Midland County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

When a party files for bankruptcy protection, the party's attorney must immediately notify the Court Administrator by telephone.

When a party files for protection under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, that patty's attorney shall: 1. Immediately notify the Comt Administrator by telephone;

CRITICAL

When a party is incarcerated, the party seeking to set a hearing or trial must contact the Court Administrator well in advance of the proposed date.

In all cases in which a party is incarcerated, the party wishing to set a hearing or trial must communicate with the Court Administrator well in advance of the proposed date for the hearing, pretrial conference, or trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

After filing any listed post-trial pleading, a party must promptly notify the trial judge by hand-delivering or emailing a copy to the Court Administrator.

A party filing one or more of the following post-trial pleadings shall give notice to the trial judge by hand-delivering or emailing a copy of the filing to the Court Administrator promptly after it is filed: a. Request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. Crv. P. 296); b. Notice of Past Due Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. Crv. P. 297); c. Request for Additional or Amended Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. CIV. P. 298); d. Request for Preparation of the Court Reporter's Record (TEX. R. APP. P. 34.6); or e. An affidavit of indigency filed in connection with an appeal (TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1).

CRITICAL

Self-represented litigants must provide the court with address, telephone, and email contact listings where court personnel and opposing counsel can reach them.

Self-represented litigants are required to provide the court with an address, telephone, and email listings at which they can be reached by court personnel and opposing counsel.

WARNING

Attorneys must notify affected courts when they are assigned to two or more courts on the same date or at the same time.

Attorneys shall advise the affected courts that they are assigned to two or more courts for the same date and/or time.

WARNING

After the opposing party files an answer or enters an appearance, a party may request a trial or pretrial-conference setting by motion or oral request followed by a confirmation letter.

At any time after the filing of an answer or entry of an appearance by the opposing party, a party may request a setting for a trial on the merits or a pretrial conference by (i) filing with the court a motion requesting the setting, accompanied by a Certificate of Conference as required by Rule 4.05 and a Certificate of Service on opposing counsel or (ii) orally requesting the court to schedule the hearing and confirming the setting by letter addressed to the court, a copy of which shall be served on opposing counsel is accordance with Rule 21a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

WARNING

Attorneys must promptly advise affected judges of any dual settings once they become aware of them.

Attorneys shall advise the affected judges of all dual settings as soon as the attorney becomes aware of them.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

The court decides whether to allow telephonic or electronic appearances, and anyone wishing to appear telephonically must call the Court Administrator to ask whether permission will be granted.

Whether to allow an attorney or self-represented litigant to appear telephonically or electronically for a hearing is within the discretion of the court. Attorneys and self-represented litigants who wish to appear telephonically shall contact the Comt Administrator to inquire whether the court will permit a telephonic appearance under the circumstances.

WARNING

During trial, counsel must not have personal discussions with the court, court personnel, or each other in the presence of jurors, parties, or witnesses.

Counsel shall not engage in personal discussions with the court, court personnel, or each other during trial while in the presence of jurors, parties, or witnesses.