Judge Jim Evans
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Phone
Court-wideDocument Format Requirements2 rules
For property divisions involving marital estates with numerous assets or debts, include with the exhibits an editable file (i.e., .xls) containing the party’s proposed property division.
Exhibits must be pre-marked with numerals on the document, and each exhibit file title must match its marking.
Court's wording
Exhibits must be pre-marked and numbered using numerals. Exhibits must be pre-marked on the document itself, and the title of each exhibit file shall correspond with the pre-marked exhibit, for example, “Petitioner Ex. 01.”
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
Nonmovant must attach markup identifying proposed edits and a clean copy signed indicating approval as to form.
If the order has all signatures, file the proposed order before your entry date for the judge’s signature.
The notice must state that: (1) the motion will be heard by submission; (2) no party may appear for the hearing in person; and (3) any response to the motion must be on file at least 3 days before the submission date, or longer if required by statute or rule.
Movant must attach a proposed order to the motion to enter (do not mark with exhibit label) and the proponent must sign indicating approval as to form.
In all divorces, a sworn inventory and appraisement must be pre-marked and submitted as an exhibit before the trial by default begins. (See Rule 6.4, above.)
If the respondent has not filed an answer or appeared in the case, a certificate of last known address and nonmilitary affidavit/declaration must be on file before trial.
Prior to the pre-trial conference for a jury trial, the parties must complete all actions identified in the Pretrial Conference Checklist (See Court’s website).
Rebuttal or impeachment exhibits that were not exchanged before the hearing must be responsive to a matter raised by the other side.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Submit exhibit share links by email to the court’s designated exhibit address, include the cause number, party identification, and proceeding date in the subject, and do not use account-required collaboration sharing.
a. Create and email a file share link using your cloud storage service to the designated exhibit email listed on the court’s website. The subject line of the email shall state the full cause number, your party identification, and the date of the court proceeding. Do not use the share feature intended for collaboration that requires an account with that service.
Page 3 | 6.4. Exhibits — Providing to Court
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Exhibits must be sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing.
For all settings, exhibits must be exchanged by the parties and sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing.
Page 3 | 6.4. Exhibits — Exchange by Parties
The Court sets the final-order entry date in its rendition or at an oral prove-up, and failure to enter the order by that date may result in dismissal.
Entry dates on final orders will be set by the Court in its rendition or at an oral prove-up of an agreement. Failure to enter the order before that date may result in dismissal of the case.
Page 4 | 8.2. Final Orders
Responses to motions set for submission must be on file at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
The notice must state that: (1) the motion will be heard by submission; (2) no party may appear for the hearing in person; and (3) any response to the motion must be on file at least 3 days before the submission date, or longer if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.3. Notice
Responses must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.4. Responses
When the order has all signatures, the proposed order must be filed before the entry date.
If the order has all signatures, file the proposed order before your entry date for the judge’s signature.
Page 4 | 8.4. Uncontested Entries
If a respondent has not appeared, the case may be dismissed unless a return of service or properly executed waiver is on file before the dismissal date.
If a respondent has not appeared, a case may be dismissed unless a return of service or a properly executed waiver is on file before the dismissal date.
Page 2 | Dismissals for Want of Prosecution
If all respondents have appeared, dismissal may be avoided if the case is settled and proven-up before the dismissal date, trial is set and approved to occur within 90 days of that date, or the court grants a motion to retain before that date.
If all respondents have appeared, the case may be dismissed unless: (1) the case has been settled and proven-up before the dismissal date, (2) trial has been set and approved to occur within 90 days of the dismissal date, or (3) before the dismissal date, a motion to retain has been granted by the court.
Page 2 | Dismissals for Want of Prosecution
Service and Proof of Service Rules
For every setting, parties must exchange exhibits by 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the hearing; late-exchanged exhibits may be excluded.
For all settings, exhibits must be exchanged by the parties and sent to the Court by 2:00 p.m. the business day before the hearing. Failure to timely exchange exhibits may result in the exclusion of those exhibits.
Page 3 | 6.4. Exhibits — Exchange by Parties
Notice of submission setting must be served at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Notice of submission setting must be served at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, or more if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.3. Notice
Responses must be served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Must be filed and served at least 3 days before the submission date, or earlier if required by statute or rule.
Page 4 | 7.4. Responses
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Upon request, a 90-day continuance should be granted under a rebuttable presumption when lead counsel has the birth or adoption of a child.
The birth or adoption of a child by lead counsel shall create a rebuttable presumption that a 90-day continuance should be granted upon request.
Page 5 | Birth or Adoption of Child
Chambers Communication Rules
Non-trial settings must be scheduled through the online scheduling system available on each court’s website.
Non-trial settings must be scheduled using the online scheduling system available on each court’s website.
Page 1 | Scheduling Information for the 247th and 308th
Except for CPS hearings and final trials, hearing dates for e-filed motions must be scheduled through the e-hearing system on the District Clerk’s website.
Except for CPS hearings and final trials, all hearing dates for e-filed motions must be scheduled through the e-hearing system available through the District Clerk's website.
Page 1 | Scheduling Information for the 310th, 312th, and 507th
To call the court’s attention to an order ready for signing, select “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system.
Select “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system to call the court’s attention to orders that are ready for signing.
Page 1 | Scheduling Information for the 247th and 308th
If running late for a hearing, email the “late” address on the court’s website and copy all counsel or self-represented litigants.
If you are running late for a hearing, email the “late” email address listed on the court’s website with a copy to all counsel or self-represented litigants.
Page 2 | General Policies for Hearings
Counsel seeking placement on an appointment wheel must send the application from the court’s website to Melissa_Love@justex.net.
Counsel wanting to be placed on a wheel shall send the application located on the court’s website to Melissa_Love@justex.net.
Page 5 | Court Appointments
For a motion that a self-represented litigant did not file electronically, the party should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing.
For non-electronically filed motions by self-represented litigants, the party should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing.
Page 1 | Scheduling Information for the 310th, 312th, and 507th
Matters may be scheduled for oral hearings or consideration by submission by emailing 246hearings@justex.net.
Matters can be scheduled for oral hearings or consideration by submission by emailing 246hearings@justex.net.
Page 1 | Scheduling Information for the 246th
The court sets trial dates in automatically generated scheduling orders, and parties may contact the court coordinator to request that an order be generated.
Trial dates will be set by the court in automatically generated scheduling orders. You may also contact the court coordinator to request that a scheduling order be generated.
Page 5 | Temporary Orders and Final Trial