Dallas County Civil District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Deadline

10 calendar days

Parties must exchange all pre-trial materials no later than 10 days before trial.

Unless otherwise ordered, parties should exchange all pre-trial materials no later than ten (10) days before trial.

Deadline

7 calendar days

Parties must meet and confer on pre-trial issues no later than 7 days before trial.

Parties shall meet and confer so as to maximize agreement, on pre-trial issues no later than seven (7) days before trial.

Deadline

45 calendar days

Expert challenges must be heard no later than 45 days before trial unless the scheduling order allows otherwise.

Unless otherwise allowed for in the Court’s scheduling order, expert challenges must be heard no later than forty-five (45) days before trial.

Deadline

3 calendar days

Jury questionnaires must be submitted for pre-approval at least 3 days before trial.

Parties may submit questionnaires, but they must be pre-approved by the Court at least three (3) days before trial.

Deadline

7 calendar days

Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and trial briefs on contested issues are due 7 days before trial.

Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law should be submitted seven (7) days before the scheduled trial setting, along with trial briefs on contested issues of law.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Level 1, 2, and 3 cases require mediation completion 30 days before trial.

Level 1, 2 and 3 cases require mediation 30 days before trial.

Deadline

90 calendar days

Summary judgment motions must be filed at least 90 days before the next trial setting unless the court grants leave.

All Summary Judgments must be filed at least 90 days before the date of the next trial setting absent leave of court.

Deadline

90 calendar days

When a trial is reset, summary judgment motions must be scheduled at least 90 days before any subsequent trial setting.

If a trial is reset, the Summary Judgment must be set at least 90 days before any subsequent trial setting.

A reset or continuance of the Initial Trial Setting does not change deadlines in this Order or under the Texas Rules unless the Court orders otherwise or the parties agree under TRCP 11.

Any reset or continuance of the Initial Trial Setting will not alter any deadline in this Order or established by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure unless otherwise provided by Order, or by the agreement of the parties, in accordance with TRCP 11.

Deadline

120 calendar days

Applies to

Amended pleading

Amended pleadings asserting new claims or defenses must be filed no later than 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting.

I. Deadline for filing Amended Pleadings Asserting New Claims or Defenses. - 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting.

Deadline

120 calendar days

Applies to

Responsible third party designation

Responsible third parties must be designated by 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting, with defendants filing any Section 33.004 motions for leave by that same date.

II. Deadline to Designate Responsible Third Parties. - 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting. Defendants shall file any motions for leave to designate responsible third parties, under Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §33.004 by this date.

Deadline

120 calendar days

Applies to

Additional party joinder

Additional parties must be joined by 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting unless a motion for leave shows good cause.

III. Deadline to Join Additional Parties. - 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting. No additional parties may be joined after this date, except on motion for leave showing good cause.

Deadline

120 calendar days

Applies to

Expert designation

Parties seeking affirmative relief must designate experts under TRCP 194.2(f) no later than 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting.

IV. Deadline for any Party seeking affirmative relief to designate experts as per Tex. R. Civ. P. 194.2(f) - 120 days before the Initial Trial Setting.

All pretrial deadlines are suspended for cases set for jury trial until jury trials are reinstated in Dallas County.

All pretrial deadlines are hereby suspended for all cases which are set for jury trial in the 193rd. Deadlines will go back in effect once jury trials are reinstated within Dallas county.

Parties must make final trial announcements by noon on the Monday before the Tuesday trial setting, or the case may be dismissed or default taken.

If the parties do not make an announcement on Monday by noon, the case may be dismissed, or a default may be taken.

Deadline

20 calendar days

A Suggestion of Bankruptcy must be filed as soon as practicable and no later than 20 days after a party receives notice of another party's bankruptcy petition.

The Suggestion of Bankruptcy shall be filed as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 20 days after a party receives notice of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by any other party.

Applications for immediate or temporary relief must be filed and assigned to a court before being presented to a judge, except in emergencies when the Clerk's office is closed.

