Harris County District Courts Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

For in camera review, the moving party must hand-deliver documents to the clerk and schedule an off-docket status conference.

If a party desires an in camera review of documents the moving party shall provide the documents via hand delivery to the clerk of court. Once the documents have been provided the moving party shall schedule a status conference off-docket through the court clerk.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

Before scheduling the hearing, the movants should call the Court and advise 1) regarding readiness to proceed with the hearing, and 2) the estimated length of the hearing.

Before scheduling the hearing, the movants should call the Court and advise 1) regarding readiness to proceed with the hearing, and 2) the estimated length of the hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to clerk

When mailing an answer for filing, email the lead clerk and CC the Trial Coordinator to inform the court.

Additionally, please email the lead clerk and CC the Trial Coordinator to inform the court that you have mailed your answer for filing.

CRITICAL

Pro se litigants may not communicate privately with the judge (ex parte); such communications are returned unread and the other side is notified.

Do not attempt to communicate privately with the judge. The term "communication" includes contact by means of phone calls, letters, voice mail messages, faxes, e-mail messages, and direct conversations. You may communicate with the judge if all parties and their attorneys (if they are represented) are present. Any such unilateral contact is called "ex parte" communication and the district judge will not considered it for any information or argument offered in such a manner for any purpose. The court will return an ex parte communication to you unread and notify the other side of the communication. Prohibited communications do not include formal pleadings, motions, and request for relief filed with the clerk.

CRITICALCourt notice

Private (ex parte) communications with the judge are prohibited; you may communicate with the judge only when all parties and their attorneys are present.

Do not attempt to communicate privately with the judge. The term “communication” includes contact by means of phone calls, letters, voice mail messages, faxes, e-mail messages, and direct conversations.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Counsel seeking placement on an appointment wheel must send the application 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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

For temporary injunction hearings, counsel must call the Clerk before the scheduled hearing to advise readiness and duration, and must not bring witnesses until after speaking with the Clerk.

Please call the Clerk before your scheduled hearing. Temporary Injunctions are automatically set on Monday at 3:30 p.m. It is imperative that we know whether or not you are ready to proceed with the hearing and how long the hearing will take. We may need to reschedule your hearing and extend the TRO until a convenient time for the Court. Do not bring your witnesses to Court until you have spoken to the Clerk!

CRITICALCivil cases

Emailing or calling the Clerk to announce an intent to withdraw does not withdraw a summary judgment motion or satisfy Rule 166a.

An email to, or telephone call with, the Clerk advising of an intent to withdraw the motion is insufficient and does not constitute withdrawal or compliance with Rule 166a.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel seeking telephone appearance approval must contact the Clerk and give specific reasons it is necessary.

To request approval, counsel must contact the Clerk and provide specific reasons demonstrating why a telephonic appearance is necessary.

CRITICALCivil cases

All Zoom appearances require advance Court approval.

All appearances by Zoom require prior approval from the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

832-927-2480

If a hearing is passed, counsel must promptly notify the Clerk by phone and notify all parties.

If a hearing is passed, counsel must promptly notify the Clerk at 832-927-2480 and all parties.

CRITICALCivil cases

Except for summary judgment oral-hearing requests, a party seeking an oral hearing must contact the Clerk for a date.

Except for requests for oral hearings on summary judgment motions, a party seeking an oral hearing must contact the Clerk to obtain a hearing date.

CRITICALCivil cases

Before filing a continuance motion after the first reset, counsel must confer with the Court Coordinator about the Court’s procedures.

Before filing such a motion, counsel must confer with the Court Coordinator regarding the Court’s procedures.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone

A party must obtain the Court’s advance permission to appear by telephone.

Permission to appear by telephone must be obtained in advance from the Court.

CRITICAL

Written or email communications about substantive case issues must be shared with all parties.

Receiving written or email communications from a party or their representative about substantive issues in a case without sharing them with all parties.

CRITICAL

Promptly disclose any attempted prohibited ex parte communication to all parties and document it in the court record.

Any attempt at prohibited ex parte communication must be promptly disclosed to all parties involved in the case and documented in the court record.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party must obtain the Court’s advance permission to appear by telephone.

Permission to appear by telephone must be obtained in advance from the Court.

CRITICAL

Substantive matters should not be addressed through informal channels such as email, phone calls, or personal meetings outside of court.

Substantive matters should not be addressed through informal channels such as email, phone calls, or personal meetings outside of court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

832-927-3795

If a hearing is passed, counsel must promptly notify the Clerk and all parties.

If a hearing is passed, counsel must promptly notify the Clerk at 832-927-3795 and all parties.

CRITICALCivil cases

File a proposed Final Judgment before contacting the Clerk to obtain a minor-settlement hearing date.

A proposed Final Judgment must be filed before contacting the Clerk to obtain a hearing date on the minor’s settlement.

CRITICALCivil cases

Before a temporary-injunction hearing, counsel must contact the Clerk to confirm service, readiness, estimated hearing length, and expected witness count.

Before the hearing, counsel must contact the Clerk to confirm that all necessary parties have been served, that the matter is ready to proceed, the estimated length of the hearing, and the number of witnesses expected to testify.

