Judge Orlando L. Garcia
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Filings (All filings)
Upon Request
Filings
Not Required
Adjournments
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Original Date
- 3Number Of Previous Requests
- 4Previous Requests Granted Or Denied
- 5Adversary Position
- 6Proposed New Dates
Must Include
- 1Reason For Request
- 2Proposed New Dates
- 3Proposed Order
- 4Motion
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
In Person
Court
Phone
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Court
Detailed Drafting Rules
Contact Natasha Martinez by email for court matters.
May the court be contacted by e-mail or fax? If so, what is the address or number? You may contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, by email Natasha_Martinez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Call Natasha Martinez for emergencies.
How does the court prefer attorneys to contact the court in an emergency? Call Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, (210) 472-6550 Ext. 5020 or Natasha_Martinez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Law clerks cannot be contacted directly except in emergencies.
May the court's law clerks be contacted directly? If so, under what circumstances? No. Exception: Only in an emergency when Courtroom Deputy, Natasha Martinez, cannot be reached.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Parties cannot contact the court during depositions.
May parties contact the court during depositions? No.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Do not contact court about motion status unless circumstances change.
Is it permissible to contact the court regarding the status of motions in a civil case? If so, should the law clerk or the courtroom deputy be contacted? No, unless there has been a change of circumstances; if that occurs contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
File motion for expedited hearing, then contact Natasha Martinez.
What procedures should be followed to request an expedited hearing in a civil case? File a motion requesting an expedited hearing, then contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Required
- Hours
- Status Inquiries
Attorneys may use internet during trial; contact Natasha Martinez for access.
Yes; attorneys may use the internet during trial if necessary. For information on access contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy at (210) 472-6550 Ext. 5020 or Natasha_Martinez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact Natasha Martinez to arrange technology use.
Contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, prior to date needed.
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Parties may bring own equipment; contact Natasha Martinez to arrange.
Yes. Contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, prior to date needed.
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Court recommends early arrival or scheduling visit to test technology.
The court highly recommends arriving early or scheduling a visit to ensure all technology is functional in the room prior to a given proceeding.
Direct to: Chambers
- Hours9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Objections to magistrate judge recommendations limited to 20 pages for dispositive motions.
Objections to magistrate judge recommendations must comply with the same page limits; e.g., if the recommendation relates to a dispositive motion, the objections (and any response thereto) shall be limited to 20 pages without leave of Court.
No telephone conferences allowed for motions.
No.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
Strict courtroom decorum rules: no gum, phones, beverages; stand when addressing court.
No chewing gum, no active cell phone use, and no beverages at counsel tables unless approved by the court. Counsel will question the witnesses from the lectern. Request permission to approach a witness or the bench. Do not approach the lectern or walk behind opposing counsel when opposing counsel is conducting direct or cross examination. Dress consistent with court decorum rules. Anyone addressing the court must stand.
In Person
Direct to: Court
- Advance Notice Requiredrequest permission to approach
- Hours9:30 a.m. - end of day
- Status Inquiries
Counsel must address court from lectern.
The lectern.
In Person
Direct to: Court
- Advance Notice Requiredrequest permission to approach
- Hours9:30 a.m. - end of day
- Status Inquiries
Do not call chambers to check motion status.
Lawyers should not call chambers to request the status of motions.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries
Law clerks cannot be contacted directly except in emergencies when deputy is unreachable.
May the court's law clerks be contacted directly? If so, under what circumstances? No. Exception: Only in an emergency when Courtroom Deputy, Natasha Martinez, cannot be reached.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice RequiredOnly when deputy unreachable
Contact Courtroom Deputy Natasha Martinez via email for court matters.
May the court be contacted by e-mail or fax? If so, what is the address or number? You may contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, at Natasha_Martinez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Direct to: Chambers
In emergencies, call or email Courtroom Deputy Natasha Martinez.
How does the court prefer attorneys to contact the court in an emergency? Call Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy, (210) 472-6550 Ext. 5020 or Natasha_Martinez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
File expedited motion, then contact Courtroom Deputy.
What procedures should be followed if a party expects to be filing a motion for expedited relief? File the motion, then contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
File motion for expedited hearing, then contact Courtroom Deputy.
What procedures should be followed to request an expedited hearing in a criminal case? File a motion requesting an expedited hearing, then contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
In criminal cases, call Courtroom Deputy to check motion status.
Is it permissible to contact the court regarding the status of motions in a criminal case? If so, should the law clerk or the courtroom deputy be contacted? Yes. Call Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
Court allows 20 pages for motions/briefs/responses and 10 pages for replies without leave.
Does the court depart from the page limits contained in the local rules? If so, by standing order or is a motion for leave of court and order required? Court allows 20 pages for motions, briefs and responses without leave of court, and 10 pages for replies without leave of court.
Parties must notify court ahead of time when using deposition testimony by agreement without witness unavailability.
The parties should notify the court ahead of time of a circumstance such as this. Contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Court
- Advance Notice Requiredahead_of_time
Pet peeves include calling for motion status, missing certificates of conference/proposed orders, excessive discovery disputes, courtesy copies, and delayed hearings due to lack of party confer.
Lawyers should not call chambers to request the status of motion. Motions without a certificate of conference or proposed order. Excessive discovery disputes. Courtesy copies. Trials/hearings unnecessarily delayed because of the parties’ failure to confer with each other or the court.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Status Inquiries