Except in emergencies when the Clerk's office is not open for business, no application for immediate or temporary relief shall be presented to a Judge until it has been filed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01.

The application is due January 31st of each year.

Due January 31st of each year.

The Joint Pretrial Order must be submitted 2 days before the Pretrial Conference, or the Pretrial will be canceled.

The Court’s Joint Pretrial Order shall be required for all cases lasting 3 days or longer. It can be located on this Court’s website and must be submitted 2 days before the Pretrial Conference, or the Pretrial will be canceled.

Trial announcements are made per Local Rule 3.02 (Thursday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. the week before the Tuesday trial date); failure to announce results in dismissal.

Trial Announcements are to made according to Local Rules 3.02 Announcements for Trial. (Starting on Thursday and through Friday at 10:30 a.m. the week prior to the Tuesday trial date.) If no announcement is made, the case shall be dismissed.

A case will be dismissed for want of prosecution if a default judgment is not obtained within 45 days after service on a defendant.

If service has been made on a Defendant and a Default Judgment is not obtained after 45 days from service, the case shall be dismissed for want of prosecution.

Motions for summary judgment must be heard no later than 45 days before trial, subject to leave for good cause; they are heard by submission.

All Motions for Summary Judgment must be heard no later than forty-five (45) days before trial. A party may move for leave to allow such hearing based upon good cause. All motions for summary judgment are heard via submission.

A case will be dismissed if service is not obtained within 4 months and there is no activity.

If no service has been obtained after 4 months and no activity has been made on the case, the case shall be dismissed.

Each court must submit a monthly report even if there was no activity to report.

Monthly reports must be submitted for each court whether or not there was activity to report for the month.

Deadline

15 calendar days

Monthly reports must be filed with OCA no later than 15 days after the end of the reported month.

The report is due to the Office of Court Administration (OCA) no later than 15 days following the end of the month reported.

Information required by Supreme Court Order 07-9188 is due on the 15th of the month, consistent with Chapter 36.

Making the due date for the information required by Supreme Court order consistent with the requirement of Chapter 36—15th of the month

The report for September 2016 is due by October 15, 2016.

All reports must be entered into the reporting database at http://card.txcourts.gov/ beginning with the report for September 2016 (due by October 15, 2016).

Deadline

21 calendar days

Daily transcript copies must be requested at least three weeks before proceedings, subject to the court reporter's workload and availability.

Daily copies must be requested at least three (3) weeks in advance of proceedings and is dependent upon court reporter’s workload and availability.

Deadline

20 calendar days

Suggestion of Bankruptcy must be filed within 20 days of receiving notice of another party's bankruptcy petition.

The Suggestion of Bankruptcy shall be filed as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 20 days after a party receives notice of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy by any other party.

Applications for immediate or temporary relief must be filed and assigned to a court before being presented to a judge, except in emergencies when the clerk's office is closed.

Except in emergencies when the Clerk's office is not open for business, no application for immediate or temporary relief shall be presented to a Judge until it has been filed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01.

In emergencies when the clerk's office is closed, the case must be docketed and assigned at the earliest practicable time, and the judge must notify the assigned court.

Whenever immediate action of a Judge is required in an emergency when the Clerk's office is not open for business, the case shall nevertheless at the earliest practicable time be docketed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01 and all writs and process shall be returnable to that Court. Any Judge taking such emergency action shall notify the Court in which such case is docketed at the earliest convenient and practical time.

Deadline

3 working days

Briefs, responses, and replies for motions set for hearing must be served and filed no later than three working days before the hearing, except in emergencies.

Except in case of emergency, briefs, responses and replies relating to a motion (other than for summary judgment) set for hearing must be served and filed with the Clerk of the Court no later than three working days before the scheduled hearing.

Deadline

3 calendar days

Summary judgment briefs: support briefs filed with the motion, opposition briefs at or before the response due date, and reply briefs no less than three days before the hearing.

