Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
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Document Format Requirements11 rules
The page numbers must use Book Antiqua 10-point font.
Book Antiqua 10-point font
The jury charges must use Book Antiqua font.
Book Antiqua Font
The page numbers must be placed in the footer and left justified.
Placed in footer, left justified
The jury charges must include page numbers.
Page numbers
The jury charges must use one-inch margins.
1-inch margins
The jury charges must use 12-point font.
12-point font size
Condensed deposition transcripts must use yellow highlighting for plaintiff's designated testimony and orange highlighting for defendant's designated testimony.
Highlight in Yellow – Plaintiff’s designated testimony b. Highlight in Orange – Defendant’s designated testimony
Audio exhibit files must be in MP3 format and submitted on a USB drive.
Audio Files must be in “mp3” format and submitted on a USB drive.
Video exhibit files must be in MP4 format and submitted on a USB drive.
Video Files must be in “mp4” format and submitted on a USB drive.
An exhibit larger than 8½ by 11 inches must be accompanied by a letter-sized copy.
Large Exhibits exceeding 8 ½” X 11” must be accompanied by a letter-sized copy.
Exhibits must be redacted as needed, pre-marked, tabbed, indexed with a table of contents, and placed in a binder.
All exhibits shall be redacted (as needed), pre-marked, tabbed and indexed with a table of contents, and placed in a binder.
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
The jury charges must be filed.
File the jury charges.
Document Type
Jury Instructions
A notice of hearing must state the hearing format, motions to be heard, allotted time, filing deadline, and any applicable notebook-delivery requirement.
When you do send out the notice of hearing, please include: 1. The hearing is In-Person, by ZOOM, or by Submission.* 2. Which motion(s) will be heard. 3. The amount of time allotted for the hearing – 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc. 4. All orders and responses must be filed according to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedures or the day before the hearing by 12:00 pm. 5. If the motion and response is over 50 pages, a notebook must be delivered to the court 2 days prior to the hearing, between 9:00 am – 11:00 am or 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
The objecting party must file a proposed order identifying the page and line of the objected-to testimony and stating the reason for the objection.
In addition to the condensed transcript, the objecting party will need to file a proposed order(located on the Court’s website) indicating the page and line of the objected to testimony and the reason for the objection.
Document Type
Designated Deposition Testimony Objection
The page and line numbers of designated deposition testimony must be filed with the court when the testimony will be read into the record or played by video.
For deposition transcripts that will be read into the record or played by video, the page and line numbers of the designated testimony is to be filed with the Court.
Document Type
Designated Deposition Testimony
When counsel could not be notified, the certificate must describe the diligent attempts made.
Diligent attempts to notify counsel for the party against whom ex parte relief is sought has been as follows:
Document Type
Certificate Of Conference
The certificate of conference must comply with Tarrant County local rules for ex parte relief.
CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE IN COMPLIANCE WITH TARRANT COUNTY LOCAL RULES FOR EX PARTE RELIEF
Document Type
Ex Parte Relief Application
The certificate must state that the diligent notice attempts were unsuccessful and that additional notice efforts are not permitted by the circumstances.
And said diligent attempts have been unsuccessful, and the circumstances do not permit additional efforts to give notice.
Document Type
Certificate Of Conference
A certificate of conference complying with the Tarrant County local rules must be on file before the TRO is presented to the judge.
4. Certificate of Conference in Compliance with Tarrant County Local Rules
Document Type
Certificate Of Conference
An order granting the temporary restraining order must be on file before the TRO is presented to the judge.
5. Order Granting TRO
Document Type
Order Granting TRO
An affidavit supporting the temporary restraining order must be on file before the TRO is presented to the judge.
3. Affidavit Supporting TRO
Document Type
TRO Supporting Affidavit
An application for a temporary restraining order must be on file before the TRO is presented to the judge.
2. Application for TRO
Document Type
TRO Application
The plaintiff's original petition must be on file before the TRO is presented to the judge.
1. Plaintiff’s Original Petition
Document Type
Plaintiffs Original Petition
The certificate may certify that counsel for the opposing party was notified and does not wish to be heard.
Counsel for the party against whom relief is sought ex parte has been notified of this application and has stated that he or she does not wish to be heard in this matter.
Document Type
Certificate Of Conference
The certificate may certify that the party against whom ex parte relief is sought is unrepresented.
To the best of my knowledge the party against whom relief is sought ex parte is not represented by counsel in this matter (the matter made the basis of the relief sought).
Document Type
Certificate Of Conference
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The jury charges must be emailed in MS Word format.
Email the jury charges in MS WORD.
