Williamson County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Settings for non-jury matters and jury trials must be made through the court's Court Coordinator/Administrator.

All settings for non-jury matters and jury trials shall be done though the office of the Court Coordinator/Administrator for the court in which the case is pending.

CRITICAL

Requests for settings must not be directed to a judge.

No request for settings shall be directed toward any Judge.

CRITICAL

Make all requests for hearing settings through the court administrator for the court where the case is pending.

All requests for settings shall be done through the court administrator for the court in which the case is pending.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

For an approved telephone hearing, the attorney who requested the conference must arrange the conference call.

If the Court has approved a telephone hearing, the attorney requesting the conference is responsible for arranging the telephone conference call.

CRITICAL

If the parties cannot agree on a docket control order, plaintiff’s counsel must set a hearing for its entry.

If an agreement cannot be reached, counsel for Plaintiff shall set a hearing for entry of a docket control order.

CRITICAL

Before approaching a judge in a court where the case is not filed about a regular TRO, contact the Court Administrator in the court where the case was filed.

Before approaching a judge with a regular TRO in a court in which the case is not filed, you must contact the Court Administrator in the Court in which the case was filed.

CRITICAL

Before requesting a trial setting, attorneys must communicate with opposing counsel to try to agree on a date.

Attorneys shall communicate with opposing Counsel before requesting the setting of a trial in an effort to agree upon a setting date.

CRITICAL

Recording or broadcasting court proceedings requires express court permission, which must be requested in writing from the Court Administrator.

Consistent with a Judge’s inherent power to control proceedings in order to maintain the dignity, decorum, and impartiality of the judicial process, no photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, live streaming, ‘tweeting’, or broadcasting of any nature is allowed without express permission from the court. A person or media entity wishing to televise, record, photograph, livestream, ‘live-tweet’ or otherwise broadcast a court proceeding must make such a request in writing to the Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

An attorney who sets a case without opposing counsel’s agreement must immediately notify opposing counsel under the Rules of Civil Procedure.

If the case is set without agreement of Counsel, the Attorney who set the case shall immediately notify opposing Counsel according to the Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICAL

An attorney must present a request for extraordinary relief to the assigned judge; if that judge is unavailable, the court administrator arranges consideration by another judge.

Cases requesting extraordinary relief shall be presented by the attorney to the assigned judge. If the assigned judge is unavailable, the court administrator shall make arrangements with another judge to consider the requested relief.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judges' attention to all dual settings as soon as the attorney knows of them.

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

CRITICAL

Requests to set a matter for hearing must be made through the court administrator for the court where the case is pending.

All requests for settings shall be done through the court administrator for the court in which the case is pending.

CRITICAL

The movant must notify the District Clerk and the affected court’s Court Administrator that the specified motion to modify has been filed.

Movant shall notify the District Clerk and the Court Administrator of the affected court that the Motion to Modify Conservatorship Pursuant to TFC Sec. 156.006(b)(1) has been filed.

CRITICAL

Upon being employed, defense counsel must notify the County Attorney, County Clerk, and Court Administrator in the court where the case is filed.

Upon employment, the defense attorney shall give notice thereof to the County Attorney, to the County Clerk and the Court Administrator in the Court in which the case is filed.

CRITICAL

The movant must notify the District Clerk and the affected court’s Court Administrator that the specified motion to modify has been filed.

Movant shall notify the District Clerk and the Court Administrator of the affected court that the Motion to Modify Conservatorship Pursuant to TFC Sec. 156.006(b)(1) has been filed.

CRITICAL

Make all arrangements for an approved telephone or virtual hearing in advance.

All arrangements must be made in advance.

CRITICAL

Non-jury and jury-trial settings must be arranged through the Court Coordinator’s office.

All settings for non-jury matters and jury trials shall be done through the office of the Court Coordinator for the Court in which the case is filed.

CRITICAL

Before approaching a judge in a court where the case is not filed about a regular TRO, counsel must contact the Court Administrator in the original court.

Before approaching a judge with a regular TRO in a court in which the case is not filed, you must contact the Court Administrator in the Court in which the case was filed.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney must call the affected judges' attention to all dual settings as soon as the attorney knows of them.

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

WARNING

Should a conflict arise between matters set in two different courts, attorneys shall provide the court with contact information for any other court where there is a conflict that may need to be resolved.

Should a conflict arise between matters set in two different courts, attorneys shall provide the court with contact information for any other court where there is a conflict that may need to be resolved.

WARNING

Attorneys must observe the ethical canons concerning media discussions and improper ex parte communications with the judge.

Attorneys shall observe the letter of all canons of ethics, including those dealing with discussion of cases with representatives of the media and those concerning improper ex parte communications with the judge;

WARNING

Motions to withdraw or substitute counsel are scheduled with the Court Administrator at the Court’s convenience.

Motions to Withdraw or Substitute Counsel are set with the Court Administrator at the convenience of the Court.

WARNING

Attorneys should follow ethical canons concerning discussions of cases with the media and improper ex parte communications with the Judge.

Attorneys should observe the letter of all canons of ethic, including those dealing with discussion of cases with representatives of the media and those concerning improper ex parte communications with the Judge;

WARNING

Attorneys should not approach the bench without leave of the court;

Attorneys should not approach the bench without leave of the court;

WARNING

Should a conflict arise between matters set in two different courts, attorneys shall provide the court with contact information for any other court where there is a conflict that may need to be resolved.

Should a conflict arise between matters set in two different courts, attorneys shall provide the court with contact information for any other court where there is a conflict that may need to be resolved.

WARNING

Motions to withdraw or substitute counsel must be scheduled with the Court Coordinator, subject to the Court’s convenience.

Motions to Withdraw or Substitute Counsel are set with the Court Coordinator at the convenience of the Court.

WARNING

Anyone seeking to televise, record, photograph, livestream, live-tweet, or otherwise broadcast a proceeding must request permission in writing from the Court Administrator.

A person or media entity wishing to televise, record, photograph, livestream, ‘live-tweet’ or otherwise broadcast a court proceeding must make such a request in writing to the Court Administrator.

WARNING

Attorneys must observe ethical canons, including those governing improper ex parte communications with the judge.

Attorneys shall observe the letter of all canons of ethics, including those dealing with discussion of cases with representatives of the media and those concerning improper ex parte communications with the judge;

INFO

Attorneys should anticipate any need to move furniture, appliances, or easels and make advance arrangements with the bailiff.

Attorneys should anticipate any need to move furniture, appliances, or easels, and should make advance arrangements with the bailiff.

INFO

Either party may request a court reporter in advance, and the Court will provide one for the hearing.

A court reporter shall be provided by the Court for these hearings upon the request of either party in advance.