**Senior United States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal** was appointed to the Southern District of Texas by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, assuming senior status on December 1, 2024. Judge Rosenthal received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago in 1974 and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1977, where she was an editor of the Law Review. After graduating, she completed a one-year clerkship with Chief Judge John Robert Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She then practiced with the Houston law firm Baker Botts from 1978 to 1992, becoming a partner in 1985. She became chief judge of the Southern District of Texas on November 13, 2016, and served until November 29, 2022. She has received the Houston Bar Association's highest bar-poll evaluation for judges three times and was selected as Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists in 2000 and again in 2006. **Education** - University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1977 - University of Chicago, B.A., 1974 **Career** - Senior United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (1992–present; senior status 2024) - Chief Judge, Southern District of Texas (2016–2022) - Partner, Baker Botts, Houston (1985–1992) - Associate, Baker Botts, Houston (1978–1985) - Law Clerk, Chief Judge John Robert Brown, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
**Division:** Houston **Courthouse:** Bob Casey United States Courthouse, 515 Rusk Street, Houston, Texas 77002 **Phone:** (713) 250-5980 **Chambers Staff** - Case Manager: Glenda Hassan, (713) 250-5517, glenda_hassan@txs.uscourts.gov - Judicial Assistant: Carolyn McFadden, (713) 250-5980, carolyn_mcfadden@txs.uscourts.gov - Deputy Clerk-in-Charge: Darlene Hansen, (713) 250-5500
Courtesy copies are required when a filing is > 50 pages. Details: 1 copy, delivery not specified. Courtesy copies are required for filings exceeding 50 pages.
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's rules set a pre-motion procedure for other. Parties challenging Confidential Information designations must attempt good-faith dispute resolution before seeking court intervention.
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's rule states these limits: 25 pages. Briefs and memoranda are limited to 25 pages unless the court grants leave for longer submissions.
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's formatting rule includes submitted on cd compatible with word. Proposed jury charge must be submitted on a CD compatible with Microsoft Word.
The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Requests for oral argument or hearing on a motion must be made in writing with an explanation of why it is helpful.
The rule requires signature block. Joint Pretrial Orders must be signed by all counsel and unrepresented parties.
Parties may contact Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Glenda_Hassan@txs.uscourts.gov. Counsel must email Judge Rosenthal’s case manager at least two business days before Rule 16 Conference to arrange virtual attendance; in-person may be required for substantive issues.
The rule does not state that a motion to seal is required for the covered filing process. Documents subject to confidential treatment or disclosing Confidential Information must be filed under seal, kept sealed until court order, with only confidential parts sealed if possible.
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Joint motions for continuances are not binding and are granted at the court's discretion.
Yes. Judge Lee H. Rosenthal requires bundling for covered papers. Proposed voir dire questions must be bundled with the Joint Pretrial Order.
Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Electronic filing is required in most cases, and counsel must register for the CM/ECF system.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must be filed 14 days before the Rule 16 Initial Pretrial Conference.
Parties challenging Confidential Information designations must attempt good-faith dispute resolution before seeking court intervention.
Documents subject to confidential treatment or disclosing Confidential Information must be filed under seal, kept sealed until court order, with only confidential parts sealed if possible.
Requests for oral argument or hearing on a motion must be made in writing with an explanation of why it is helpful.
Joint Pretrial Orders must be signed by all counsel and unrepresented parties.
The court holds docket call on the last Friday of each month.
Joint motions for continuances are not binding and are granted at the court's discretion.
Vacation requests for court settings are respected if presented well in advance.
Boilerplate or general objections are prohibited in all forms of discovery requests.
These Procedures must be served alongside the summons and complaint or removal papers.
Plaintiffs must serve these Procedures and the Rule 16 scheduling order on all defendants and parties with the summons and complaint.
Parties removing a case to this court must comply with the same service requirements as plaintiffs.
Proof of service for these Procedures and Rule 16 order must be filed with the court.
Judge Lee H. Rosenthal can be contacted at (713) 250-5980 (phone) or (713) 250-5213 (fax) at the Houston courthouse.
Glenda Hassan, Case Manager to Judge Rosenthal, can be contacted at (713) 250-5516 (phone) or (713) 250-5213 (fax).
Counsel must email Judge Rosenthal’s case manager at least two business days before Rule 16 Conference to arrange virtual attendance; in-person may be required for substantive issues.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must be filed 14 days before the Rule 16 Initial Pretrial Conference.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must use Attachment 1 form.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must include all applicable Rule 26(f) matters discussed at the parties’ meeting.
Parties must file the Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan and proposed Docket Control and Scheduling Order no later than 14 days before the scheduled Rule 16 Conference.
Only one Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan may be filed, which must be signed by all party counsel and unrepresented parties.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must clearly set out any party disagreements on Plan or Order matters.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must include pertinent matters from Rule 26(f) discussion as listed on attached forms.
Pre-motion conference with court required before filing motions for disputed discovery or other pretrial matters, with 1-2 page agenda letter required.
Email case manager Glenda Hassan to schedule pre-motion conference.
Discovery responses must state whether additional information will be produced later and provide the production date.
Extension motions for discovery deadlines must be filed early enough for opposing counsel to respond before the original deadline.
Discovery requests must meet Rule 26(b)(1) relevance/proportionality; objections must be specific, with no boilerplate or general objections permitted.
Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must address listed pretrial and discovery matters.
Parties objecting to discovery requests and responding 'subject to objections' must indicate if the response is complete.
Discovery responses must identify any information withheld based on objections and provide details about such withheld information.