Judge Jeffrey P. Norman
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Not required
Communication
Clerk, Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Emergency motion must contain the word “Emergency” in the title of the motion.
Document Filing Requirements23 rules
Motion to Continue Hearing must include an affidavit of conference.
DocumentMotion To Continue
Fee Applications of not more than a $1,000.00 must contain a certificate of service showing service on both the debtor(s) and Trustee if the Trustee is not the applicant. This includes fee applications for accountants and appraisers.
DocumentFee Application
Emergency motions must contain a detailed emergency statement, relief date, accuracy certification, and BLR 9013-1 required language.
The motion must include a detailed statement why an emergency exists and the date relief is needed to avoid the consequences of the emergency. The motion seeking an emergency hearing must be certified for its accuracy by the party seeking the emergency relief or by its counsel. Emergency motions must include the language required by BLR 9013-1.
DocumentEmergency Motion
All motions, applications, objections, and responses must include a proposed order, with failure risking motion denial.
Each motion, application, objection, and response filed with the court must be accompanied by a proposed order pursuant to BLR 9013-1(h). Failure to file a proposed order can be grounds for denial of the motion.
DocumentMotion, Application, Objection, Response
All motions, except those made at trial, must be made in writing and state with particularity the grounds supporting the motion and the relief or order sought. Motions should address each issue presented and follow with the pertinent facts, statutory framework, legal arguments, and the specific relief requested.
DocumentMotion
When all parties do not agree to a non-evidentiary status conference, a request for conference may only be requested by motion, and such motion requires an affidavit indicating the efforts the parties took to obtain consent to the conference.
DocumentMotion
Pleadings must state with particularity the relief requested and grounds for relief.
rules require pleadings state with particularity the relief requested and the grounds for such relief, and require the pleadings be served in the same manner as a summons and complaint under Fed. R. Bank. P. 7004.
DocumentPleading
Cash collateral motions must include concise relief statement and specified details on interested entities, purpose, terms, adequate protection, creditor relationship, and budgets.
A motion for authorization to use cash collateral must consist of a concise statement of the relief requested and must include: (i) the name of each entity with an interest in the cash collateral; (ii) the purposes for the use of the cash collateral; (iii) the material terms, including duration, of the use of the cash collateral; and (iv) any liens, cash payments, or other adequate protection that will be provided to each entity with an interest in the cash collateral or, if no additional adequate protection is proposed, an explanation of why each entity’s interest is adequately protected [i.e., why additional protection is not required]. (v) Any relationship of the creditor to the debtor, the nature and source of the cash collateral, and budgets or cash flow projections.
DocumentMotion
Orders 1. That debtor has complied with all applicable service requirements. 2. That the secured creditor asserts a lien or interest in cash collateral, the priority of any such lien or the nature of any such interest, and the amount of indebtedness allegedly secured by the cash collateral or the extent of such interest. 3. Identification of the assets that are generating or will generate cash collateral. 4. That debtor has an immediate need for the use of cash collateral or debtor in possession financing, as applicable, including the reason for that immediate need (e.g. to preserve assets of the estate, to fund business operations, to purchase inventory, etc.). 5. That debtor reaffirms the existing terms and conditions of financing documents with secured creditor or other applicable documents establishing an interest in cash collateral.
DocumentCash Collateral Order
Sub V Chapter 11 plans must include Financial Projections (Exhibit A) and Liquidation Analysis (Exhibit B).
There is no required form Sub V Chapter 11 Plan, however, the Court requires that the plan include Financial Projections [Exhibit A] and a Liquidation Analysis [Exhibit B], suggested forms are available for download on the Court’s website.
DocumentSub V Chapter 11 Plan
h. An itemization of expenses.
DocumentApplication
Exhibits that are to be entered as evidence must be filed on CM/ECF with an exhibit list prior to the hearing.
DocumentExhibit
g. Attached to the application shall be a chronological listing of all the time for which the application is requesting compensation,
DocumentApplication
Exhibit lists must be filed and exchanged prior to hearings pursuant to BLR 9013-2.
DocumentExhibit List
A witness and exhibit list should be filed as a document, with each exhibit being filed as a separate attachment to the witness and exhibit list.
DocumentWitness And Exhibit List
After entry of default by the Clerk, the plaintiff may file a Motion for Default Judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2), accompanied by a proposed form of Default Judgment.
DocumentMotion For Default Judgment
The motion should also state the exact factual or legal grounds for an amended order.
DocumentMotion To Amend Order
The motion to amend should be filed with the proposed amended order.
DocumentMotion To Amend Order
Consent or agreed orders in Chapter 12 or 13 cases require the signature of the Chapter 12 or 13 Trustee.
DocumentConsent Or Agreed Order
If a settlement is in an adversary proceeding and requires approval pursuant to Fed. R. Bank. P. 9019, such motion should be filed in the main case only.
Document9019 Motion
A proposed form of order in the main case and a proposed form of judgment or order in the adversary proceeding must be attached to the 9019 motion.
Document9019 Motion
The order must designate a mediator and set forth any specific conditions the parties have agreed to and want included in the order.
DocumentAgreed Order
The parties should file a motion for agreed entry with an accompanying agreed order.
DocumentMotion For Agreed Entry
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The Court does not require courtesy copies.
The Court does not require courtesy copies.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Adversary proceeding motions are governed by FRCP and FRBP, not subject to negative notice, court sets hearing and response deadline, may rule without hearing after response deadline.
