Judge Jan Soifer
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Demonstrative Aid, Powerpoint Presentation
- 3 copies
Exhibits
- 4 copies • Hand Delivery • When Offering Exhibits Into Evidence
Exhibits, Documents
- 2 copies • Hand Delivery • At Hearing
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers6 contacts
- courtnumber.submission@traviscountytx.gov
- 53.submission@traviscountytx.gov
- batool.fatima@traviscountytx.gov
- elliott.beck2@traviscountytx.gov
- michelle.williamson@traviscountytx.gov
- Batool Fatima (JEA): 512.854.9712; Elliott Beck (Staff Attorney): 512.854.9892; Michelle Williamson (Court Reporter): 512.854.9373
Other Contacts2 contacts
- courts-help@traviscountytx.gov
- 512-854-8324
Clerk1 contacts
- tc.civildistrictannounce@traviscountytx.gov
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Each exhibit must be uploaded as a separate PDF; multiple exhibits may not be combined into a single PDF.
Each exhibit must be uploaded as a separate PDF. Do not combine multiple exhibits into a single PDF;
If a matter is taken under advisement, a proposed order in Word format must be emailed to the Staff Attorney.
If the matter is taken under advisement, email a proposed order in Word format to the Staff Attorney.
DOCX
Pages within each pre-marked exhibit should be separately numbered so the Court can quickly locate specific pages.
The pages of each pre-marked exhibit should be separately numbered so that the Court can quickly locate specific pages of each exhibit.
Proposed jury questions and instructions must be submitted in Word format with supporting citations and without boilerplate provisions.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and/or by email to the Staff Attorney. Do not include boiler plate provisions; the Court will add those.
DOCX
Document Filing Requirements25 rules
Exhibit numbers must follow the fixed party-designation format (e.g., P-001; R Smith-001; I Jones-001) with a '00' prefix and no other descriptive language, regardless of which party filed the motion.
USE THIS FORMAT REGARDLESS OF WHICH PARTY IS THE MOVING PARTY. The party who originally filed the lawsuit should be designated Petitioner or Plaintiff (P), the opposing party should be designated Respondent (R) or Defendant (D), and an Intervenor should be designated Intervenor (I), regardless of the party that filed the motion being heard. If there is more than one party with the same designation, use last names to identify the party. The exhibit numbers should include “00” prior to the exhibit number. For example: P-001; R Smith-001; I Jones-001. There should be no other descriptive language in the exhibit number.
Document Type
Exhibit
Exhibit lists must be uploaded to Box together with the pre-marked exhibits.
Exhibit lists must be uploaded to Box along with pre-marked exhibits; and
Document Type
Exhibits
The first page of each exhibit must be pre-marked with the exhibit number.
The first page of each exhibit must be pre-marked with the exhibit number;
Document Type
Exhibit
Exhibit lists must list all exhibits to be offered with a short neutral description of each and must not use special characters.
Exhibit lists must list all exhibits to be offered, along with a short neutral description of each exhibit (for example, P-001 Bank Statements). Please do not use special characters in the exhibit list.
Document Type
Exhibit List
All necessary information and materials must be provided in the same email; incomplete submissions will not be granted.
Specifies that all necessary information and materials must be provided in the same email and that incomplete submissions will not be granted
Document Type
Submission
So far as practicable, every draft of a judgment, decree, or order to be signed by a judge or associate judge must be signed by all parties evidencing approval as to form before it is presented to the judge.
Document Type
Judgment
The submitting party must certify in the body of the submission email that it has complied with the Standing Order's requirements.
The submitting party must certify in the body of the email that it has complied with the requirements of this Standing Order.
Document Type
Motion
Only uncontested matters not requiring oral testimony (and friendly suits or agreed divorces with filed sworn written testimony) may be submitted, and submissions must include all information needed to evaluate the proposed order or they will not be granted.
~~Uncontested matters appropriate for Uncontested Docket~~ that do not require oral testimony are eligible for submission, as are friendly suits and agreed divorces accompanied by sworn written testimony that has been filed with the District Clerk, under the terms of this Standing Order. Submissions must include all information and materials necessary for the Court to evaluate the proposed order. Incomplete submissions will not be granted.
