Travis County District Courts Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Before requesting a setting in a case assigned under Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, the moving party must confer with the judge’s staff about availability; for visiting judges, the District Judges’ Office serves as staff.

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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter, except requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be presented to the Duty Judge by email to that court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage.

Requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter, except requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be presented to the Duty Judge by email to that court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Attorneys must notify the affected judges of all multiple settings as soon as they learn of them.

It is the duty of the attorney to call the affected judges’ attention to all multiple settings as soon as they are known by the attorney.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Copy all counsel of record and self-represented parties on the submission email.

All counsel of record and self-represented parties shall be copied.

CRITICAL

The filing party must directly notify the trial judge when filing any of the listed post-trial pleadings.

Notice must be given directly to the trial judge when a party files one or more of the following post-trial pleadings: (a) Request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. CIV. PROC. 296); (b) Notice of Past Due Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. CIV. PROC. 296); (c) Any affidavit of indigence filed in connection with an appeal (TEX. R. APP. PROC. 20.1); (d) Motion for New Trial, or Motion to Modify, Correct, or Reform Judgment; (e) Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict; or (f) Motions to Enter Judgment.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to clerk

Non-jury settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties during the week prior to the hearing.

Non-jury settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties the week prior to the hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submissions go to the assigned judge's Court if one is designated, otherwise to the Court where the case is filed, using the format courtnumber.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 flied (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,KoV,

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to clerk

When a party is incarcerated, the party seeking a hearing setting must contact the Court Administrator at least 30 days before the proposed hearing date, unless the court grants leave for good cause.

In all cases in which a party is incarcerated, the party wishing to set a hearing must communicate with the Court Administrator at least 30 days before the proposed date for hearing, except with leave of court with good cause shown.

CRITICAL

For a case assigned to a specific judge under Chapters 2 or 10, submit the motion and proposed order to that judge’s Court.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Objections to a Visiting Judge assignment are timely only if delivered in writing or by email to the Court Administrator before the case is called for hearing, and must not be filed with the District Clerk.

An objection to the assignment ofa Visiting Judge to hear any case will be timely if the objection is delivered in writing or by email to the Court Administrator before the case is called for hearing. Objections must not be filed with the District Clerk.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Bond and other release matters must be presented to the judge of the court where the case is pending.

All matters involving the release of an accused on bond; bond conditions; bond reduction; bond forfeiture, and, any matter involving the bond or any other form of release, must be presented to the Judge of the Court in which the case has been designated, filed, probated, sentenced, or is otherwise pending.

CRITICAL

A written request explaining the unusual characteristics must be filed and submitted to the Local Administrative Judge by delivery, mail, or email.

The written request, explaining the unusual characteristics, must be filed and also submitted to the Local Administrative Judge by: (a) Delivering the notice to the attention of the Local Administrative Judge at the Office of the District Judges at the Civil and Family Courts Facility; (b) Mailing the notice to the Local Administrative Judge at P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767-1748; or (c) Emailing the notice to: Loca lAdministradve!udg:e@trayiscountytx.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submissions go to the assigned judge's court, or otherwise to the court where the case is filed, by email in the format courtnumber.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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Emergency or time-sensitive matters must not be sent through the submission-email process and must instead be presented under the remaining procedures of Chapter 7.

Matters requiring emergency relief, urgent attention, quick approval, or approval by a definite date must not be forwarded for submission but must be presented pursuant to the remainder of this chapter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to clerk

Jury trial settings on the Central Docket must be announced during the week that is three weeks before the jury trial setting.

Jury trial settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties during the week that is three weeks before the jury trial setting.

CRITICALCriminal cases

If the defendant’s presence is requested, the attorney must notify the coordinator by 2:00 p.m. on the day before the Court setting.

If the defendant’s presence is requested, the attorney must notify the coordinator by 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the Court setting.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

A submitted matter cannot be docketed or set for hearing until the Court is advised of the withdrawal by email with 'WITHDRAWAL' in the subject line.

No submitted matter may be taken to any 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 line.

CRITICALCriminal cases

If no agreement is reached, the revocation hearing must be set with the judicial aide or the Court, pending the final outcome of the revocation or adjudication motion.