Briefs in support of a motion for summary judgment must be filed and served with that motion; briefs in opposition to a motion for summary judgment must be filed and served at or before the time the response is due; reply briefs in support of a motion for summary judgment must be filed and served no less than three days before the hearing.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Unless the Court allows it, no motion to withdraw may be presented within 30 days of the trial date.

Unless allowed in the discretion of the Court, no such motion shall be presented within 30 days of the trial date or at such

The application is due by September 1st of each year.

Due September 1st of each year.

The application form must be submitted annually.

THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED ANNUALLY

Deadline

30 calendar days

Summary judgment motions may not be set for hearing within 30 days of trial, unless leave is granted for good cause.

No summary judgment motions may be set for hearing within 30 days of trial (this requirement is included in the Uniform Scheduling Orders). A party may move for leave to allow such hearing based upon good cause.

Exhibits must be emailed to the court reporter at least two days before trial.

Any party needing to admit exhibits must scan them and email them directly to the court reporter in PDF format at a minimum of two (2) days in advance of the trial.

Responsive pleadings and objections must be filed no later than three days before the motion is set for hearing.

The Dallas County local rule mandating the filing of any responsive pleading or objection no later than three (3) days before the motion is set for hearing remains in full force and effect.

A Motion to Quash a Deposition Notice must be calendared for hearing at the Court's earliest convenience, and the filing counsel must ensure the hearing is calendared.

Any Motion to Quash a Deposition Notice pursuant to Tx.R.Civ.P. 199.4 or otherwise filed in a manner to immediately effectuate a stay of said deposition must, upon filing, be calendared for hearing before the Court at the Court's earliest convenience. The counsel filing said Motion to Quash is responsible for ensuring that a hearing is calendared consistent with this provision.

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.

In-person jury proceedings may only be conducted after the jury proceeding addendum is submitted and accepted by the Regional Presiding Judge.

Judges of the district courts, constitutional and statutory county courts, and statutory probate courts will conduct in-person jury proceedings in accordance with the previously approved Operating Plan and this addendum only after this jury proceeding addendum is submitted and accepted by the Regional Presiding Judge.

Deadline

30 calendar days

All dispositive motions must be filed and heard at least 30 days before trial unless leave of court is granted.

All dispositive motions must be filed and heard 30 days prior to trial without leave of court.

Deadline

45 calendar days

A Rule 91a motion to dismiss must be heard and decided within 45 days of filing.

said Motion must be heard and decided within 45 days of the motion being filed.

Proposed jury charges must be presented on the first day of trial.

Proposed jury charges should be presented the first day of trial.

The joint notebook must be submitted on the first day of trial.

The Court requests this notebook on the first day of trial.

All parties must announce for trial by Friday morning before the trial setting.

The Court requires that all parties announce for trial by Friday morning prior to the trial setting, per the local rules.

Deadline

3 working days

The written GAL report must be filed at least three working days before the hearing.

a written GAL report (filed at least three working days prior to the hearing)

Deadline

90 calendar days

Summary judgments must be filed at least 90 days before the next trial setting unless leave of court is obtained.

All Summary Judgments must be filed at least 90 days before the date of the next trial setting absent leave of court.

Deadline

90 calendar days

If a trial is reset, summary judgment must be set at least 90 days before any subsequent trial setting.

If a trial is reset, the Summary Judgment must be set at least 90 days before any subsequent trial setting.

Untimely summary judgments are automatically denied unless the movant obtains leave of court to file within 90 days of the next trial setting.

All untimely Summary Judgments will be automatically denied unless movant obtains leave of court to file within 90 days of the next trial setting.

Deadline

3 business days

Parties must file pre-trial conference materials at least 3 business days before the conference.

At least 3 business days before the pre-trial conference, the parties shall file the materials stated in Rule 166(e)-(l), an estimate of the length of trial, objections to depositions excerpts, motions in limine, and any other contested matters that will be considered at the pre-trial conference.