Document Type
Motion
A motion must be filed with the District Clerk before a proposed order granting it may be considered on submission, except for an agreed judgment.
Except for the submission of an agreed judgment, a motion must be filed with the District Clerk before a proposed order granting the motion may be considered on submission.
Document Type
Motion
An agreed proposed order must contain "Agreed" in the title and be signed "Agreed as to Form and Substance" by all counsel and self-represented parties.
If agreed, the proposed order shall contain "Agreed" in the title and be signed "Agreed as to Form and Substance" by all counsel and self-represented parties.
Document Type
Proposed Order
A proposed order containing the relief sought must be uploaded to Box and/or brought to each hearing.
Upload to Box and/or bring a proposed order with the relief being sought to each hearing.
Document Type
Hearing
Motions in Limine must not duplicate items already covered in the Standing Order in Limine.
Do not include items that are in the Standing Order in Limine in the parties' Motions in Limine.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Correspondence with the Court must include the reference “HEARING;” plus the cause number, case style, subject matter, and whether or not a record is requested.
All communications regarding a hearing set in this Court should be directed to Judicial Executive Assistant Batool Fatima by email to Batool.Fatima@traviscountytx.gov with the following reference: “HEARING;” cause number, case style, subject matter, and whether or not a record is requested.
Document Type
Correspondence With Court
Parties offering exhibits during a hearing must use the Court's Box link to upload an Exhibit List and pre-marked exhibits.
If you intend to offer any exhibits during the hearing, you must utilize the Box link sent by the Court and upload an Exhibit List and pre-marked exhibits.
Document Type
Exhibits
Attorney signature blocks on draft judgments, decrees, and orders must identify the parties represented.
Amended to require that the signature blocks for attorneys on draft judgments, decrees, and orders identify the parties represented by such attorneys.
Document Type
Draft Judgment Decree Order
Counsel must not repeat or address the subject matter of the standing order except to seek a modification.
Counsel must not repeat or otherwise address the subject matter contained in the standing order except to seek a modification of the standing order.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Each attorney's signature block on judgments, decrees, or orders must identify the parties represented by that attorney.
Each attorney's signature block on these documents must identify the parties represented by that attorney.
Document Type
Judgment
Unopposed trial exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission.
Trial exhibits should be: o Unopposed exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission
Document Type
Trial Exhibits
Hearing documents given to the Court must be indexed, uploaded to Box, placed in binders if paper (with index copy to opposing counsel), and must include operative pleadings, motions/responses/replies with exhibits, and controlling case law with highlighted passages.
Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders (with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel), and should include: o Operative pleadings, if pertinent to the hearing o Motions, responses, and replies, together with their exhibits, if any o Controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted
Document Type
Hearing Documents
Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with a party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-001, D-002, R-003).
Trial exhibits should be: o Pre-marked with party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-001, D-002, R-003)
Document Type
Trial Exhibits
An index of trial exhibits must be provided to the Court and the court reporter.
Trial exhibits should be: o An index of exhibits should be provided to the Court and court reporter
Document Type
Trial Exhibits
Proposed jury questions and instructions must include supporting citations to cases, statutes, and the PJC, and must not include boilerplate provisions.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and/or by email to the Staff Attorney. Do not include boiler plate provisions; the Court will add those.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Instructions
After an oral ruling without a prepared order, prevailing counsel must promptly circulate a proposed order for opposing counsel's approval as to form and forward it approved as to form to the Staff Attorney; the Court prefers to sign within a week.
If the Court announces its ruling and an appropriate order has not been prepared in advance, the prevailing party's counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and promptly forward it to the Staff Attorney approved as to form. The Court prefers to sign these within a week.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Non-evidentiary materials (demonstratives, presentations, trial briefs, proposed orders, pleadings efiled within the prior week, and reference cases) should be uploaded to the “Other Materials” folder in Box before the hearing.
Non-evidentiary materials, including demonstratives, PowerPoint or other presentations, trial briefs, proposed orders, pleadings efiled within the prior week, and cases for the judge’s reference, should be uploaded to the designated “Other Materials” folder in Box AND emailed to the other parties before the hearing.
Document Type
Non Evidentiary Materials
Parties intending to call witnesses must upload a witness list to Box at least two hours before the hearing.
