Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 61 rules apply across McLennan County District Courts. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

E-Filing

All 24
  • Electronic filing and service are generally optional, but a district court may order them for a particular case upon a party's motion and a showing of good cause when the documents are permitted to be electronically filed under Rule 3.3.

  • Applies to
    Document

    Documents that may traditionally be filed with the district clerk generally may be filed electronically, subject to listed exceptions.

  • Applies to
    Motion to seal

    A motion to seal a document and any response to that motion may be filed electronically.

Service

All 11
  • Service
    Electronic service

    A filer may serve documents electronically by transmitting them to the receiving party's email address.

  • Service
    Electronic service

    Electronic service is permitted only when the receiving party has agreed to receive it or the court has ordered electronic service.

  • Service
    Electronic service

    Electronic filing alone does not require electronic service unless the court orders it.

Filing Timing

All 9
  • Electronic transmission through an EFSP to TexasOnline is available around the clock except during scheduled maintenance periods.

  • Transmission to the filer's EFSP constitutes delivery and generally filing, and a timely-transmitted document received no more than ten days late will be deemed filed on time, with the EFSP transmission report as prima facie timing evidence.

  • The district clerk must decide whether to accept a filing by the first business day and must accept it if it is not misdirected and meets all filing requirements.

Communication

All 4
  • Contact
    Phone

    To set a case for final hearing, a pro se litigant should call the District Court Coordinator or Administrator.

  • Contact
    Phone

    A pro se litigant must not call to set a final hearing until the applicable service prerequisite has been satisfied and a Final Divorce Decree or Order In Suit Affecting The Parent-Child Relationship is prepared and in hand.

  • Contact
    Email to clerk

    A filer who electronically files, serves, or agrees to accept service must provide information about any e-mail address change to TexasOnline, the district clerk, and all case parties.

Common questions about Judge Susan N. Kelly's rules

What must be included with plea documents filings before Judge Susan N. Kelly?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. To avoid appearing at the status docket, properly signed plea documents without electronic signatures must be delivered to the court by noon two days beforehand.

View ruleSource: page 1, section STATUS

What must be included with psi packet filings before Judge Susan N. Kelly?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. When a guilty plea and PSI are anticipated, the client must complete the PSI packet and email it to the Probation Department before the plea date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PSI Notice

How may parties contact Judge Susan N. Kelly's chambers?

The rule addresses phone communications. Requests regarding settings should be directed to Jessica Ficker or Deeanna Ayres by phone, fax, or mail.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Settings & Docket Information

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Susan N. Kelly?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Without a Pass or submitted plea paperwork, attorneys must appear at pretrial to announce for the in-jail defendant.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRETRIAL
Complete rules summary for Judge Susan N. Kelly

Requests regarding settings should be directed to Jessica Ficker or Deeanna Ayres by phone, fax, or mail.

Attorneys may seek a pretrial Pass by emailing the court, its staff, and opposing counsel.

Without a Pass or submitted plea paperwork, attorneys must appear at pretrial to announce for the in-jail defendant.

To avoid appearing at the status docket, properly signed plea documents without electronic signatures must be delivered to the court by noon two days beforehand.

To avoid appearing at the status docket, attorneys must secure an official Pass or continuance order by noon two days before the status call.

When a guilty plea and PSI are anticipated, the client must complete the PSI packet and email it to the Probation Department before the plea date.

If the PSI paperwork is not timely submitted to the CSCD, the client must appear in court with the completed packet.

Direct transcript inquiries to Heather Weiser or Kimberly Reynolds by phone, fax, or mail.

More Judges in McLennan County District Courts

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