Southern District of Texas Courtesy Copy Requirements

CRITICAL

No courtesy copies are required for pleadings filed in CM/ECF.

The Court does not require courtesy copies of pleadings filed in CM/ECF.

CRITICAL

Two paper copies of exhibits are required at hearings, to be handed to the courtroom deputy shortly before the hearing starts.

Two paper copies of exhibits are required by the Court at the hearing, and may be handed up to the courtroom deputy shortly before the start of the hearing.

CRITICAL

The Court does not require courtesy copies.

The Court does not require courtesy copies.

CRITICAL

Motions to consolidate must be filed in the oldest case with a courtesy copy to each affected court.

Be filed only in the oldest case with a courtesy copy furnished to the other affected courts.

CRITICALCivil cases

A courtesy copy of the non-paper exhibit must be mailed to the Court at the following address: Law Clerk to Judge Alfred H. Bennett United States District Court 515 Rusk St., Room 8624 Houston, TX 77002

A courtesy copy of the non-paper exhibit must be mailed to the Court at the following address: Law Clerk to Judge Alfred H. Bennett United States District Court 515 Rusk St., Room 8624 Houston, TX 77002

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy copy of non-paper exhibit must be mailed to the Court's specified address.

A courtesy copy of the non-paper exhibit must be mailed to the Court at the following address: Law Clerk to Judge Alfred H. Bennett United States District Court 515 Rusk St., Room 8624 Houston, TX 77002

CRITICALCivil cases

Two copies of each party’s exhibits in notebooks must be provided to the court at trial start.

Counsel for each party shall provide the court with two (2) copies of that party’s exhibits in notebooks at the beginning of trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must provide two copies of exhibits in notebooks to the court at trial start.

Counsel for each party shall provide the court with two (2) copies of that party’s exhibits in notebooks at the beginning of trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel filing a sole-emergency motion must email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager upon filing.

If only one side feels it is an emergency, please file a motion for an emergency/expedited hearing. Email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager, who will then provide it to Judge for consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

Upon settlement, parties must file a Notice of Settlement and email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager.

If the parties have settled the case, they must file a Notice of Settlement on the record and email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager.

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy copy of Proposed Jury Instructions must be emailed to the Case Manager prior to docket call.

Prior to the docket call, each party must email the Case Manager a courtesy copy of the Proposed Jury Instructions in Microsoft Word format.

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy copy of Proposed Jury Instructions must be emailed to Case Manager before docket call/pretrial conference.

Prior to the docket call or pretrial conference, each party must email the Case Manager a courtesy copy of the Proposed Jury Instructions in Microsoft Word format.

CRITICALCivil cases

Physical courtesy copies are prohibited unless specifically requested by the Court.

Do not submit physical courtesy copies to the Court unless requested.

CRITICALCivil cases

Physical courtesy copies are prohibited unless requested; only expedited or sealed documents may have courtesy copies emailed to the Case Manager.

Do not submit physical courtesy copies to the Court unless requested. The court will request courtesy copies if needed. Courtesy copies of expedited or sealed documents only may be emailed to the Case Manager.

CRITICALCivil cases

Upon settlement, parties must file a Notice of Settlement and email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager.

If the parties have settled the case, they must file a Notice of Settlement on the record and email a courtesy copy to the Case Manager.

CRITICAL

Three copies of joint trial notebook must be delivered by plaintiff/prosecution counsel at least four business days before final pretrial conference or docket call.

Counsel to plaintiff or prosecution must deliver three copies at least four business days prior to the final pretrial conference or docket call in the manner directed in Section 6.

CRITICAL

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

Promptly submit a courtesy copy of: o Documents filed under seal regardless of length; and o Joint Pretrial Orders and other trial material. Don’t submit a courtesy copy of any other filing except upon request, regardless of length.

CRITICAL

Parties must submit exhibits on a well-organized USB drive plus three hard copies simultaneously with exhibit lists.

In addition to the lists, each party must simultaneously submit all exhibits on a well-organized USB drive together with three copies in the manner directed in Section 6.

CRITICAL

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.

Mail or hand-deliver courtesy copies to the attention of the Case Manager with a transmittal letter specifying the content. Don’t file transmittal letters. Mail or email a copy of such letters without attachments to all other parties.

CRITICAL

A copy of the witness list must be furnished to the court reporter before trial.