If a party intends to call witnesses, a witness list should be uploaded to Box AND emailed to the other parties at least two hours before the hearing.
Document Type
Witness List
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Uploads are allowed only to the designated 'Exhibits' and 'Other Materials' folders, and creating new folders or sub-folders is prohibited.
You may upload only to your designated “Exhibits” folder and “Other Materials” folder. Do not create new folders or sub-folders.
Page 1 | Requesting Box Link
Uploading to Box does not constitute filing with the District Clerk or an offer/admission of evidence, and exhibits not offered at hearing will not be considered or included in the record.
Uploading exhibits to Box does not constitute an offer or admission of any evidence. Exhibits not offered during the hearing will not be considered by the Court and will not be included in the record. Uploading exhibits or pleadings does not constitute filing with the Travis County District Clerk’s Office.
Page 2 | Warning
Non-evidentiary materials must not be uploaded into the Exhibit folder.
Do not upload non-evidentiary materials into the Exhibit folder.
Page 2 | Submission of Non-Evidentiary Materials
All pleadings must be efiled with the District Clerk; emailing documents to the Court does not constitute efiling.
Please note: emailing documents to the Court is not the same as efiling them; all pleadings must be efiled with the District Clerk, as usual.
Page 1 | 3.b. Three Days before the Hearing
Exhibits should be submitted electronically via the Court's Box account per the electronic exhibits guidance, and electronic exhibits will serve as the official exhibits.
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits, uploaded to Box as instructed in the separate document entitled "Guidance on Submission of Electronic Exhibits." The electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits.
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
The Court strongly prefers that exhibits be provided electronically, and electronic exhibits become the official exhibits once admitted.
As provided in this Guidance, it is the strong preference of the Court that exhibits be provided in electronic format, and that the electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits once admitted.
Page 1 | Guidance on Submission of Electronic Exhibits
Additional Box exhibit-folder permissions are obtained by adding all parties, attorneys, and paralegals needing access in the Announcement Application.
For additional permissions to BOX exhibit folders, please review and add all parties, attorneys, and paralegals who will be working on the case or will need access to electronic exhibits in the Announcement Application: Home - Announcements [cts-ext-web2]
Page 1 | Requesting Box Link
Electronic non-evidentiary materials, such as courtesy copies of pleadings, case law, and proposed orders, may be uploaded to Box.
Electronic, non-evidentiary materials may be uploaded to Box.
Page 1 | Submission of Non-Evidentiary Materials
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Documents provided to a judge for action must first be filed with the District Clerk, then a copy provided to the judge's staff.
providing documents to a judge does not file them; documents provided to a judge for action (e.g., motions) must first be filed with the District Clerk, then a copy provided to the judge's staff.
Page 2 | 1.3 How the Central Docket Functions
Proposed jury questions and instructions must be submitted at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial by Box upload and/or email to the Staff Attorney.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and/or by email to the Staff Attorney.
Page 2 | Special instructions for jury trials (in addition to the relevant ones above)
Responses and other pleadings must be efiled with the District Clerk three days before the hearing; this provision does not change deadlines set by other applicable rules or law.
Any responses and other pleadings must be efiled with the District Clerk by this time. Please note: emailing documents to the Court is not the same as efiling them; all pleadings must be efiled with the District Clerk, as usual. This provision is not intended to change any deadlines set by other applicable rules or law.
Page 1 | 3.b. Three Days before the Hearing
Agreed orders and uncontested orders must be presented to the Duty Judge only at the times specified on the court's website for the uncontested docket.
All agreed orders or other uncontested orders submitted to the Duty Judge for signature must be presented to the Duty Judge only at the times specified on the Travis County Civil District Courts' website for the uncontested docket.
Page 4 | 7.2 Other Uncontested Docket Matters
If counsel cannot agree on the order's form within a week, a redlined version with comments explaining the disagreement must be emailed to the Staff Attorney within a week unless the Court sets a different deadline.
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Staff Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
For cases assigned shortly before a hearing, the Court will be flexible in allowing time for electronic exhibits to be uploaded to Box.
Occasionally a case may not be assigned to this court until a few minutes before a hearing. In such cases, the Court will endeavor to be flexible in allowing time for electronic exhibits to be uploaded to Box.
