Galveston County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

If the parties settle, counsel for the plaintiff, movant, or party seeking affirmative relief must notify the court that the trial or hearing is no longer needed; failure to give notice within a reasonable time may result in sanctions.

If the parties reach a settlement, Counsel representing the plaintiff, movant or party seeking affirmative relief, shall notify the court of such settlement, and that the trial or hearing date is no longer needed. If such Counsel fails to so notify the court within a reasonable time before the trial or hearing, the court may impose appropriate sanctions against such Counsel or the party represented by such Counsel.

CRITICAL

Counsel objecting to a trial setting must request a hearing.

The objecting Counsel must then request a hearing and, after the hearing, unless the court determines that the case is not ready for trial, the case will be set for trial on the date requested or the nearest date that the docket of the court will permit.

CRITICAL

Temporary-order settings must be made through the referring court’s court coordinator.

Settings on Temporary Orders shall be made through the court coordinator of the referring court.

CRITICAL

An attorney or party who settles or dismisses a case set for trial must notify the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

When an attorney/party settles or dismisses a case, which is set for trial, he shall give notice to the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

CRITICAL

Hearing requests must be made to the court where the matter is pending and in accordance with these rules.

Requests for hearing shall be made to the Cour1 in which the matter is pending, in accordance with these rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as the attorney learns of them.

10.2.1 It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected Judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

CRITICAL

An attorney with a potential conflict from trial in another court must notify the Court through its coordinator, provide assignment details, and keep the Court informed about anticipated and actual release.

It is the duty of the attorney to notify the Court through its coordinator when the potential t!.x this situation arises or when an attorney set for trial starts trial in another court. When an attorney set for trial starts in another Court, the ctttomey shall notify the Court when and where assigned. Where and when assigned \vill be verified upon request of the opposing Pa11y. The attorney shall have a continuing duty to keep the Court informed when release is anticipated and when it occurs. The case will be place on "hold" or reset. depending upon when the attc>rney will be released.

CRITICAL

When requesting a motion setting, counsel must inform the Court of the estimated hearing length and make a good-faith estimate after considering the anticipated exhibits, cross-examination, and rebuttal witnesses for all parties.

(e) At the time of making a request for setting on a motion, Counsel shall inform the Court of the estimated time for the hearing. Counsel shall make a good faith estimate of the time required after consulting all exhibits, cross examination and rebuttal of witnesses reasonably anticipated to be called by all of the parties.

CRITICAL

When requesting a trial setting, counsel must inform the court of a good-faith trial-time estimate made after consulting all counsel and considering the anticipated trial proceedings.

At the time of making a request for setting, Counsel shall inform the court of the estimated time for trial. Counsel shall make a good faith estimate of the time required after consulting all Counsel and considering the following: proper examination of witnesses, introduction of exhibits, cross-examination and rebuttal of witnesses reasonably anticipated to be called by all of the parties.

CRITICAL

An attorney facing trial in another court must notify the Court through its coordinator, provide the assignment details, and keep the Court informed about anticipated and actual release.

10.1.1 Attorney already in trial in another Court. It is the duty of the attorney to notify the Court through its coordinator when the potential for this situation arises or when an attorney set for trial starts trial in another court. When an attorney set for trial starts in another Court, the attorney shall notify the Court when and where assigned. Where and when assigned will be verified upon request of the opposing Party. The attorney shall have a continuing duty to keep the Court infom1ed when release is anticipated and when it occurs. The case will be place on "hold" or reset, depending upon when the attomey will be released.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Counsel must promptly notify the affected court by telephone when a party files for bankruptcy protection.

to promptly notify the affected court(s) by immediately telephoning the Court;

CRITICAL

Requests to schedule an appearance must be made by contacting the Court Coordinator, who will arrange an appropriate time.

All requests tor the scheduling of appearances for the Courl for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Court.

CRITICAL

Requests to schedule a court appearance for any purpose must be made by contacting the Court Coordinator.

All requests for the scheduling of appearances for the Court for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Court.

CRITICAL

If an entry hearing is required, the parties must notify the referring court’s coordinator before the entry date.