A party must file a written objection to an associate judge hearing a trial on the merits within 10 days of receiving notice.

A party must file an objection no later than the 10th day after the date the party receives notice that the Associate Judge will hear the trial.

The Requesting Party must notify the appointed Umpire within 7 days.

The Requesting Party shall notify the Umpire of this appointment within 7 days and the Umpire decision shall be due 30 days from below date.

Deadline

21 calendar days

Daily copies must be requested at least three weeks in advance of proceedings.

Daily copies must be requested at least three (3) weeks in advance of proceedings and is dependent upon court reporter’s workload and availability.

Deadline

7 calendar days

Proposed judgments and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted no later than 7 days before trial.

All parties must submit proposed judgments and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with the scheduling order but not less than seven 7 days of trial if not set forth in the scheduling order.

Deadline

30 days

Dispositive motions, including expert challenges, must be heard no later than 30 days before trial unless the scheduling order allows otherwise.

Unless otherwise allowed in the Court’s scheduling order, dispositive motions, including expert challenges, must be heard no later than thirty (30) days before trial.

Deadline

35 calendar days

Summary judgment motions are set for hearing by submission on the first available date at least 35 days after filing unless oral hearing is requested on the cover page.

All summary judgment motions will be set for hearing by submission on first available date at least 35 days after the motion is filed unless there is a request for oral hearing on the cover page of the Motion or Response.

Deadline

90 calendar days

Motions for summary judgment must be filed at least 90 days before the next trial setting; untimely motions are automatically denied absent leave of court.

All Motions for Summary Judgment must be filed at least 90 days before the date of the next trial setting absent leave of court, including trial resets. Any untimely Motion for Summary Judgment will be automatically denied unless movant has obtained leave of court to file the motion within 90 days of the next trial setting.

Deadline

30 calendar days

No summary judgment hearing will be scheduled within 30 days of trial absent leave of court for good cause.

No hearing on a summary judgment motion will be scheduled within 30 days of trial (this requirement is to be included in the Uniform Scheduling Orders). A party may move for leave to allow such hearing based upon good cause.

Motions for summary judgment must be heard at least 30 days before trial.

All motions for summary judgment must be heard no later than thirty (30) days before trial.

Default and minor prove-ups are scheduled on Judge Craig's Friday afternoon prove-up docket through the Court Clerk.

Default Prove-ups are scheduled through the Court Clerk for Judge Craig’s Friday afternoon’s Prove-Up Docket. Minor Prove-Ups will also be set on Judge Craig’s Prove-Up Docket on Friday afternoons.

If any pre-trial deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the first preceding date that is not a weekend or holiday.

in the event that one of these dates falls on a weekend or holiday, the date will be the first preceding date, which is not a weekend or a holiday

Applies to

Amended pleading

Amended pleadings may be filed after the amended-pleading deadline if they are filed within two weeks after the pleading to which they respond.

Amended may be filed after the deadline for amended pleadings, if filed within two (2) weeks after the pleading to which they respond.

Emergency filings made when the Clerk's office is closed must be docketed and assigned to a Court at the earliest practicable time, with writs returnable to that Court and the acting Judge notifying the assigned Court.

Whenever immediate action of a Judge is required in an emergency when the Clerk's office is not open for business, the case shall nevertheless at the earliest practicable time be docketed and assigned to a Court as provided in Local Rule 1.01 and all writs and process shall be returnable to that Court. Any Judge taking such emergency action shall notify the Court in which such case is docketed at the earliest convenient and practical time.

Challenged material remains confidential for 20 days if no motion is filed, or until the Court rules if a motion is filed.

The material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be treated as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Parties must request a Pre-Trial hearing the month before Trial with the Court Coordinators office if outstanding Pre-Trial issues will require a hearing.

If the parties anticipate outstanding Pre-Trial issues will require a hearing, the parties are to request a Pre- Trial hearing the month before Trial with the Court Coordinators

Parties should exchange all Pre-Trial materials no later than ten (10) days before Trial, unless otherwise ordered.

