.
Discovery motions must include a statement certifying good faith efforts to confer, with details of the conference or attempts to confer.
Motions for extension of discovery deadlines must be filed far enough in advance for opposing counsel to respond before the deadline.
Briefs and memoranda are limited to 25 pages without leave of court.
Briefs or memoranda with more than 10 pages of argument must include a table of contents.
Briefs must include alphabetically arranged authorities, statement of proceeding nature, issues with standard of review, argument summary, argument under headings, and conclusion stating relief sought.
All appendices must contain a paginated table of contents and be tabbed for easy material location.
Parties must bring a proposed docket control order to the initial pretrial conference.
Courtesy copies of specified trial documents must be delivered to the Case Manager, captioned, signed by counsel, and include a certificate of service.
Proposed jury instructions, definitions, and interrogatories must be numbered, presented on separate sheets, and include supporting authority citations.
Trial will be set only upon filing of a complete Joint Pretrial Order.
Offering party must mark exhibits with party name, case number, and exhibit number.
Each party must provide the Court with a tabbed, indexed notebook copy of their exhibits.
Counsel prohibited from using telephones in chambers; Judge's staff will not take telephone messages.