The parties shall, before the entry date, either submit through the clerk an order approved by all counsel of record and pro se parties or notify the court coordinator of the referring court that an entry hearing will be required on the date and time already set for the entry.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

A party requesting a telephone docket control conference must arrange the call for the date and time scheduled by the Court Coordinator.

A party requesting that the Docket control conference be held by telephone shall be responsible for arranging the conference call on the date and time scheduled by the Court Coordinator.

CRITICAL

Counsel must promptly notify the Court when a bankruptcy concludes.

Once a bankruptcy has been concluded, whether by discharge, denial of discharge, dismissal or otherwise, Counsel shall promptly notify the Court so that the affected cases may be restored to the active docket or dismissed as may be appropriate.

CRITICAL

When a case set for trial is settled or dismissed, the attorney or party must notify the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

When an attorney/party settles or dismisses a case, wh1ch is set for trial, he shall give notice to the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

CRITICAL

An attorney set for trial who may be or is in trial in another court must notify the Court through its coordinator, report where and when assigned, and keep the Court updated about anticipated and actual release.

It is the duty of the attorney to notify the Court through its coordinator when the potential for this situation arises or when an attorney set for trial starts trial in another court. When an attorney set for trial starts in another Court, the attorney shall notify the Court when and where assigned. Where and when assigned will be verified upon request of the opposing Party. The attorney shall have a continuing duty to keep the Court informed when release is anticipated and when it occurs.

CRITICAL

Requests to schedule a court appearance for any purpose must be made by contacting the Court Coordinator.

All requests for the scheduling of appearances for the Court for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Court,

CRITICAL

If an application is presented before filing because filing is impossible, the clerk must be notified of all actions taken by the judge.

and the clerk notified of all actions taken by the judge.

CRITICAL

Requests to schedule an appearance must be made by contacting the Court Coordinator, who will arrange an appropriate time.

All request~ for the scheduling of appearances for the Cour1 for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Courl

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as the attorney learns of them.

It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected Judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as they are knol'm.

CRITICAL

Requests for a hearing must be made to the court where the matter is pending, in accordance with the rules.

Requests for hearing shall be made to the Court in which the matter is pending, in accordance with these rules,

CRITICAL

A party settling or dismissing a case set for trial must notify the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

When a party settles or dismisses a case, which is set for trial, he shall give notice to the Court Coordinator as soon as possible.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Attorneys must notify the Indigent Defense Coordinator within ten days of any material change to their information or qualifications.

Attorneys are required to notify the Indigent Defense Coordinator within ten (10) days of any material changes to the attorney's information and/or qualifications.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judges’ attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

It is the duty of an attorney to call the affected Judges' attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

WARNING

Contact

Letter fax

Status conferences are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on a Thursday approximately 120 days after suit is filed and handled by facsimile using the referenced case-status report form.

Status Conferences shall be scheduled at 4:00p.m. on the Thursday approximately one hundred twenty ( 120) days from the date of the filing of a suit and shall be handled via facsimile (see attached form for report on the status of the case).

WARNING

A party should contact the District Clerk the day before appearing on the uncontested docket and request that the court file be brought to the courtroom; the docket schedule may be posted otherwise.

The 306th District Court holds an uncontested docket Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. unless posted otherwise on the web page. A party should contact the District Clerk the day before you want to appear and request that the Clerk bring the court's file to the courtroom.

WARNING

Hearing requests must be made to the court where the matter is pending, and all other parties must be served notice of the hearing date, time, and matter to be considered.

Requests for hearing shall be made to the Court in which the matter is pending, in accordance with these rules, and the parties making such request shall serve all other parties with notice of the date and hour set for hearing and of the particular matter which will be considered at such time.

WARNING

Attorneys should follow ethics canons concerning improper ex parte communications with the Judge.

Attorneys should observe the letter and spirit of all canons of ethics, including those dealing with discussion of cases with representatives of the media and those concerning improper ex parte communications with the Judge.

WARNING

Before initiating an oral deposition, counsel must attempt to communicate with all counsel to seek agreement on its date, time, place, and materials to be furnished.

(f) Counsel initiating an oral deposition shall first attempt to communicate with all Counsel to determine whether agreement can be reached as to date, time, place and materials, to be furnished at the time of deposition.

WARNING

Attorneys and self-represented parties should contact the District Clerk the day before an uncontested matter to request that the court file be brought to the courtroom; the docket schedule may differ if otherwise posted.