Page 1 | Requesting Box Link
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Judges do not set hearings or send notices, so lawyers and self-represented litigants must set matters with the Court Administrator, specify the time needed, provide all parties with notice of hearings or trials, and make proper announcements, failing which the hearing or trial may be passed by the Court.
Please note that judges do not set hearings or trials on the Central Docket, send out noces of hearings or trials, or announce the length the hearings or trials will be. Lawyers and self-represented ligants are responsible for seng maters with the Court Administrator, for specifying how much me is needed for the enre hearing or trial, for providing all pares with noce of the hearing or trial, and for making proper announcements. Form noces for hearings and trials on the Central Docket are posted here: htps://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/files/civil-district. Failure to properly set, noce, or announce hearings or trials may result in the hearing or trial being passed by the Court.
Page 1 | Overview of Practice in Travis County Civil and Family District Courts
All counsel of record and self-represented parties must be copied on all correspondence with the Court.
All counsel of record and self-represented parties must be copied on correspondence with the Court.
Page 1 | 1. Communications with the Court
Trial exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial.
Trial exhibits should be: o Exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Each lawyer or litigant is responsible for ensuring that all witnesses they intend to call receive notice of how to join the Zoom hearing.
It is the responsibility of each lawyer or litigant to ensure that all witnesses they intend to call receive notice of how to join the Zoom hearing.
Page 2 | 3.c. Hearing Links Emailed
Non-evidentiary materials must be emailed to the other parties before the hearing.
Non-evidentiary materials, including demonstratives, PowerPoint or other presentations, trial briefs, proposed orders, pleadings efiled within the prior week, and cases for the judge’s reference, should be uploaded to the designated “Other Materials” folder in Box AND emailed to the other parties before the hearing.
Page 2 | 3.e. Other Materials
Witness lists must be emailed to the other parties at least two hours before the hearing.
If a party intends to call witnesses, a witness list should be uploaded to Box AND emailed to the other parties at least two hours before the hearing.
Page 2 | 3.f. Witness Lists
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the file-marked document must be delivered to the judge's staff when a document must be brought to a judge's attention.
documents filed with the District Clerk are not forwarded to a judge; if a party is required to forward a document to a judge or intends for a document to be brought to a judge's attention, the party must deliver a courtesy copy of the file-marked document to the judge's staff, and not simply file it.
Page 2 | 1.3 How the Central Docket Functions
If electronic exhibits cannot be uploaded, at least four indexed paper copies of each exhibit (Court, Staff Attorney, witness original, opposing counsel) must be brought in binders.
However, if you are unable to upload electronic exhibits, you must bring no fewer than four paper copies of each exhibit to be offered into evidence (one each for the Court, Staff Attorney, witness [who gets the original], and opposing counsel), and they must be indexed and placed in binders.
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Parties using paper exhibits must bring at least two courtesy paper copies of documents for Court review (one for the Court, one for the Staff Attorney).
Documents should be uploaded electronically to the Court's Box account, but if you also want to use paper exhibits, you must bring at least two courtesy paper copies of documents you want the Court to review (one for the Court and one for the Staff Attorney).
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
PowerPoint presentations and demonstrative aids must be uploaded to Box or provided as at least three paper copies (Court, Staff Attorney, opposing counsel).
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least three paper copies (for the Court, Staff Attorney, and opposing counsel).
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Any motion in limine requesting additional limine or a modification of the standing order will be heard by the trial judge.
Any motion in *limine* requesting additional *limine* or a modification of the standing order will be heard by the trial judge, ~~at the time of trial~~.
Page 3 | 4.2 Jury Trial Pre-Trial Scheduling Order and Motions in Limine
Motions in limine are heard by the trial judge, but may be heard at the pretrial hearing rather than at trial.
Amended to provide that motions in limine will be heard by the trial judge, but not necessarily at the time of trial (such as at the pretrial hearing)
Page 1 | LOCAL RULE 4.2
Certain agreed and uncontested matters may be heard at the times and days posted on the Travis County District Courts' website.
Amended to reflect that certain agreed and uncontested matters may be heard at the times and days posted on the Travis County District Courts' website.
