DeWitt County District Court, Texas Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Counsel must direct objections, arguments, and other comments to the Judge, not opposing counsel.

All objections, arguments, and other comments by counsel shall be directed to the Judge and not to opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

With Court approval, a scheduling or docket control conference may be held by telephone, and an attorney requesting that format must arrange the call for the date and time set by the Judge.

Upon Court approval the scheduling or docket control conference may be held by telephone conference call. Any attorney requesting that the conference be held by telephone shall be responsible for arranging the conference call on the date and time scheduled by the Judge.

CRITICAL

Attorneys must notify the Court of any change in the status of a suspended case; if no report is received from counsel or a pro se party within 12 months after suspension, the Local Administrative Judge may set the case for dismissal.

The attorneys shall be responsible for notifying the Court of any change in the status of such case in order that it may be expeditiously heard or dismissed. If no report is received from the attorneys in charge or pro se parties within 12 months after being placed in suspense, the Local Administrative Judg~ may in his or her discretion set the case for dismissal, either at a regular dismissal docket, or at any other convenient time.

CRITICAL

An attorney who settles or dismisses a case set for trial must notify the District Clerk as soon as possible.

When an attorney settles or dismisses a case which is set for trial, he shall give notice to the District Clerk of the Court where pending as soon as possible

WARNING

Attorneys should not approach the bench without leave of the Court and must never lean on the bench.

Attorneys should not approach the bench without leave of the Court and must never lean on the bench.

WARNING

If the other case is passed, continued, or disposed of before or during the week of trial, the attorney must immediately notify the Court and opposing counsel.

In the event the case in the other Court is passed, continued or disposed of prior to or during the week in which the case is set for trial in these Courts, the attorney shall immediately notify the Court and opposing counsel of such fact.

WARNING

The Judge must be notified immediately if a setting is preferential.

If the setting is preferential, the Judge shall be immediately notified.

WARNING

Attorneys should follow the Texas Lawyers' Creed and disciplinary rules, including those concerning media discussions and improper ex parte communications with the Judge.

Attorneys should observe the letter and spirit of the Texas Lawyers' Creed and the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, as adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas, specifically including those dealing with discussion of cases with representatives of the media and those concerning improper ex parte communications with the Judge.

WARNING

If the parties want a default-judgment hearing, they should contact the District Clerk for a suitable setting time, and where pertinent the motion should be set on a non-jury docket.

If the parties desire a hearing for default judgment, the District Clerk should be contacted for appropriate time for setting, and where pertinent, these motions should be set on non-jury dockets.

WARNING

At the docket control or scheduling conference, each attorney must disclose to the Judge any conflicting engagement that may interfere with a trial setting.

At docket control or scheduling conference, each attorney shall be responsible for disclosing to the Judge any conflicting engagements of counsel that may interfere with a trial setting.

WARNING

In the event any of the above policies works an undue hardship (e.g., where a subsequent setting involves multiple parties and counsel, or where witnesses must appear from great distances or other such hardship) , the Judge of the Court in which the subsequent setting was made shall attempt to make personal contact with the Judge of the Court of the prior setting and make satisfactory arrangements for a deviation from the policy herein announced.

In the event any of the above policies works an undue hardship (e.g., where a subsequent setting involves multiple parties and counsel, or where witnesses must appear from great distances or other such hardship) , the Judge of the Court in which the subsequent setting was made shall attempt to make personal contact with the Judge of the Court of the prior setting and make satisfactory arrangements for a deviation from the policy herein announced.

INFO

A non-jury trial setting may be requested from the District Clerk by letter, motion, or another appropriate method.

Non-jury cases may be set for trial upon request to the District Clerk of the Court in which the case is filed, or upon the court's own motion. such request may be made by letter, by Motion to Set or in any other manner that may be appropriate.