Travis County Civil District Courts Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Before asking a particular judge to accept assignment of a case, all parties must previously confer and agree to jointly make the request.

No party should ask a particular judge to accept assignment of a case or part of a case unless all parties have previously conferred and have agreed to jointly make the request.

Before setting a final merits hearing in an administrative appeal, all counsel must confer on the hearing date, the amount of time requested, and (if multiple parties) the order of presentation.

Before setting a final hearing on the merits of an administrative appeal, all counsel must confer regarding: (i) the date of any hearing; (ii) the amount of time to be requested for the hearing (although the time to be allotted to argument is in the discretion of the court); and (iii) if there are multiple parties, the order of presentation.

Motions to Confer with a Child must be set on the same day as the related hearing (temporary orders or final merits trial) and will be ruled on by the judge hearing that matter, absent good cause.

Absent good cause shown, all Motions to Confer with a Child must be set on the same day as the hearing such motion is related to (temporary orders or final merits trial). The specific judge who will be hearing the temporary orders hearing or final merits trial will rule on the Motion to Confer with a Child.

Requests to be heard on motions challenging a prior ruling (new trial, modify/correct/reform/reconsider, etc.), except one by default, must be presented to the judge who made the ruling; contact the Court Administrator's office to determine visiting judge availability.

A request to be heard on a motion for new trial; motion to modify, correct, reform, or reconsider; or any other motion challenging a prior ruling, except one by default, must be presented to the judge who made the ruling, including a visiting judge, if available. Contact the Court Administrator's office to determine if the visiting judge who made the ruling is available.

Required

Always

Before setting a hearing or trial, the parties must confer (or make reasonable efforts to confer) about the date, time, format, and substance of the motion in a genuine effort to narrow disputes.

Prior to setting a hearing, the parties must make reasonable efforts to actually speak to one another regarding the date, time, and format (i.e., whether in-person or remote) of a hearing or trial and the substance of the motion in a genuine effort to narrow their disputes before seeking court intervention.

Before requesting a setting in a case assigned under Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, the moving party must first confer with the judge's staff (District Judges' Office for visiting judges) to determine availability.

Before requesting the setting from the Court Administrator of a case assigned pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, the moving party must confer with the judge's staff to determine the judge's availability. For visiting judges, the District Judges' Office serves as the judge's staff.

Required

Always

No hearings may be set during the week before a bench or jury trial, except hearings on motions for continuance.

No hearings may be set during the week before a bench or jury trial, except for hearings on motions for continuance.

Counsel may not repeat or address subject matter covered by the pre-trial standing order except to seek a modification of the standing order.

Counsel must not repeat or otherwise address the subject matter contained in the standing order except to seek a modification of the standing order.

Before setting a final hearing on the merits of an administrative appeal, all counsel must confer on the hearing date, the time to be requested, and (for multiple parties) the order of presentation.

Before setting a final hearing on the merits of an administrative appeal, all counsel must confer regarding: (i) the date of any hearing; (ii) the amount of time to be requested for the hearing (although the time to be allotted to argument is in the discretion of the court); and (iii) if there are multiple parties, the order of presentation.

Motions to Confer with a Child must be set on the same day as the related temporary orders or final merits hearing absent good cause, and the judge presiding over that hearing rules on the motion.

Absent good cause shown, all Motions to Confer with a Child must be set on the same day as the hearing such motion is related to (temporary orders or final merits trial). The specific judge who will be hearing the temporary orders hearing or final merits trial will rule on the Motion to Confer with a Child.

Motions in limine requesting additional limine relief or modification of the pre-trial standing order will be heard by the trial judge at the time of trial.

Standing orders, posted online, govern the pre-trial schedule for jury trials and motions in limine. 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.