Unless otherwise ordered, parties should exchange all Pre-Trial materials no later than ten (10) days before Trial.

Parties shall meet and confer on Pre-Trial issues no later than seven (7) days before Trial.

Parties shall meet and confer so as to maximize agreement, on Pre-Trial issues no later than seven (7) days before Trial.

Expert challenges must be heard no later than forty-five (45) days before Trial unless otherwise allowed in the Uniform Scheduling Order.

Unless otherwise allowed for in the Court’s Uniform Scheduling Order, expert challenges must be heard no later than forty-five (45) days before Trial.

Jury questionnaire disputes must be brought to the Court's attention promptly and clearly before the morning of Trial.

The dispute needs to be brought to the Court’s attention promptly and clearly before the morning of Trial.

Counsel should have pleadings on file before requesting a hearing from the District Clerk's office.

Counsel should have pleadings on file before calling the District Clerks office to request a hearing.

Report a fee in the month the approval order was signed if the amount is specified; otherwise report it in the month it is paid.

If the amount of the fee is specified in the order, report the fee for the month in which the approval order was signed (for example, a fee for a specific amount that is approved in September, but not actually paid until October would be included in the report for September). If the amount of the fee is not specified in the order, report the fee for the month it is paid (when the amount of the fee becomes known to the clerk).

Deadline

21 calendar days

Daily transcript copies must be requested at least three weeks in advance of proceedings.

Daily copies must be requested at least three (3) weeks in advance of proceedings and is dependent upon court reporter's workload and availability.

Delivery of deposition notices is deemed on actual delivery, or the next open courthouse day if received after 5:00 p.m.; mail delivery is presumed the third business day after mailing.

For purposes of this rule, the date of delivery of a notice of deposition or motion to quash a notice of deposition is the date of actual delivery to counsel or a party, unless received after 5:00 p.m. in which case the date of delivery is deemed to be the next day on which the courthouse is open. Delivery by mail is presumed to be the third business day following mailing.

Deadline

3 calendar days

A motion to quash a deposition stays the deposition if filed and served no later than the third open courthouse day after delivery of the notice of deposition.

The filing of a motion to quash a deposition with the district clerk and service on opposing counsel or parties in accordance with Local Rule 2.05, if done no later than the third day the courthouse is open after delivery of the notice of deposition, is effective to stay the deposition subject to determination of the motion to quash.

Deadline

21 calendar days

Daily copies must be requested at least three weeks in advance, subject to reporter availability.

Daily copies must be requested at least three (3) weeks in advance of proceedings and is dependent upon court reporter's workload and availability.

Exhibits must be scanned and emailed to the court reporter in PDF format at least two days before the hearing.

Any party needing to admit exhibits must scan them and email them directly to the court reporter in PDF format at a minimum of two (2) days in advance of the hearing.

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.

Motions in limine should usually be filed on the day of trial or at the pre-trial conference.

Motions in limine should usually be filed the day of trial or at the pre-trial conference.

Deadline

30 calendar days

For Level 3 cases, a scheduling conference is set roughly 30 days after an answer is filed; parties must attend unless they submit an agreed scheduling order beforehand.

For Level 3 cases, the Court will set a scheduling conference roughly 30 days from the date that an answer is filed. Parties must attend unless the parties submit an agreed scheduling order prior to the conference date.

Deadline

60 calendar days

If a plaintiff fails to serve a defendant or move for default judgment within 60 days, the case is set on the Dismissal Docket.

The Court will monitor a case for 60 days and if the Plaintiffs have failed to serve and/or move for a default judgment on a Defendant, the case will be set on a Dismissal Docket.

Deadline

1 calendar days

Responses should be filed with the court clerks by the morning before the hearing so the Judge can review them.

Responses should be filed with the Court clerks by the morning prior to the hearing in order to be reviewed by Judge.

Continuance motions should be presented as soon as practical.

Continuance motions should be presented as soon as practical.