CRITICALCivil cases

To seek approval for a telephonic appearance, counsel must contact the Clerk for a hearing date to present specific reasons to the presiding Judge.

To request approval, counsel must contact the Clerk and request a hearing date to provide specific reasons demonstrating why a telephonic appearance is necessary to the presiding Judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

Request daily transcript copy at least one week before trial and notify opposing counsel.

Requests for daily copy must be made at least one week before trial, and opposing counsel must be notified of the request.

CRITICALCivil cases

A default judgment seeking unliquidated damages requires an oral hearing, which must be set by contacting the Clerk after filing the motion.

Default judgments seeking unliquidated damages require an oral hearing. Contact the Clerk to set the hearing after filing the motion.

CRITICAL

Substantive communications with the Court that are not otherwise prohibited must occur only in official proceedings.

All substantive communications with the Court that are not otherwise prohibited by the rule against ex parte communications must take place only in official proceedings.

CRITICAL

Do not discuss a case’s merits when only one party or that party’s attorney is present.

Discussions about the merits of a case with only one party or their attorney present.

CRITICAL

Do not discuss a case’s facts or legal arguments outside official court proceedings or properly noticed meetings.

Engaging in conversations about a case's facts or legal arguments outside of official court proceedings or properly noticed meetings.

CRITICAL

Ex parte communication about a pending or impending matter before the court is prohibited.

Ex parte communication regarding a pending or impending matter before the court is strictly prohibited.

CRITICALCivil cases

If a party needs more than 60 jurors, it should notify the Trial Coordinator at least 45 days before trial so the ceremonial courtroom can be reserved.

If you need a panel larger than 60, please advise the Trial Coordinator at least 45 days before trial so that we may reserve the ceremonial courtroom.

CRITICAL

Self-represented litigants must not communicate privately with the judge; ex parte communications are returned unread and the other side is notified.

Do not attempt to communicate privately with the judge. The term “communication” includes contact by means of phone calls, letters, voice mail messages, faxes, e-mail messages, and direct conversations. You may communicate with the judge if all parties and their attorneys (if they are represented) are present. Any such unilateral contact is called “ex parte” communication and the district judge will not considered it for any information or argument offered in such a manner for any purpose. The court will return an ex parte communication to you unread and notify the other side of the communication. Prohibited communications do not include formal pleadings, motions, and request for relief filed with the clerk.

CRITICALCivil cases

Remote appearances via Zoom or other means are prohibited without prior court order.

Witness, parties, lawyers, etc., may no longer appear by Zoom (or other remote means), absent prior order from the Court.

WARNING

Use “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system to alert the court to orders ready for signing.

Select “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system to call the court’s attention to orders that are ready for signing.

WARNING

Self-represented litigants should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing for a non-electronically filed motion.

For non-electronically filed motions by self-represented litigants, the party should contact the Court Clerk to schedule a hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

Telephonic appearances only with advance permission from Court, requiring specific reasons.

Telephonic appearances on contested matters are strongly discouraged. You may only appear by telephone upon receiving special permission from the Court in advance of the hearing. Please contact our Court Clerk with your request and state the reasons, with specificity, as to why you need to appear by telephone.

WARNING

Self-represented litigants must keep the court and clerk informed of a current mailing address and telephone number, updating them upon any move.

It is your responsibility to provide the Court with a current and reliable mailing address and telephone number. Once you file your pleadings in the case, the clerk will notify you by mail of hearings and / or motions. If you move, you must provide your new address and telephone number to the clerk and the court. If you move and you do not get your mail, you may permanently lose important rights.

WARNING

Select “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system to alert the court that an order is ready for signing.

Select “Signing Box” in the online scheduling system to call the court’s attention to orders that are ready for signing.

WARNING

For a non-electronically filed motion, a self-represented litigant 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.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Counsel seeking placement on a wheel must send the court’s website application 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.

WARNING

Attorneys and pro se litigants who do not expect to be on time or present in the courtroom during docket call must notify the court and the opposing side of this fact.

Attorneys and pro se litigants who do not expect to be on time or present in the courtroom during docket call must notify the court and the opposing side of this fact.

WARNING

Late attorneys and pro se parties must notify the court and opposing side of their estimated arrival time and the reason for the delay; an attorney delayed by another court appearance must also notify the clerk which court or courts they will attend.

Attorneys and pro se parties who will be late for docket call must give the court and opposing side notice of their estimated time of arrival at court and the reason for the delay. If the attorney is late because he or she must appear in another court at the same time, the clerk must be notified not only that the attorney will be late (as above), but also the specific court(s) in which the attorney will be appearing.

WARNING

Counsel must promptly report a conflicting engagement that may prevent trial availability; failure to do so may result in sanctions.

It is the duty of counsel to report promptly to the court immediately upon learning of a conflicting engagement that might preclude that counsel's availability for trial. Failure to do so may result in sanctions.

WARNING

Contact

Email

If running late for a hearing, email the court’s listed late address 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.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Matters may be scheduled for oral hearings or submission by emailing the listed address.

Matters can be scheduled for oral hearings or consideration by submission by emailing 246hearings@justex.net.