Southern District of Texas Courtesy Copy Requirements

CRITICALCriminal cases

Exhibit and witness lists must be provided to the Court in 2 copies each at the hearing.

Exhibit and witness lists (2 copies each) must be provided to the Court at the hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Expert reports, exhibit lists, and witness lists must be provided to the Court in 2 copies each before trial.

Expert and agent reports, exhibit, and witness lists (2 copies each) must be provided to the Court before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must submit a tabbed binder with motion, briefs, and highlighted authorities 7 days before contested motion hearings, mailed or hand delivered to chambers.

At least 7 days before a contested motion hearing, counsel for both parties must submit a tabbed binder containing: (1) A copy of the motion in dispute. (2) Any brief or memorandum submitted in support or opposition to the motion; and (3) Copies of each authority cited, with relevant sections highlighted in yellow. Binders are to be mailed or personally delivered directly to chambers.

CRITICAL

Counsel and pro se parties must deliver chambers copies of all instruments filed within 3 days of a conference or hearing; non-compliance results in the instrument not being considered.

Counsel and all parties appearing pro se will deliver to chambers copies of all instruments filed within 3 days of any conference or hearing. Unless this rule is complied with the court will not consider any instrument filed within 3 days of any court appearance.

CRITICAL

Two copies of documents filed immediately prior to and during trial should be submitted to the Case Manager or the law clerk present in the courtroom.

Two copies of documents filed immediately prior to and during trial should be submitted to the Case Manager or the law clerk present in the courtroom.

CRITICAL

Chambers copies of all instruments exceeding 15 pages must be delivered within three days of filing.

Copies of all instruments exceeding 15 pages must be delivered to chambers within three days of filing.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff must deliver one courtesy copy of the Joint Pretrial Order with attachments to the court.

Plaintiff must deliver a courtesy copy of the Joint Pretrial Order to the court with all attachments.

CRITICAL

Counsel must provide single copy of deposition excerpts with color-coded highlighting.

Counsel must provide the court with a single copy of any deposition from which excerpts will be used at trial and should use color-coded highlighting to represent each parties’ requested deposition excerpts.

CRITICAL

The court generally does not require courtesy copies of motions or exhibits. However, if the exhibits exceed 50 pages (either singly or in combination), the party must provide the exhibit/exhibits in the form of a single electronic pdf document.

The court generally does not require courtesy copies of motions or exhibits. However, if the exhibits exceed 50 pages (either singly or in combination), the party must provide the exhibit/exhibits in the form of a single electronic pdf document.

CRITICAL

Submissions over 50 pages require a courtesy hard copy filed with the District Clerk’s Office

Parties are reminded that any submission - including motions, briefs, and attachments - that is greater than 50 pages in length requires a courtesy hard copy to be filed with the Distict Clerk’s Office

CRITICAL

Any submission over 50 pages (including motions, briefs, and attachments) requires one courtesy hard copy to be filed with the District Clerk's Office.

Parties are reminded that any submission - including motions, briefs, and attachments - that is greater than 50 pages in length requires a courtesy hard copy to be filed with the Distict Clerk's Office

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies must be promptly submitted for all documents filed under seal, regardless of length.

Documents filed under seal regardless of length;

CRITICAL

Plaintiff or prosecution counsel must deliver three copies of the joint trial notebook at least four business days before the first day of trial.

Counsel to Plaintiff or Prosecution must deliver three copies at least four business days prior to the first day of trial in the manner directed in Section 6.

CRITICAL

In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

CRITICAL

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also jointly submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also jointly submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

CRITICAL

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies must be promptly submitted for documents related to matters being heard within seven days of filing.

Documents pertaining to matters being heard by the Court within seven days of filing;

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.

CRITICAL

Each party must submit all exhibits on a well-organized USB drive along with three 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 promptly submitted for documents of 50 or more pages, including exhibits.

Documents of fifty pages or more in length, including exhibits;

CRITICAL

Emergency motions require CM/ECF filing plus emailing a copy to the Case Manager; extension motions are not considered 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.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies must be promptly submitted for Joint Pretrial Orders and other trial material.

Joint Pretrial Orders and other trial material.

CRITICAL

Submissions over 50 pages (including motions, briefs, attachments) require a courtesy hard copy filed with the District Clerk’s Office.

Parties are reminded that any submission - including motions, briefs, and attachments - that is greater than 50 pages in length requires a courtesy hard copy to be filed with the Distict Clerk’s Office

CRITICALCivil cases

Depositions to be considered at a bench trial must be submitted to chambers at least five days before trial.

Any depositions to be considered at a bench trial shall be submitted to chambers at least five (5) days before trial.

CRITICAL

However, if the exhibits exceed 50 pages (either singly or in combination), the party must provide the exhibit/exhibits in the form of a single electronic pdf document. The .pdf document must contain bookmarks identifying each exhibit and bookmarks set to the portions of the document cited or referenced in the motion or brief. Further, when a motion or brief refers only to a small portion of a voluminous exhibit, the party should highlight the referenced portion of the exhibit. Counsel shall also provide a copy of the bookmarked and highlighted .pdf to opposing counsel.