Page 1 | LOCAL RULE 7.2
Chambers Communication Rules
Hearing and trial settings and announcements must be made with the Court Administrator for the Civil District Courts, not with a particular judge's staff, except in Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2 assigned cases.
Except in 2.6 or 10.2 assigned cases (and a very few other situaons, including those in Local Rule 1.5), sengs and announcements must be made with the Court Administrator for the Civil District Courts, and not with a parcular judge's staff.
Page 1 | Overview of Practice in Travis County Civil and Family District Courts
Submissions must be emailed with a file-stamped copy of the motion and a proposed order, a subject line of "SUBMISSION" plus cause number and case style, all necessary evidence in the same email, and all counsel and self-represented parties copied.
A file-stamped copy of the motion (along with a proposed order) shall be submitted to the appropriate Court attached to an email requesting approval on submission, with the following subject line: "SUBMISSION", cause number, and style of the case. All necessary evidence must be included in the same email. All counsel of record and self-represented parties shall be copied.
Emergency and urgent matters may not be submitted for approval; they must be set for hearing or presented under the emergency docket rules.
Matters requiring emergency relief and those requiring urgent attention or approval by a definite date shall not be forwarded for submission. Instead, such matters shall be set for hearing (in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Local Rules) or presented pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Local Rules.
Contested matters may not be submitted for approval unless the Court expressly authorizes them.
No contested matters shall be forwarded for submission unless expressly authorized by the Court.
Submissions go to the assigned judge's Court, or for unassigned cases to the Court of filing by email to the court-submission address (e.g., 53.submission@traviscountytx.gov).
If the case is assigned to a specific judge pursuant to Chapters 2 or 10 of the Local Rules, then the motion and proposed order shall be submitted to that judge's Court. All other motions/proposed orders shall be submitted to the Court in which the case is filed (i.e., the Court shown in the style of the case) by email in this format: "courtnumber.submission@traviscountytx.gov"; for example, for the 53rd District Court, 53.submission@traviscountytx.gov.
Court staff must not be contacted to set hearings or trials or to make docket announcements for Central Docket matters; the Local Rules govern those procedures.
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials, or to make docket announcements for matters on the Central Docket. See the Local Rules for instructions on setting hearings and trials and handling announcements on the Central Docket.
Page 2
All communications and questions about hearings set in this Court must be directed to Judicial Executive Assistant Batool Fatima at Batool.Fatima@traviscountytx.gov.
All communications regarding a hearing set in this Court should be directed to Judicial Executive Assistant Batool Fatima by email to Batool.Fatima@traviscountytx.gov with the following reference: “HEARING;” cause number, case style, subject matter, and whether or not a record is requested. Any questions about a scheduled hearing, these procedures, or information requested herein also should be directed to this email address, with this reference.
Page 1 | 1. Communications with the Court
Zoom links and passwords may only be provided to counsel, parties, and witnesses, and recipients are prohibited from disseminating them to anyone else without express prior approval of the Court.
Only counsel, parties (and their spouses if they are individuals, or one representative of each organizational party), and witnesses should be provided the Zoom link and password and permitted to attend the Zoom hearing. Any person who receives the links and passwords is prohibited from disseminating them to anyone other than those listed here without express prior approval of the Court. Others may be given the link to the Court’s YouTube channel to view the livestream of the proceedings.
Page 2 | 3.c. Hearing Links Emailed
Except in Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2 assigned cases, emergencies should be directed to the week's Duty Judge, whose contact information is posted with the weekly docket.
Emergencies in all cases, except in 2.6 or 10.2 assigned cases, should be directed to the week's Duty Judge, whose informaon will be posted with the weekly docket, linked below.
Page 2 | Overview of Practice in Travis County Civil and Family District Courts
Do not email items directly to a judge; email the judge's staff or submission email address instead.
Amended to clarify not to email items directly to a judge, but instead to email their staff or submission email address.
Page 1 | LOCAL RULE 1.3
Documents delivered to the judge by email must be sent to the judge's submission email address or staff, not directly to the judge.
To deliver a document to the judge by email, it should be emailed to the judge's submission email address or the judge's staff, not to the judge directly.
Page 2 | 1.3 How the Central Docket Functions
If a matter before the Duty Judge will take more than five minutes, the presenting party must inform the court, which may schedule a hearing.
