Montgomery County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

An attorney must notify the affected judge of all dual settings as soon as they become known.

It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected Judge's attention to all dual settings as soon as they are known.

CRITICALCivil cases

The movant must schedule a date and time for consideration of the motion with the court.

Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of the motion.

CRITICAL

The Juvenile Probation Officer must ensure that the juvenile respondent's parents, legal guardians, or caretakers receive the invitation and instructions for joining the Zoom meeting.

It is the responsibility of the Juvenile Probation Officer to ensure that the parents, legal guardians, and/or caretakers of the Juvenile-Respondent are provided a copy of the invitation with instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting

CRITICAL

Requests for parents, legal guardians, or caretakers to appear by Zoom must be made through the County Attorney's office or the respective Defense Counsel's office, which then contacts the Court.

All requests for appearances via Zoom shall be made through the County Attorney's office or the respective Defense Counsel's office. Either of these offices shall then contact the Court as set forth below.

CRITICALCivil cases

The judge of the 284th District Court must timely provide the District Clerk’s office with the methodology for implementing the paragraph.

The judge of the 284th District Court shall timely provide the Montgomery County District Clerk’s office with the methodology to effectuate the intent of this paragraph.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The Court emails the hearing link to specified participants, and the Juvenile Probation Officer and Assistant County Attorney's Office are responsible for providing invitations and joining instructions to parents and, if requested, victims.

The Court will email the hearing link to the Assistant County Attorney, the Juvenile-Respondent's Attorney, the Probation Department, and the Detention Center. It is the responsibility of the Juvenile Probation Officer to ensure that the parents of the Juvenile-Respondent are provided a copy of the invitation with instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting to participate. If a victim wishes to attend the hearing, it is the responsibility of the Assistant County Attorney's Office to provide a copy of the hearing invitation with instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting to participate.

CRITICAL

For juvenile matters, litigants must initially contact the Juvenile Trial Judge, who is the on-call judge.

The Juvenile Trial Judge shall be the on-call judge for all juvenile matters and the litigant shall contact the Juvenile Trial Judge initially.

CRITICAL

If the Detention Facility Supervisor or an appointed designee determines that a detained juvenile's in-person appearance presents a danger, the Supervisor or designee must immediately contact the Court's Bailiff with the concern and request a Zoom appearance.

In the event the Detention Facility Supervisor, or a designee appointed by the Juvenile Department Director, makes a determination that a Detained Juvenile-Respondent presents a danger to himself/herself and/or others by the Juvenile-Respondent's in-person appearance at the Detention Hearing in court, the Supervisor/Designee shall contact the Court's Bailiff immediately with said concerns and request for the Detained Juvenile-Respondent to appear for the Detention Hearing via Zoom.

CRITICAL

Counsel may not communicate with the Court about the merits of a contested proceeding except during hearings or trial, through pleadings filed with the Clerk and served on all parties, when all parties are present, with written consent of absent parties, or when authorized by rule or law.

Accordingly, Counsel in contested proceedings shall not communicate with the Court in person, in writing, or otherwise regarding the merits of a contested proceeding, except (1) during hearings or trial, (2) through pleadings filed with the Clerk and served on all other parties, (3) when all parties are present, (4) with the written consent of parties not present, unless otherwise authorized by rule or law.

CRITICALCivil cases

Anyone who can participate only by telephone must coordinate with the appropriate court coordinator the day before.

IF YOU CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONE YOU MUST COORDINATE IT THE DAY BEFORE WITH THE APPROPRIATE COURT COORDINATOR.

CRITICAL

If the Juvenile Trial Judge is unexpectedly unavailable, litigants must contact the Administrative Judge for consideration of the emergency or exigent matter.

However, if there is an unforeseen unavailability of the Juvenile Trial Judge, then the litigant shall contact the Administrative Judge for the County Courts at Law of Montgomery County for consideration of the emergency or exigent matter.

