Hood County District Court, Texas Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Counsel must tell parties not to contact the Judge directly about pending matters, and ex parte communication with the Judge is prohibited.

Counsel shall instruct parties not to directly contact the Judge concerning pending matters. There shall be no ex parte communication with the Judge.

CRITICAL

Requests for regular settings in civil jury and non-jury matters must be written, sent to the Court Coordinator, and copied to opposing counsel or pro se litigants.

Request for regular trial settings for all civil jury and non-jury matters shall be in writing and forwarded to the Court Coordinator, with a copy to opposing counsel or pro se litigants.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Uncontested matters may be set by telephone conference with the Court Coordinator; the requesting attorney must then give opposing counsel or the pro se litigant written notice of the hearing date and time and copy the Coordinator.

Uncontested matters may be set by telephone conference with the Court Coordinator, and the requesting attorney shall notify opposing counsel or prose litigant, in writing, of the date and time of such uncontested hearing, with a copy to the Court Coordinator.

WARNING

If no setting request is received within 90 days of filing a family law case, the Court may set it for trial; after notice, a party should immediately notify the Court in writing if the case is not ready or to suggest alternative dates.

If a request for setting of any family law case has not been received by the Court within ninety (90) days of the date of filing of the case, the Court may set the case for trial and notify the parties of the setting. Upon receipt of the notice any party should immediately notify the Court in writing if they believe that the case is not ready for trial or if they want to suggest alternative trial dates.

WARNING

Counsel seeking to avoid a trial assignment during a vacation of no more than four consecutive weeks must notify the Court Coordinator at least 75 days before the vacation begins.

Counsel wishing to avoid assignment to trial during a vacation period not exceeding four (4) consecutive weeks shall advise the Court Coordinator at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the beginning of the vacation.

INFO

The Court Coordinator handles all civil and criminal jury and non-jury trial settings and must confirm them in writing to the attorneys or pro se litigants.

The Court Coordinator shall be responsible for all civil and criminal trial settings, whether jury or non-jury, and shall confirm such settings in writing to the respective attorneys, or pro se litigants.