If no agreement is reached, the revocation hearing must then be set with the judicial aide or the Court, pending final outcome of the revocation or adjudication motion.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Copy all counsel of record and self-represented parties on the submission email.

All counsel of record and self-represented parties shall be copied.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Emergency or time-sensitive matters must not be sent through the uncontested submission process and must instead be presented under the chapter's emergency procedures.

Matters requiring emergency relief, urgent attention, quick approval, or approval by a definite date must not be forwarded for submission but must be presented pursuant to the remainder of this chapter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Email notice of post-trial pleadings must be sent to the trial court's submission email address with 'Request for Post Trial Hearing' in the subject line.

Email to the trial court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage, with "Request for Post Trial Hearing" in the subject line of the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Announcements are accepted only during the window from Monday at 8:00 a.m. until Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

Announcements will be taken beginning Monday at 8:00 a.m. and ending Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

CRITICAL

For a case assigned to a specific judge under Chapters 2 or 10, submit the motion and proposed order to that judge’s Court.

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.

CRITICAL

Applicants seeking to present ex parte relief or another emergency matter to the Duty Judge must schedule an appointment by contacting court staff directly, subject to the Local Rule 23.2 exception.

For requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter to be presented to the Duty Judge, the applicant must schedule an appointment with the Duty Judge by contacting the court staff directly, unless the request meets the exception stated in Local Rule 23.2.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submit a file-stamped motion and proposed order to the appropriate Court by email requesting approval, with “SUBMISSION,” the cause number, and the case style in the subject line.

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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Counsel seeking to avoid settings during vacation or continuing education must notify the Court coordinator in writing at least 45 days before the vacation period begins.

Counsel wishing to avoid assignment to trial or other court setting during a vacation or continuing education period shall advise the Court by notifying the Court coordinator in writing at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the vacation period.

CRITICALCriminal cases

For languages other than Spanish and for deaf interpreter services, the attorney must contact the coordinator on the setting date before the requested service date to arrange service with court administration.

For languages other than Spanish, and for deaf interpreter services, the attorney shall contact the coordinator on the setting date prior to the requested date in order to arrange interpreter service with court administration.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to clerk

Jury trial settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties during the week that is three weeks before the jury trial setting.

Jury trial settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties during the week that is three weeks before the jury trial setting.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Email notice of post-trial pleadings must be sent to the trial court's submission email address (found on each court's webpage) with "Request for Post Trial Hearing" in the subject line.

(c) Email to the trial court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage, with "Request for Post Trial Hearing" in the subject line of the email.

CRITICAL

Emergency, urgent, quick-approval, or date-specific matters must not use the ordinary submission procedure and must be presented under the remainder of the chapter.

Matters requiring emergency relief, urgent attention, quick approval, or approval by a definite date must not be forwarded for submission but must be presented pursuant to the remainder of this chapter.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

For other cases, email motions and proposed orders to the Court where the case is filed using the court-number submission email format.

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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Emergency requests, other than requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be emailed to the Duty Judge’s submission email address.

Requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter, except requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be presented to the Duty Judge by email to that court’s submission email address, which may be found on each court’s webpage.

CRITICALCriminal cases

When addressing the Court about a bond, counsel must disclose prior bond requests, refusals, decisions about bond conditions, and the circumstances of previous requests to other courts.

In all situations, when approaching the Court regarding a bond, Counsel must divulge any other requests made of other Criminal District Court Judges, and any refusals made in the granting or denial of bond by those Courts. Counsel must also divulge any prior decisions regarding bond conditions and previous requests made regarding such conditions to other Courts as well as the circumstances under which such requests were made.

CRITICAL

Applicants must schedule an appointment with the Duty Judge by contacting court staff directly, except as provided in Local Rule 23.2.

For requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter to be presented to the Duty Judge, the applicant must schedule an appointment with the Duty Judge by contacting the court staff directly, unless the request meets the exception stated in Local Rule 23.2.

CRITICAL

The filing party must notify the trial judge by delivering or mailing a copy of the pleading, or emailing the court’s submission address with the specified subject line.