CRITICALCivil cases

Only hearing counsel, parties, and witnesses may have the Zoom link or attend, and the link may not be forwarded to anyone else absent authorization in the order or advance Court permission.

Only counsel, parties, and witnesses for a hearing shall have the Zoom link and be permitted to attend the Zoom hearing. THE ZOOM LINK SHALL NOT BE FORWARDED TO ANY OTHER PERSON UNLESS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED IN THIS STANDING ORDER, OR WITH ADVANCE PERMISSION AS GRANTED BY THE COURT.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

Upon transfer, the facility must immediately email the completed order to Aimee Newcomb; failure to do so terminates the facility’s future right to use the order.

UPON TRANSFER THE FACILITY UTILIZING THIS ORDER IS ORDERED TO EMAIL THE COMPLETED ORDER TO Aimee.Newcomb@mctx.org IMMEDIATELY UPON TRANSFER. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF THE FACILITY'S RIGHT TO UTILIZE THIS ORDER IN THE FUTURE.

CRITICAL

The movant must schedule with the Court a date and time for consideration of the motion.

12.2 Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of the motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

The movant must schedule a date and time with the court for consideration of the motion.

10.2 Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of the motion.

CRITICAL

In a temporary guardianship matter, the attorney ad litem must immediately notify the Court upon learning that the proposed protected person wishes to contest the temporary administration.

If an application is filed for a temporary guardianship the attorney ad litem shall notify the Court if the application is contested immediately upon becoming aware of the proposed protected person's wish to contest the temporary administration and shall provide the Guardianship Coordinator with an estimated time for hearing on the application.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The facility must email the completed order to mentalhealth@mctx.org immediately upon transfer; failure terminates its future right to use the order.

UPON TRANSFER THE FACILITY UTILIZING THIS ORDER IS ORDERED TO EMAIL THE COMPLETED ORDER TO mentalhealth@mctx.org IMMEDIATELY UPON TRANSFER. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF THE FACILITY'S RIGHT TO UTILIZE THIS ORDER IN THE FUTURE.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Hearing exhibit submissions must be emailed to the Court Coordinator and Court Reporter at the listed addresses.

If a party intends to offer any exhibits during a hearing, an exhibit list and the exhibits must be emailed to all parties and the Court, attention to Kayla Argueta (Court Coordinator) at kayla.argueta@mctx.org and Melody Meador (Court Reporter) at melody.meador@mctx.org at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing,

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The transferring facility must email the two-page standing order and judge-signed OPC to mentalhealth@mctx.org and copy MCAOMenta|Heath@mctx.org.

2. Email the packet (2-page Standing Order and OPC signed by Judge) to mentalhealth@mctx.org and copy MCAOMenta|Heath@mctx.org.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

Email the packet to Aimee Newcomb and copy MCAOMentalHealth@mctx.org.

2. Email the packet (2-page Standing Order and OPC signed by Judge) to Aimee.Newcomb@mctx.org and copy MCAOMentalHealth@mctx.org.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

936-760-5800

Outside business hours, contact the Mental Health Deputies at 936-760-5800 for transport.

3. Outside of business hours, contact Mental Health Deputies for transport at 936-760-5800.

CRITICAL

The movant must schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of a contested motion.

Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of a contested motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

The judges of the 410th District Court and County Court at Law Number Three must timely provide the District Clerk’s office with the methodology for implementing the paragraph.

The judges of the 410m District Court and County Court at Law Number Three (3) shall timely provide the Montgomery County District Clerk’s office with the methodology to effectuate the intent of this paragraph.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests to appear by Zoom must go through the County Attorney's or Defense Counsel's office; individuals seeking to appear by Zoom may not contact the Court directly.

1. Request for Zoom Appearances. All requests for appearances via Zoom shall be made through the County Attorney's office or the respective Defense Counsel's office. Either of these offices shall then contact the Court as set forth below. The Court will not accept direct communication from anyone seeking to appear via Zoom, and any such calls to the Court will be redirected to the County Attorney's office or the respective Defense Counsel's office.

