Judge Maria Aceves
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
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Document Format Requirements1 rule
Exhibits must be delivered to the Court Reporter in PDF format before the hearing, pre-marked with exhibit stickers, chronologically numbered, and with sequentially numbered pages.
Any party needing to admit either exhibits or other evidence referred to above must electronically deliver same to the Court Reporter in PDF format in advance of the hearing already pre-marked with exhibit stickers and chronologically numbered for ease of reference (and directing a witness's attention) during remote proceedings. The pages of each Exhibit, deposition, declaration of other proffered evidence must be sequentially numbered for ease of reference.
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
A proposed order must be filed prior to the hearing.
The Court further requests that the parties have an proposed order filed prior to the hearing.
Document Type
Motion
Parties must provide findings of fact and conclusions of law prior to the bench trial; amendments are allowed after evidence is presented.
the Court requires that the parties provide their findings of fact and conclusions of law prior to the bench trial and will allow parties to amend their findings of facts and conclusions of law after the evidence is presented.
Document Type
Proposed Findings Conclusions
Proposed jury charges must be emailed to the Court reporter prior to jury trial.
The Court prefers proposed jury charges to be sent to the Court reporter via email (Tenesa.Shaw@dallascounty.org) prior to jury trial.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Ad litems must contact the Court Coordinator and attach a CV and bio showing their qualifications to serve.
The Court requires that the ad litem reach out to the Court Coordinator and attach a CV and bio regarding their qualification to serve as an ad litem in civil cases.
Document Type
Ad Litem Application
Briefs should be organized, concise, and address the most pressing issues first.
The Court prefers briefs to be organized and concise addressing the most pressing issues first.
Document Type
Brief
For complex cases, the Court will ask the parties to submit and blue line/red line the jury charge.
If the case is complex, the Court will ask the parties to submit and blue line/red line jury charge.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All filings must be submitted through the E-Filing system.
The Court only accepts filings via the E-Filing system.
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Parties must announce for trial on the Thursday before their trial setting; failure to announce results in dismissal of the case.
The Court calls jury trials on Tuesdays and bench trials on Wednesdays. The Court requires that the parties announce for trial on the Thursday prior to their trial setting. Based on the announcements, the Court will call specific cases to trial. Failure to announce will result in the case getting dismissed.
Page 6 | TRIAL DOCKET
Trial motions should be presented pursuant to the scheduling order and during the pre-trial hearing.
The parties should present the trial motions pursuant to the scheduling order and during the pre-trial hearing.
Page 4 | Trial Motions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Copies of exhibits must be directed to opposing counsel contemporaneously.
Copies must contemporaneously be directed to opposing Counsel.
Page 2 | Proceedings in the Courtroom.
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
The Court requires its standard Protective Order form to be used, and any modifications or additions require a hearing set within 3-7 business days of contacting the Court Clerk.
As of October 2015, this Court has issued a standard Protective Order. In cases where the parties believe that a Protective Order is necessary, the Court requires that this form be utilized. The Court understands that in rare cases good cause may exist that requires variance from this Order. If a party desires to make modifications or additions to the Court's standard Protective Order, a hearing will be required. Hearings will be set within 3-7 business days after contacting the Court Clerk at 214-653-7748.
Page 1 | Protective Order Advisory
Filing Bundling Requirements
The Court accepts electronic or courtesy binders delivered before the hearing and requests a proposed order be filed prior to the hearing.
The Court will accept electronic or courtesy binders prior to the hearing with sufficient time prior to the hearing to allow the Court to review. The Court further requests that the parties have an proposed order filed prior to the hearing.
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Parties must diligently confer before bringing discovery disputes to the Court.
The Court expects the parties to diligently confer prior to bringing discovery disputes before the Court.
Page 2 | DISCOVERY
Agreed motions are typically set for submission; non-agreed motions are set for oral hearing.
If the Motions are agreed, they are typically set for submission. If the Motions are not agreed, they are set for oral hearing.
Page 3 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Jury trial cases set between the effective date and May 8, 2020 are continued sua sponte and reset on future jury trial dockets.
Cases which have been previously set on the respective District Courts' Jury dockets between the effective date of this Order and May 8, 2020 are hereby Continued sua sponte and shall be reset on future Jury Trial dockets of each of the respective Courts, consistent with the existing applicable rules and policies of each of said Courts.
Page 1 | Cases Set for Trial by Jury.
The first continuance is granted for cases one year or younger; subsequent continuances are decided case by case.
The Court will grant the first continuance for cases that are one year or younger. The Court will only grant continuances on case by case basis thereafter.
Page 4 | TRIALS
Chambers Communication Rules
For remote proceedings, the moving party must email the Court Reporter and Court Coordinator the email addresses of all participants at least 48 hours before the hearing, in a single collaborative submission copied to all counsel.
In any proceeding conducted remotely either by telephonic or technological means or by any other means which may be deemed appropriate by the Court, the moving Party shall, no less than 48 hours in advance of said hearing, email the Court Reporter and the Court Coordinator the email address of all attorneys, (or self represented parties), witnesses and others who may be participating in said proceeding so that information regarding the technological platform, any link, access code thereto and other pertinent information necessary to effectuate the remote connection may be effectuated. The attorneys and parties are directed to collaborate and transmit to the Court Reporter in a single submission with a copy to all counsel of record and self-represented parties.
Page 2 | Proceedings in the Courtroom.
Attorneys and others are strictly prohibited from approaching any court to inquire about a particular judge to hear a TRO.
The practice of an Attorney or other person approaching any Court to inquire of particular Judge to hear such an Order remains strictly prohibited.
Page 5
In a true emergency, parties should contact the Court coordinator by email.
The preference is to contact the Court coordinator via email.
Page 2 | EMERGENCY RELIEF/CONTACTING THE COURT
The Court may be reached by email at veronica.vaughn@dallascounty.org.
The Court can be contacted via email at veronica.vaughn@dallascounty.org.
Page 2 | EMERGENCY RELIEF/CONTACTING THE COURT
Parties should contact the Court coordinator to request status updates on rulings or pre-trial/trial matters.
The Court would ask the parties to contact the Court coordinator to request a status update on a ruling or pre-trial/trial matter.
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Parties needing an expedited hearing should contact the Court Coordinator.
If the parties need an expedited hearing, they should contact the Court Coordinator.
Page 3 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Proposed jury charges should be emailed to the Court reporter at Tenesa.Shaw@dallascounty.org.
The Court prefers proposed jury charges to be sent to the Court reporter via email (Tenesa.Shaw@dallascounty.org) prior to jury trial.
Page 4 | TRIALS