Notice must be given to the trial judge by the party filing the pleading by: (a) Delivery of a copy of the pleading to the attention of the trial judge at the Office of the District Judges at the Civil and Family Courts Facility; (b) Mail addressed to the trial judge at P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767-1748; or (c) Email to the trial court’s submission email address, which may be found on each court’s webpage, with “Request for Post Trial Hearing” in the subject line of the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Submit a file-stamped motion and proposed order to the appropriate Court by email requesting approval, using the specified subject line.

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.

CRITICAL

The Department of Family & Protective Services must present ex parte requests to the CPS Docket judge or designee as and when that judge directs.

Requests for ex parte relief by the Department of Family & Protective Services must be presented to the judge hearing the CPS Docket, or that judge's designee, in the manner and at the times that judge directs.

CRITICAL

Applicants must schedule an appointment with the Duty Judge by contacting court staff directly before presenting any ex parte or emergency request, unless Local Rule 23.2 applies.

For requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter to be presented to the Duty Judge, the applicant must schedule an appointment with the Duty Judge by contacting the court staff directly, unless the request meets the exception stated in Local Rule 23.2.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Attorneys must arrange foreign-language and deaf interpreter requests through the respective court’s coordinator or judicial aide.

The attorney shall make all arrangements for foreign language and deaf interpreter requests through the respective Court’s coordinator/judicial aide.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to clerk

Non-jury settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties during the week prior to the hearing.

Non-jury settings on the Central Docket must be announced by the parties the week prior to the hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Before taking a submitted matter to Uncontested Docket or setting it for hearing, notify the Court by email that the submission is withdrawn, using “WITHDRAWAL” in the subject line.

No submitted matter may be taken to Uncontested Docket or set for bearing 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 line.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Counsel must notify the court coordinator on the day of the jury docket call if the jail is to provide indigent clothing.

that the jail provide indigent clothing, counsel must notify the court coordinator on the day of the jury docket call.

CRITICAL

Agreed and other uncontested orders for the Duty Judge’s signature must be presented only during the uncontested docket times posted on the court website.

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.

CRITICAL

A Duty Judge hears ex parte relief requests and other emergency matters by appointment only in cases filed with the District Clerk; the Court will not consider an unfiled motion.

A Duty Judge will be available by appointment to hear requests for ex pa rte relief and other emergency matters in cases on file with the District Clerk. The Court will not consider any motion in a case that has not been filed with the District Clerk.

CRITICAL

Counsel must notify the Court Administrator when all counsel agree to pass an announced setting.

Counsel must notify the Court Administrator of an agreement to pass a setting.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to duty judge

Emergency and ex parte requests, except those by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be emailed to the Duty Judge using the court’s submission email address.

Requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter, except requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be presented to the Duty Judge by email to that court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage.

CRITICAL

The Department of Family & Protective Services must present ex parte requests to the CPS Docket judge or designee as directed regarding manner and timing.

Requests for ex parte relief by the Department of Family & Protective Services must be presented to the judge hearing the CPS Docket, or that judge's designee, in the manner and at the times that judge directs.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Objections to a Visiting Judge assignment must be delivered in writing or by email to the Court Administrator (not filed with the District Clerk) before the case is called for hearing.

An objection to the assignment of a Visiting Judge to hear any case will be timely if the objection is delivered in writing or by email to the Court Administrator before the case is called for hearing. Objections must not be filed with the District Clerk.

CRITICALCriminal cases

For Spanish-language hearings requiring an interpreter, other than pleas or sentencing, the attorney must request the interpreter when the hearing is set and before the hearing date.

In Spanish language cases that are set for any type of hearing, other than plea or sentencing, where an interpreter is needed, the attorney is required to make a request for an interpreter on the setting prior to the actual hearing date.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to duty judge

Ex parte and emergency requests must be emailed to the Duty Judge's submission email address, except DFPS requests, which must be presented to the CPS Docket judge (or designee) and may go to the Duty Judge only if that judge is unavailable.

Requests for ex parte relief or any other emergency matter, except requests by the Department of Family Protective Services, must be presented to the Duty Judge by email to that court's submission email address, which may be found on each court's webpage. Requests for ex parte relief by the Department of Family & Protective Services must be presented to the judge hearing the CPS Docket, or that judge's designee, in the manner and at the times that judge directs. Only when the judge hearing the CPS Docket is unavailable to hear or designate a judge to hear an urgent matter may the Department seek ex parte relief from the Duty Judge.