CRITICAL

After a bankruptcy concludes, or the automatic stay is lifted in a Statutory Probate Court case, all parties must promptly notify the Court.

Once such a bankruptcy has been concluded, whether by discharge, denial of discharge, dismissal, or otherwise, or the automatic stay imposed by 11 U.S.C. § 362 has been lifted as to a case in the Statutory Probate Courts, all parties to a pending case shall promptly notify the Court so that the affected case may be restored to the active docket or dismissed as may be appropriate.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

The Supervisor, designee, or another designated employee must immediately follow up the Zoom request by emailing the Court Coordinator and Court Administrator.

The Supervisor/Designee or another designated employee shall immediately follow-up said request with an email to the Court Coordinator and Court Administrator at the email addresses provided in the provision below.

CRITICAL

Self-represented litigants must provide current address, telephone, and email information where Court personnel and opposing parties can reach them.

20.1 All requirements of these rules apply with equal force to self-represented litigants whether or not they are licensed to practice law in Texas. Self-represented litigants are required to provide their current address, telephone numbers and email addresses at which they can be reached by Court personnel and the opposing parties.

CRITICALCivil cases

The movant must schedule a date and time with the court for consideration of the motion.

Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of the motion.

WARNING

Notice of a delay caused by an appearance in another court must identify each court and the case number for each appearance.

If the attorney and/or party is late because he/she must appear in another court at the same time, such notification must include the specific court(s) in which the attorney and/or party will be appearing and the case number(s) for each such appearance.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

Non-evidentiary materials, including demonstratives, affidavits, and summaries of the evidence, etc., and/or case law for the Court's reference should be emailed to all parties and the Court (as set forth above) at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing.

Non-evidentiary materials, including demonstratives, affidavits, and summaries of the evidence, etc., and/or case law for the Court's reference should be emailed to all parties and the Court (as set forth above) at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing.

WARNING

The rule states that a judge may not permit or consider improper ex parte communications.

Rule 10 Ex Parte Communications 10.1 The Canons of Judicial Conduct do not permit a judge to permit or consider improper ex

WARNING

The movant must schedule a date and time with the court for consideration of a motion.

Movant shall schedule with the court a date and time for consideration of a motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court will not give verbal approval for Zoom appearances.

Verbal approval for appearances via Zoom will not be given.

WARNING

The Court will not give verbal approval for Zoom appearances.

Verbal approval for appearances via Zoom will not be given.

WARNING

A late attorney or party must notify the court and opposing counsel or parties of the estimated arrival time and the specific reason for the delay.

Attorneys and/or parties who will be late for court must give the court and opposing attorneys and/or parties notice of their estimated time of arrival and the specific reason for the delay.

WARNING

Attorneys and/or parties who do not expect to be on time or present in the courtroom for a scheduled hearing and/or trial must notify the court and the opposing attorneys and/or parties of this fact.

Attorneys and/or parties who do not expect to be on time or present in the courtroom for a scheduled hearing and/or trial must notify the court and the opposing attorneys and/or parties of this fact.

WARNING

Parents, legal guardians, and caretakers seeking Zoom appearances must not contact the Court directly; calls will be redirected to the County Attorney's office or respective Defense Counsel's office.

The Court will not accept direct communication from any Parent, Legal Guardian and/or Caretaker seeking to appear via Zoom, and any such calls to the Court will be redirected to the County Attorney's office or the respective Defense Counsel's office.

WARNING

When a child is brought to the courthouse with court approval or order, the responsible attorney or party must immediately notify the court, and the child may not enter the courtroom without the judge's express consent.

In the event that a child is brought to the courthouse pursuant to the court's order or approval, the attorney and/or party who is responsible for the child's attendance shall immediately notify the court of the child's presence, and the child shall not be brought into the courtroom without the express consent of the judge.