Robinson/Daubert motions made after the discovery deadline are viewed with extreme disfavor.

The court looks with extreme disfavor upon Robinson/Daubert motions that are made after the discovery deadline.

Exhibits and other evidence must be delivered to the Court Reporter in advance of the hearing.

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 date in a motion's Fiat or Notice of Hearing is the date of submission to the Court for consideration.

The date as reflected in a Motion's Fiat or Notice of Hearing shall be considered the date of submission to the Court for consideration.

Deadline

5 calendar days

The local administrative district judge or designee must consult with the local public health authority within five days before an approved in-person jury proceeding.

Not more than five days before an approved in-person jury proceeding is scheduled to occur, the local administrative district judge or designee will consult with the local public health authority to verify that local health conditions and plan precautions are appropriate for the jury proceeding to proceed.

The date on a motion's Fiat or Notice of Hearing is deemed the date the motion is submitted to the Court for consideration.

Motions shall continue to be set for hearing by the District Clerk, as is the customary practice of each Court. The date as reflected in a Motion's Fiat or Notice of Hearing shall be considered the date of submission to the Court for consideration.

Deadline

7 working days

A party may request a de novo hearing of an associate judge's decision within 7 working days of receiving notice.

However, a party may file a request for a de novo hearing of an Associate Judge's decision within seven working days of receiving notice of said decision.

Daily copy and real-time transcripts must be requested at least 10 days in advance.

NOTE: Daily copy and real-time must be requested at least 10 days in advance and are dependent upon the court reporter’s workload and availability.

A party filing a motion to quash a deposition that would immediately cancel the deposition must ensure a hearing is calendared at the Court's earliest convenience.

Any Party filing a Motion to Quash a Deposition pursuant to Tx.R.Civ.P. 199.4 in a manner to cause the immediate cancelling of said Deposition is responsible for ensuring that a hearing is calendared at the Court’s earliest convenience.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Cases without completed service of process are removed from the dismissal docket and reset no sooner than 30 days after the public health emergency declaration expires.

Any case which does not reflect a completed Service of Process upon the Defendant(s) shall be removed from the Dismissal Docket and reset no sooner than thirty days after the expiration of the Governor's Declaration of Public Health Emergency.

Deadline

3 calendar days

Parties must submit an agreed scheduling order at least 3 days before the scheduling conference.

Parties will be expected to appear for the scheduling conference or to submit an agreed scheduling order at least three (3) days before the scheduling conference.

Deadline

14 days

Parties should exchange all pre-trial materials no later than 14 days before trial unless the scheduling order provides otherwise.

Unless otherwise set forth in the scheduling order, parties should exchange all pre-trial materials no later than fourteen (14) days before trial.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Settled cases are set for final disposition approximately 30 days after the Court becomes aware of the settlement.

Cases that are mediated to settlement or otherwise reported as settled are set for final disposition approximately thirty (30) days from the date the Court becomes aware of the settlement.

Cases reported as settled are set for final disposition about 30 days after the Court learns of the settlement, and the Administrator sends a letter specifying a date and time to appear or submit final dismissal papers.

Cases that are mediated to settlement or otherwise reported as settlement are set for final disposition approximately thirty (30) days from the date the Court becomes aware of the settlement. A letter will be sent by the Attorney General giving a date and time to appear or have final dismissal papers submitted to the Court.

If a plaintiff does not appear at a scheduled dismissal-hearing, the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution.

Cases are put on dismissal docket as determined by the Court. Letters are sent giving a date and time issued as for an appearance. If plaintiff does not appear for the dismissal hearing, the case will be dismissed for want of prosecution.

Deadline

30 calendar days

Non-appeal transcripts have a normal turnaround time of 30 days from the date of the request.

Normal turnaround times for a non-appeal transcript is 30 days from the date of the request.

Deadline

60 calendar days

Non-appeal transcripts have a normal turnaround of 60 days from the request date.

Normal turnaround times for a non-appeal transcript is 60 days from the date of the request.