The County Courts bold an uncontested docket each morning Monday through Fnday unless posted otherwise on the court's web page. Attorneys or prose parties should contact the District Clerk the day before appearing on an uncontested matter and request that the clerk bring the court's file to the courtroom.

WARNING

An attorney facing trial in another court must notify the Court through its coordinator, report where and when assigned, and keep the Court informed about anticipated and actual release.

It is the duty of the attorney to notify the Court through its coordinator when the potential for this situation arises or when an attorney set for trial starts trial in another court. When an attorney set for trial starts in another Court, the attorney shall notify the Court when and where assigned. Where and when assigned will be verified upon request of the opposing Party. The attorney shall have a continuing duty to keep the Court informed when release is anticipated and when it occurs.

WARNING

Counsel must timely examine tendered tapes or films and immediately request a hearing if they object to any part.

All Counsel must timely examine any tendered tapes or films and request a hearing immediately if there are objections to the admissibility of any part of the tapes or films.

WARNING

Requests to schedule a court appearance must be made through the Court Coordinator.

All requests fer the scheduling of appearances for the Court for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Court, and the parties making such request shall serve notice to all parties for the date and hour set for hearing and of the particular matter which will be considered at such time.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected Judge's attention to any dual settings as soon as they are known.

It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected Judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judges’ attention to dual settings as soon as the attorney learns of them.

It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected Judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

WARNING

Requests to schedule a court appearance must be made by contacting the Court Coordinator.

All requests for the scheduling of appearances for the Court for any purpose will be made by contacting the Court Coordinator who will arrange an appropriate time to appear before the Court.

WARNING

The judge must provide advance notice of vacation periods to the Local Administrative District Judge and District Clerk, and must give the same notice for judicial conferences and educational events.

Notice of vacation periods shall be provided to the Local A<iministrative District Judge and the District Clerk in advance. Judicial conferences and educational events are oflicial duties and not to be considered as vacation; but notice shall be provided us above.

WARNING

Unless otherwise posted, the uncontested docket is held weekdays at 8:30 a.m.; a party should contact the District Clerk the day before appearing and request that the court file be brought to the courtroom.

The 306 District Court holds an uncontested docket Monday through Friday at 8:30a.m. unless posted otherwise on the web page. A party should contact the District Clerk the day before you want to appe<tr and request that the Clerk bring the court's file to the courtroom.

INFO

Media agencies may request information about settings and advance courtroom access for equipment installation.

Upon request, the court will inform media agencies of settings and will attempt to make the courtroom available in advance for the purpose of installing equipment.

INFO

Contact

Phone

A docket control conference may be held by telephone if the Court approves.

The Docket control conference may be held by telephone with approval of the Court.

INFO

Any party objecting should notify the Court.

Any party objecting should notify the Court.

INFOCivil cases

An attorney willing to serve pro bono as an attorney ad litem should notify the Court.

If an attorney is willing to perform the duties of an attorney ad litem pro bono, he or she should notify the Court of that willingness.

INFOCivil cases

The Court asks attorneys to try to resolve estate issues with the personal representative before turning to court personnel.

However, please attempt to resolve estate issues with your client, i.e. the personal representative, to minimize or obviate unnecessary use of court personnel.

INFO

If possible, the court coordinator will accommodate settings requested by attorneys or a pro se party by attachment to the filing.

If at all possible, the court coordinator shall accommodate the settings requested by attorneys or pro se party, by attachment thereto.

INFO

Uncontested matters and routine matters of very short duration may be set on the uncontested docket by calling the Court.

Uncontested matters and routine matters of very short duration may be set on the uncontested docket by calling the Court.

INFO

Attorneys and self-represented parties should contact the District Clerk the day before an uncontested matter to request that the court file be brought to the courtroom.

Attorneys or pro se parties should contact the District Clerk the day before appearing on an uncontested matter and request that the clerk bring the court's file to the courtroom.

INFO

By agreement, counsel may seek a ruling without appearing or presenting oral argument, and the judge should be advised in writing when they want to use that procedure.

(d) By agreement, Counsel may submit matters for ruling by the judge without a personal appearance and oral presentation. The judge should be advised in writing when such procedure is desired.