Page 1 | Jury Charge Criteria
The Settlement Agreement, signed Final Judgment, unwaived List of Expenses, payment breakdown, and Minor Information Sheet must be emailed to the court.
3. Settlement Agreement (email to Court) 4. Final Judgment (email to Court with ALL signatures) 5. List of Expenses, if they were not waived (email to Court) 6. Breakdown of how the settlement is being paid out (email to Court) 7. Minor Information Sheet (email to Court)
Page 1 | Required Documents – Due by 12:00 pm, two (2) days prior to the hearing
The GAL Report and GAL Order for Fees must be submitted electronically.
1. GAL Report (e-file) a. List and describe the injuries. b. When was the last date of treatment? c. Were there sources of recovery? (PIP, UIM, etc.) d. Have all the bills been paid from the suit? i. If not, include a breakdown of residuals. e. What are the liability facts? 2. GAL Order for Fees (e-file)
Page 1 | Required Documents – Due by 12:00 pm, two (2) days prior to the hearing
The listed pretrial documents must be filed electronically, including exhibit and witness lists, motions in limine, proposed jury charges or findings, and a letter to the judge.
E-file the following documents: 1. Exhibit List – Jury and Non-Jury 2. Witness List – Jury and Non-Jury 3. Motions in Limine – Jury 4. Proposed Jury Charge – Jury or Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law – Non-Jury 5. Letter to the Judge – Jury and Non-Jury
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Plaintiff and Defendant jury charges are due by 12:00 pm on Monday of the week of the Pretrial Conference.
Monday, the week of the Pretrial Conference by 12:00 pm.
Page 1 | Jury Charge Criteria
Failure to timely send the proposed jury charge may result in the trial being reset.
Failure to timely send the proposed jury charge may result in the trial being reset.
Page 1 | Jury Charge Criteria
All orders and responses must be filed under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedures or by 12:00 pm the day before the hearing.
All orders and responses must be filed according to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedures or the day before the hearing by 12:00 pm.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
The required documents are due by noon two days before the hearing.
Required Documents – Due by 12:00 pm, two (2) days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Required Documents – Due by 12:00 pm, two (2) days prior to the hearing
All required documents must be received by noon on the day before the hearing, or the Friendly/Minor Prove-Up will be cancelled.
• The court must receive all required documents by 12:00 pm, the day prior to the hearing, or the Friendly/Minor Prove-Up will be cancelled.
Page 1 | Friendly/Minor Prove-up Hearing Requirements
A party requesting a trial shuffle must alert the coordinator no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of trial.
In addition, parties are to alert the coordinator if a shuffle is requested, no later than 8am on the day of trial.
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
Trial check-in is required at 8:15 a.m. on the day of trial unless the judge instructs otherwise.
Check-in for Trial: 8:15 a.m. the day of trial, unless otherwise instructed by the judge.
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
All trial documents must be filed by noon on Monday of the pretrial conference week.
All Trial Documents are Due on Monday by 12:00 p.m., the Week of the Pretrial Conference
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
Objections to opposing counsel's designated deposition testimony must be received by the court by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before trial.
DUE BY 5pm WEDNESDAY BEFORE TRIAL: Objections by a party to opposing counsel’s designated deposition testimony will need to be received by the Court no later than 5pm on the Wednesday before trial.
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
A request to reset the trial date must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before trial.
Any request for a reset of the trial date is due by 5pm on the Wednesday before trial.
Page 2 | Reset of Trial Date
Filing Bundling Requirements
If the motion and response exceed 50 pages, a notebook must be delivered to the court two days before the hearing during one of the stated delivery windows.
If the motion and response is over 50 pages, a notebook must be delivered to the court 2 days prior to the hearing, between 9:00 am – 11:00 am or 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
Chambers Communication Rules
After all required TRO documents are on file, counsel must call the court to schedule presentation of the TRO to the judge.
Once all of the required documents are on file, call the court and set up a time to have the TRO presented to the judge.
Page 1 | TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER - TRO
Parties must email the court the proposed jury charge or findings, case type, trial duration needed, and number of witnesses.
Email the Court with the following information: 342dc@tarrantcountytx.gov 1. Proposed Jury Charge in MS Word – Jury 2. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in MS Word – Non-Jury 3. Type of Case – vehicle accident, contract, injury, medical malpractice etc. - Jury and Non-Jury 4. Total Days Needed for Trial – Jury and Non-Jury 5. Number of Witnesses – Jury and Non-Jury
Page 1 | JURY AND NON-JURY TRIAL CASES
A hearing may be requested by email to the court at 342dc@tarrantcounty.com.
Email or call to request a hearing and include the following:
Page 1 | How to Request a Hearing