However, if the exhibits exceed 50 pages (either singly or in combination), the party must provide the exhibit/exhibits in the form of a single electronic pdf document. The .pdf document must contain bookmarks identifying each exhibit and bookmarks set to the portions of the document cited or referenced in the motion or brief. Further, when a motion or brief refers only to a small portion of a voluminous exhibit, the party should highlight the referenced portion of the exhibit. Counsel shall also provide a copy of the bookmarked and highlighted .pdf to opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Plaintiff must provide a courtesy copy of the Joint Pretrial Order with all attachments to the court.

Plaintiff must deliver a courtesy copy of the Joint Pretrial Order to the court with all attachments.

CRITICAL

Counsel must provide a tabbed, indexed exhibit notebook to the court and witness.

Counsel for each party shall provide a tabbed and indexed notebook of exhibits for the court and the witness.

CRITICAL

Counsel must provide the court with a single copy of any deposition from which excerpts will be used at trial and should use color-coded highlighting to represent each parties’ requested deposition excerpts.

Counsel must provide the court with a single copy of any deposition from which excerpts will be used at trial and should use color-coded highlighting to represent each parties’ requested deposition excerpts.

CRITICAL

Electronic copies of proposed jury charge and verdict form must be emailed to Case Manager.

Email the Case Manager electronic copies of the proposed jury charge and verdict form, in Microsoft Word. See supra § 1(e).

CRITICAL

Parties must provide the Court with two complete sets of their trial exhibits.

As noted supra, § 7(b)(4), the parties must provide the Court with two complete sets of their trial exhibits.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Counsel must send a file-stamped courtesy hard copy of each emergency motion directly to the Case Manager in addition to filing it physically or electronically.

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

CRITICALCriminal cases

A courtesy copy must be made available to the Court for documents exceeding 25 pages.

A courtesy copy must be made available to the Court if it exceeds 25 pages.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A file-stamped courtesy hard copy of any filing, including attachments, longer than 20 pages must be submitted to the Case Manager.

The parties shall submit a file-stamped courtesy hard copy to the Case Manager of all filings, including any attachments, that are greater than 20 pages in length.

CRITICALCivil cases

Filings over 20 pages require a file-stamped hard copy courtesy copy sent to the Case Manager.

The parties shall submit a file-stamped courtesy hard copy to the Case Manager of all filings, including any attachments, that are greater than 20 pages in length.

CRITICALCivil cases

Courtesy hard copies and electronic filings must be filed on the same day when possible.

If possible, both the courtesy hard copy and the electronic filing must be filed on the same day.

CRITICALCivil cases

Two copies of documents filed immediately before or during trial should be submitted to the Case Manager.

Two copies of documents filed immediately prior to and during the trial should be submitted to the Case Manager.

CRITICALCivil cases

Emergency motions require a file-stamped hard copy courtesy copy sent to the Case Manager upon filing.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must provide the Court with a tabbed, indexed notebook copy of their exhibits.

In addition to the original exhibits, counsel for each party is required to provide the Court with a copy of that party’s exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Courtesy copy required for proposed voir dire questions and jury instructions exceeding 25 pages.

A courtesy copy must be made available to the Court if it exceeds 25 pages.

CRITICALCivil cases

Nevertheless, parties should submit courtesy hard copies to the Case Manager if any part of a filing is sealed.

Nevertheless, parties should submit courtesy hard copies to the Case Manager if any part of a filing is sealed.

CRITICALCivil cases

In addition to physical or electronic filing, counsel must send a file-stamped courtesy hard copy of emergency motions directly to the Case Manager.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Where a courtesy copy is required, the courtesy hard copy and the electronic filing must both be filed on the same day.

In cases where a courtesy copy is required, both the courtesy hard copy and the electronic filing must be filed on the same day.

CRITICALCivil cases

Two copies of documents filed immediately prior to and during the trial should be submitted to the Case Manager.

Two copies of documents filed immediately prior to and during the trial should be submitted to the Case Manager.

CRITICALCivil cases

For any deposition proffers and counter-proffers, the party making the proffer will provide a copy of the proffer, counter-proffer and a complete copy of the deposition

For any deposition proffers and counter-proffers, the party making the proffer will provide a copy of the proffer, counter-proffer and a complete copy of the deposition

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties must provide the Court a copy of all potential exhibits at the Pretrial Conference.

The parties are to provide the Court a copy of all potential exhibits at the Pretrial Conference.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must provide the Court a copy of its exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook, in addition to the original exhibits.

In addition to the original exhibits, counsel for each party is required to provide the Court with a copy of that party's exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

CRITICAL

Copies of urgent motions or matters that require prompt court attention may be sent to chambers, as well as filed with CM/ECF, with a transmittal letter stating why the court’s prompt attention is required.

Copies of urgent motions or matters that require prompt court attention may be sent to chambers, as well as filed with CM/ECF, with a transmittal letter stating why the court’s prompt attention is required.

CRITICAL

A courtesy copy of a filing longer than 50 pages should be sent to chambers.

A courtesy copy of a filing longer than 50 pages should be sent to chambers.

CRITICAL

Two copies of exhibits must be provided to the case manager before or during trial, as well as filed on the court CM/ECF system.

Two copies of exhibits must be provided to the case manager before or during trial, as well as filed on the court CM/ECF system.

WARNING

Each party should also submit to the court two tabbed binders containing these filings (one for the judge and one for the clerk), and two separate tabbed binders containing its exhibits.

Each party should also submit to the court two tabbed binders containing these filings (one for the judge and one for the clerk), and two separate tabbed binders containing its exhibits.