WARNING

Attorneys and parties must check the court record for scheduling or docket-control orders and obtain a copy from the District Clerk if one has issued.

It shall be the duty of the attorney and/or party appearing in a pending case to ascertain from the court record whether a scheduling order and/or docket control order has issued, and if so, to obtain a copy of the scheduling order and/or docket control order from the District Clerk.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

Scheduling communications about a remote hearing should be emailed to either listed contact before the scheduled hearing date.

All communication regarding scheduling a remote hearing should be directed to Kayla Argueta at kayla.argueta @mctx.org or Julissa Valadez at julissa.valadez@mctx.org prior to the scheduled hearing date.

WARNING

If a Mental Health Attorney ad litem cannot meet with the client, the attorney should notify the Court and County Attorney's Office before the docket at which the client is to appear.

If an Attorney ad litem is unable to meet with his client, he should notify the Court and County Attorney's Office before the docket at which the client is to appear.

WARNING

If an attorney cannot meet with the client, the attorney should notify the Court before the docket at which the client is to appear.

If an attorney is unable to meet with his client, he should notify the Court before the docket at which the client is to appear.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

936-760-5800

Outside business hours, the facility must contact Mental Health Deputies at 936-760-5800 for transport.

3. Outside of business hours, contact Mental Health Deputies for transport at 936-760-5800.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

Aimee Newcomb: 936.538.3570; if unavailable: 936.539.7832

Questions about the order may be directed to Aimee Newcomb at 936.538.3570 or, if she is unavailable, to 936.539.7832.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ORDER MAY BE DIRECTED TO AIMEE NEWCOMB AT 936.538.3570 OR TO 936.539.7832 IF AIMEE NEWCOMB IS UNAVAILABLE

INFO

Contact

Email

When waivers are e-filed outside business hours, the Court should also be provided with them by email by 8:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing.

If the waivers are being e-filed outside of business hours, the Court should be provided with any waivers via email by this same time.

INFO

Contact

Email

The Court will email the hearing link to the Assistant County Attorney, the juvenile respondent's attorney, the Probation Department, and the Detention Center.

The Court will email the hearing link to the Assistant County Attorney, the Juvenile-Respondent's Attorney, the Probation Department, and the Detention Center.

INFOCivil cases

If an on-call system exists and the assigned judge is unavailable for an emergency or exigent matter, the litigant may take the matter to the on-call judge.

If the Board of Judges has established an on call judge system, and if the judge to whom a case is assigned is not available to consider an emergency or exigent matter, then the litigant may take the matter to the on call judge.

INFOCivil cases

If an on-call judge system exists and the assigned judge is unavailable for an emergency or exigent matter, the litigant may take the matter to the on-call judge; the calendar is on the Office of Court Administration website and is updated quarterly.

6.2 If the Board of Judges has established an on call judge system, and if the judge to whom a case is assigned is not available to consider an emergency or exigent matter, then the litigant may take the matter to the on call judge. The calendar for the on call judges is on the Office of Court Administration website and is updated quarterly.

INFO

Contact

Email

Communication about scheduling a remote hearing should be directed by email to the Court Coordinator or Court Administrator before the scheduled hearing date.

Subject to the foregoing provisions, all communication regarding scheduling a remote hearing should be directed to Kayla Argueta (Court Coordinator) at kayla.argueta@mctx.org or Julissa Valadez (Court Administrator) at julissa.valadez@mctx.org prior to the scheduled hearing date.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

936.538.3570; alternatively 936.539.7832 if Aimee Newcomb is unavailable

Questions about the order may be directed to Aimee Newcomb at 936.538.3570, or to 936.539.7832 if she is unavailable.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ORDER MAY BE DIRECTED TO AIMEE NEWCOMB AT 936.538.3570 OR TO 936.539.7832 IF AIMEE NEWCOMB IS UNAVAILABLE