Also furnish a copy to the court reporter before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

The parties must include the attachments to these motions with the paper courtesy copies submitted directly to chambers. The paper courtesy copy should be sent to chambers the same day that the motions are filed electronically.

The parties must include the attachments to these motions with the paper courtesy copies submitted directly to chambers. The paper courtesy copy should be sent to chambers the same day that the motions are filed electronically.

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy copy to chambers required for pleadings filed within 5 days of a scheduled motion hearing.

If a motion hearing is scheduled and a pleading is filed within 5 days of the scheduled hearing, counsel shall deliver a courtesy copy to chambers.

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy copies of exhibits must be assembled in loose-leaf notebooks with tabs, labeled covers, max 3-inch depth, with 2 copies due at trial.

Any courtesy copies of the exhibits shall be assembled in loose-leaf notebooks with a numbered sticker on each document. Such number shall also appear on a tab extending beyond the right side of the notebook. Each notebook shall be labeled on the outside cover with the name of the offering party, the case style, and the case number. Each notebook shall not exceed three (3) inches in depth. The offering party shall provide two courtesy copies of this notebook for use by the Court, at the time of trial.

CRITICAL

Two copies of documents filed during or within seven days prior to trial must be ready for the Court.

Have ready for the Court two copies of documents filed during or within seven days prior to trial or hearing.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies are required only for trial exhibits or deposition excerpts with objections, which must be highlighted.

Do not provide courtesy copies to the Court except for the following: • Trial Exhibits to which objections have been lodged; and • Trial Deposition excerpts when objections have been lodged. Highlight the objections and the questions/answers to which those objections are directed.

CRITICAL

Only copies of exhibits with objections must be provided to the Court within seven calendar days of the Joint Pretrial Order being filed.

Do not provide copies of all exhibits to the Court. Instead, provide only copies of exhibits to which objections are lodged no later than seven calendar days after the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

CRITICAL

Civil plaintiffs and criminal prosecution/defense must submit Word versions of jury instructions by email to the Case Manager.

Court copies. In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Court’s Case Manager. In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email.

CRITICAL

Counsel must submit a Word version of proposed findings to the Case Manager by email, with requirements varying by case type.

Court copies. In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Case Manager. In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each submit a Word version by email.

CRITICAL

Delivery. Electronic copies should be sent to the Court’s case manager via email. Hard copies should be mailed or hand-delivered to the attention of the Case Manager with a transmittal letter specifying the content.

Delivery. Electronic copies should be sent to the Court’s case manager via email. Hard copies should be mailed or hand-delivered to the attention of the Case Manager with a transmittal letter specifying the content.

CRITICAL

Delivery. Electronic copies should be sent to the Court’s case manager via email. Hard copies should be mailed or hand-delivered to the attention of the Case Manager with a transmittal letter specifying the content.

Delivery. Electronic copies should be sent to the Court’s case manager via email. Hard copies should be mailed or hand-delivered to the attention of the Case Manager with a transmittal letter specifying the content.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies are required only for trial exhibits with objections and trial deposition excerpts with objections, with objections highlighted.

When required. Do not provide courtesy copies to the Court except for the following: • Trial Exhibits to which objections have been lodged; and • Trial Deposition excerpts when objections have been lodged. Highlight the objections and the questions/answers to which those objections are directed.

CRITICAL

Witness lists must be submitted per Section 19 and a copy furnished to the court reporter before trial.

Court copies. Follow Section 19 regarding submission of witness lists. Also furnish a copy to the court reporter before trial.

CRITICAL

Only copies of exhibits to which objections are lodged must be provided to the Court within seven calendar days after the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

Do not provide copies of all exhibits to the Court. Instead, provide only copies of exhibits to which objections are lodged no later than seven calendar days after the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

CRITICAL

Two copies of documents filed during or within seven days prior to trial must be ready for the Court.

Have ready for the Court two copies of documents filed during or within seven days prior to trial or hearing.

CRITICAL

For emergency motions, file via CM/ECF then email a copy to the Case Manager immediately; extension motions are not emergencies.

Emergency motions. File emergency motions on the CM/ECF system. Then send a copy by email directly to the Case Manager so that it quickly reaches the Court’s attention. Motions for extension of deadlines are not emergencies.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Courtesy hard copy required for all filings 20+ pages, filed same day as electronic filing to District Clerk's Office.

