Ellis County District Courts Filing Timing and Cure Windows

The four required final pretrial documents must be filed on or before the specified date.

Counsel are required to e-file of record the following documents on or before the date specified:

The deadline for serving all outgoing paper discovery is the date specified in the scheduling order.

All outgoing “paper” discovery, including interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, requests for disclosure, etc., must be served upon opposing counsel on or before the date specified.

All depositions must be concluded by the specified date.

All depositions must be concluded by the date specified.

Responsible third parties must be designated by the specified date.

Responsible third parties must be designated on or before the date specified.

New parties must be added or joined by the specified date.

New parties must be added or joined on or before the date specified.

Amended pleadings must be filed by the specified date.

Amended pleadings must be filed on or before the date specified.

Summary judgment motions must be filed by the specified date.

Summary Judgment Motions must be filed on or before the date specified.

Deadline

2 business days

Defense may waive the Second Announcement docket only by filing a waiver of setting, together with discovery and any plea recommendation, at least two business days before the setting.

This setting can be waived if Defense has discovery, a plea recommendation (if one is given) and a waiver of setting is filed two (2) business days before this setting.

Deadline

2 business days

A waiver of appearance for the second announcement must be filed at least two business days before that setting.

All Defendants and attorneys are required to attend every setting in person, except for the second announcement if a waiver has been filed at least two (2) business days before the setting.

Deadline

2 business days

A written waiver may permit nonattendance at the second announcement and should be e-filed no later than two business days beforehand.

Appearances at second announcement may be waived in accordance with the written waiver. The written waiver should be e-filed no later than two (2) business days before the announcement date.

Deadline

2 business days

A motion for a suggested name change should be e-filed no later than two business days before the second announcement.

Motions for suggested name change should be e-filed no later than two (2) business days before second announcement.

Deadline

10 business days

All evidentiary motions other than motions in limine must be filed ten business days before the pretrial conference, with notice to opposing counsel.

Attorneys or pro se parties will be expected at pretrial conference to have all evidentiary motions (with exclusion of Motion in Limine) filed ten (10) business days prior to the pretrial conference and notice given to opposing counsel.

A motion to suppress must be filed before the pretrial conference to be timely.

Motions to Suppress that are not filed before pretrial conference are not timely filed.

A motion to suppress will ordinarily be heard within 30 days after filing, subject to the Court's schedule and an existing pretrial conference setting.

Motions to Suppress evidence will be heard within 30 days of the motion’s filing if the Court’s schedule allows, unless the case is already set for pretrial conference.