Motions filed in adversary proceedings are not subject to the negative notice requirements of main bankruptcy cases and shall be governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The Court will set all motions in adversary proceedings for hearing and will also set a response deadline. At the expiration of the response deadline, the Court may rule without the necessity of a hearing based on responsive pleadings.
Page 5 | Applicable Rules
Court deviates from BLR 3007(d) for proof of claim objections; evidentiary hearing proceeds on initial date if objection and response are filed.
With respect to hearings on objections to proofs of claim, this Court intends to deviate from BLR 3007(d). When an objection to a proof of claim and response have been filed, the Court intends to move forward with an evidentiary hearing on the initially set hearing date.
Page 5 | Applicable Rules
Debtor must provide no less than 48 hours’ notice of the motion and any expedited hearing thereon to the United States Trustee and Subchapter V Trustee [if appointed], debtor’s twenty largest unsecured creditors, the attorneys for any committee that may be appointed by the Court, any creditor asserting a secured claim or other interest in cash collateral against debtor (and its attorneys if known), and the Internal Revenue Service, any potentially affected taxing authorities, and any other creditor or party in interest directly affected by the relief sought on an emergency or first day basis. At a minimum, such notice should also be provided by email, telephone, or fax and in the manner provided under Fed. R. Bank. P. 7004.
Debtor must provide no less than 48 hours’ notice of the motion and any expedited hearing thereon to the United States Trustee and Subchapter V Trustee [if appointed], debtor’s twenty largest unsecured creditors, the attorneys for any committee that may be appointed by the Court, any creditor asserting a secured claim or other interest in cash collateral against debtor (and its attorneys if known), and the Internal Revenue Service, any potentially affected taxing authorities, and any other creditor or party in interest directly affected by the relief sought on an emergency or first day basis. At a minimum, such notice should also be provided by email, telephone, or fax and in the manner provided under Fed. R. Bank. P. 7004.
Page 6 | Chapter 11 Cash Collateral Motions
Counsel should set Chapter 11 Applications to Employ for hearing and may seek expedited consideration.
Therefore, counsel should set any Application to Employ for hearing and seek, if desired, expedited consideration.
Page 5 | Chapter 11 Practice
Debtors should request emergency consideration for first day motions in Chapter 11 cases.
Debtors should always request emergency consideration of first day motions.
Page 5 | Chapter 11 Practice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances require motion with affidavit of consent efforts if parties disagree; agreed continuances may be granted without motion.
Continuances may be requested and granted without a motion if all parties are in agreement. When all parties do not agree to a continuance, a continuance may only be requested by motion, and such motion requires an affidavit indicating the efforts the parties took to obtain consent to the continuance. The Court may deny a continuance request even if all parties have agreed to the continuance.
Page 10 | 7. Continuances.
Chambers Communication Rules
Contact with Judge Norman and his law clerks is prohibited except via pleadings filed with the clerk.
Unless otherwise permitted in these Courtroom Procedures, contact with Judge Norman and his law clerks, other than by pleadings, is strictly prohibited.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
Communications with the Court should be in the form of pleadings filed with the clerk of court.
Communications with the Court should be in the form of pleadings filed with the clerk of court.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
Parties must jointly email chambers at tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov to request agreed continuances; no reply means hearing proceeds as scheduled.
Parties seeking a continuance must jointly email chambers consenting to a continuance. Emails should be addressed to tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov. The parties will receive a reply email indicating whether the Court grants or denies the continuance request. If the parties do not receive a reply email, they should assume that the hearing will go forward as scheduled.
Page 10 | 7. Continuances.
Notice of late filed Agreed Orders should be emailed to the Court’s Case Manager tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov and Courtroom Deputy for entry prior to the scheduled hearing.
Notice of late filed Agreed Orders should be emailed to the Court’s Case Manager tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov and Courtroom Deputy for entry prior to the scheduled hearing.
Page 4
If Case Manager Tracey Conrad is out of office, contact the courtroom deputy via phone at (713) 250-5772.
If Ms. Conrad is out of the office, you may contact the courtroom deputy at (713) 250- 5772.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
The Clerk’s office may be contacted via phone at (713) 250-5500.
Chambers’ main line number is (713) 250-5252, or you may contact the Clerk’s office at (713) 250-5500.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
Attorneys and pro se parties may contact Case Manager Tracey Conrad via email at tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov.
Attorneys and parties who are not represented by counsel may contact the Court’s Case Manager, Tracey Conrad, at tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov or (713) 250- 5772.
Page 1 | Contact with Court and Court Personnel.
Email notice of filed emergency motions or expedited hearing requests may be sent to tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov for chambers awareness.
Notice that an emergency motion or a request for an expedited hearing has been filed may be sent via email to tracey_conrad@txs.uscourts.gov as they may not be seen by chambers staff until the next business day.
Page 4
Parties agreeing to non-evidentiary status conference for proof of claim objections may contact case manager Tracey Conrad via email per continuance procedures.
If the parties agree that a non-evidentiary status conference pursuant to BLR 3007(d) should initially be held instead, they may contact Judge Norman’s case manager Tracey Conrad via email pursuant to the Court’s procedures for continuances.
Page 5 | Applicable Rules
Parties may contact the Court at (713) 250-5252 during oral depositions to request telephonic hearings for discovery disputes.
However, if a dispute arises during an oral deposition, a party may contact the Court at (713) 250-5252 during the deposition and request a telephonic hearing.
Page 12 | 12. Discovery Disputes.