The parties shall submit a courtesy hard copy to the District Clerk’s Office of all filings, including any attachments, that are 20 pages or longer. Stated differently, any single submission containing a motion, brief, and attachments that together contain a total of 20 pages or more must be filed both electronically and in courtesy hard copy directly to the District Clerk’s Office. Both the courtesy hard copy and the electronic filing must be filed on the same day.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Counsel must send a hard copy courtesy copy of emergency motions directly to the Case Manager in addition to electronic filing.

In addition to any filing or electronic filing of emergency motions, counsel shall send a courtesy hard copy of emergency motions directly to the Case Manager so that they quickly reach the Court’s attention.

CRITICAL

Two copies of the Joint Trial Notebook and each party’s exhibits must be submitted to the Court at least 4 business days before the first day of trial.

The Court requires 2 copies of a Joint Trial Notebook and each party’s exhibits be submitted to the Court at least 4 business days prior to the first day of trial.

CRITICAL

Fax or email delivery of documents to Chambers is prohibited unless the Court provides specific authorization.

Do NOT fax or email copies of documents to Chambers unless specifically authorized to do so by the Court.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies of documents 50 or more pages (including exhibits and attachments) must be promptly delivered to the Houston Clerk’s Office.

documents fifty (50) pages or more in length (including exhibits and attachments)

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies of documents for matters being heard by the Court must be delivered to the Houston Clerk’s Office within three days of filing.

documents pertaining to matters being heard by the Court within three days after the document is filed

CRITICALCivil cases

The parties must forward promptly to Chambers courtesy copies of (i) all documents that exceed ten (10) pages in length, including exhibits and attachments, and (ii)

The parties must forward promptly to Chambers courtesy copies of (i) all documents that exceed ten (10) pages in length, including exhibits and attachments, and (ii)

CRITICALCivil cases

Letters to Court may be hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed with copies to all parties; discovery/scheduling letters must be filed in docket.

Letters to the Court may be hand-delivered, sent by First Class Mail to Chambers, or transmitted by email, with copies to all parties served prior to or at the time of filing. See addresses above. Letters concerning discovery and scheduling matters must be filed in the docket.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Exhibit and witness lists (originals plus two copies each) must be provided to the Court at evidentiary hearings.

If an evidentiary hearing is necessary, the Court will notify the parties in advance. Exhibit and witness lists (the originals and TWO (2) copies of each) shall be provided to the Court at the hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Witness lists require original filing per Local Rules and 2 courtesy copies to the Court at trial or hearing for distribution.

Witness List for live witnesses (see attached form, also available on the Court’s website). Original must be filed in accordance with Local Rules; two (2) courtesy copies must be provided to the Court at the trial and/or hearing for distribution to all parties.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The parties must forward promptly to Chambers courtesy copies of (i) all documents that exceed ten (10) pages in length, including exhibits and attachments, and (ii) documents pertaining to matters to be heard by the Court within seven (7) days after the document is filed. Unless this rule is followed, the Court will not consider any documents filed within seven (7) days of any court appearance. Do not fax or email copies of documents to Chambers unless specifically authorized to do so by the Court.

The parties must forward promptly to Chambers courtesy copies of (i) all documents that exceed ten (10) pages in length, including exhibits and attachments, and (ii) documents pertaining to matters to be heard by the Court within seven (7) days after the document is filed. Unless this rule is followed, the Court will not consider any documents filed within seven (7) days of any court appearance. Do not fax or email copies of documents to Chambers unless specifically authorized to do so by the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Copy of emergency motion must be sent to Chambers after electronic filing, matter brought to Court’s attention promptly.

A copy of emergency motions must be sent directly to Chambers after their electronic filing. Counsel should bring the matter to the Court’s attention promptly.

CRITICALCivil cases

Fax and email delivery of documents to Chambers are prohibited unless authorized by the Court.

Do not fax or email copies of documents to Chambers unless specifically authorized to do so by the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

A courtesy copy of every opposed motion and its response must be forwarded to chambers.

C. A courtesy copy of all opposed motions and responses thereto shall be forwarded to chambers.

CRITICAL

Pleadings submitted by counsel during the course of a trial should be presented in duplicate (original for filing and copy for the Court) to the Case Manager.

Pleadings submitted by counsel during the course of a trial should be presented in duplicate (original for filing and copy for the Court) to the Case Manager.