If any matter presented to the Duty Judge is anticipated to take more than five minutes, the presenting party must so inform the court, and the court may require a hearing to be scheduled on the matter.
Page 4 | 7.2 Other Uncontested Docket Matters
A submitted matter may not be moved to the Uncontested Docket or set for hearing until the Court is first advised of withdrawal by email with "WITHDRAWAL" in the subject line.
No submitted matter may be taken to ~~Uncontested~~ Dany docket or set for hearing until after the Court to which it was submitted is first advised that the submission has been withdrawn, by email to the Court with "WITHDRAWAL" in the subject
Emergency matters (other than specially assigned cases) must be directed to the designated Duty Judge through the Duty Judge's staff, who is listed on the Travis County civil district dockets page.
The designated Duty Judge handles all emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases), and should be contacted through their staff. The Duty Judge is listed at www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/files/dockets/civil-district.
Page 2
Court staff must not be copied on emails disputing the form of orders; counsel should instead forward a redlined order with comments about the disagreement.
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Requests to limit public access (livestreaming) to a hearing must be made to the Court as soon as possible with stated reasons, and if granted the livestream will not be activated or will be interrupted or terminated.
If counsel or a self-represented litigant seeks to limit public access to a hearing or portion(s) of a hearing, the request should be made to the Court as soon as possible, stating the reasons for the request, and if the Court finds that the evidence or subject matter is of such a nature that the protection of the evidence overcomes the presumption of public presentation, the livestream will not be activated or will be interrupted or terminated.
Page 1 | 3.a. Objections to Livestreaming
Parties must notify the Court if they, a litigant, or a witness lack access to a computer, tablet, smartphone, or reliable internet; “Zoom rooms” at the courthouse may be arranged for their use.
If you, a litigant, or a witness do not have access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone, or do not have reliable internet service, notify the Court. There are “Zoom rooms” available at the courthouse, and arrangements may be made for their use by those who do not have access to Zoom otherwise.
Page 2 | 3.b. Three Days before the Hearing
Parties must notify the Court if they request a record of the proceeding; if no record is requested, no court reporter will be present.
Notify the Court if you request a record of the proceeding. If no record is requested, then a Court Reporter will not be present for the hearing.
Page 2 | 3.b. Three Days before the Hearing
Technical assistance with Box is available from Courts-Help by email or phone.
For Technical Assistance with BOX, please contact Courts-Help (courts-help@traviscountytx.gov) at 512-854-8324.
Page 1 | Requesting Box Link
Parties may request assistance from the Civil Courts' IT staff, but must do so well in advance of the court proceeding.
Parties may request assistance of the Civil Courts’ IT staff well in advance of the time of the court proceeding.
Page 2 | Technology
Parties may contact the assigned court's staff for assignment information only after the Court Administrator assigns the matter, which generally occurs at the end of the week before a hearing or about ten days before a jury trial.
Once the Court Administrator has assigned a mater to a parcular judge for a hearing (generally at the end of the week prior to the hearing) or trial (approximately ten days before the jury trial), then you may contact that Court's staff for informaon about the parcular assignment.
Page 2 | Overview of Practice in Travis County Civil and Family District Courts
Parties needing E-Courtroom equipment assistance should arrive early so Court staff can request IT department help (Court staff cannot operate the equipment).
Please arrive early if you need assistance, so that Court staff can request assistance from the IT department for you.
Page 1 | Use of E-Courtroom equipment
Hearings/trials on specially assigned matters and follow-ups on matters heard in this Court may be scheduled or pursued by contacting the JEA (Batool Fatima), Staff Attorney (Elliott Beck), or Court Reporter (Michelle Williamson) by phone or email.
To set hearings or trials on matters specially assigned to this Court pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, or to follow up on a matter that was heard in this Court, you may contact: Batool Fatima, JEA: 512.854.9712, batool.fatima@traviscountytx.gov Elliott Beck, Staff Attorney: 512.854.9892, elliott.beck2@traviscountytx.gov Michelle Williamson, Ct Reporter: 512.854.9373; michelle.williamson@traviscountytx.gov
Page 2
Parties unsure of the Court's expectations or preferences may check with the JEA or Staff Attorney.
If in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, please feel free to check with the JEA or Staff Attorney.
Page 2