Western District of Texas Chambers Communication Rules
270 rules from official source documents
Rules 51 to 100, page 2 of 6
Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6575
Call chambers or Courtroom Deputy in emergencies
Please call Chambers at (210) 472-6575 or Sylvia Ann Fernandez, Courtroom Deputy, (210) 472-6550, Ext. 5011, sylvia_fernandez@txwd.uscourts.gov
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550, Ext. 5011
Contact Sylvia Ann Fernandez for bringing own equipment at (210) 472-6550 Ext. 5011 or sylvia_fernandez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Yes, contact should be made with Sylvia Ann Fernandez, Courtroom Deputy, (210) 472-6550, Ext. 5011, sylvia_fernandez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6575
Emergency contact via phone to Chambers or Courtroom Deputy.
Please call Chambers at (210) 472-6575 or Sylvia Ann Fernandez, Courtroom Deputy, (210) 472-6550, Ext. 5011, sylvia_fernandez@txwd.uscourts.gov.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Immediately notify Courtroom Deputy after TRO filing; provide electronic copy to adverse party
After the TRO has been filed with the Clerk's office and the matter has been assigned to this Court's chambers, immediately notify the Courtroom Deputy. Use every reasonable effort to provide notice to the adverse party that the TRO has been filed and provide a copy of the TRO to the opposing party by electronic (e-mail) delivery. Parties should comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 65 and Local Rules.
CRITICALCriminal cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Parties must email Microsoft Word versions of Joint Proposed Jury Charge and Verdict Form to chambers with specific subject line format.
Upon filing, the parties shall promptly email a Microsoft Word version of the Joint Purposed Jury Charge and the Verdict Form as filed, to the undersigned's email address at anne_berton@txwd.uscourts.gov (the email's subject line must include the case number and the text "Joint Proposed Jury Charge").
CRITICALCivil cases
Written communication to the Court is allowed for routine matters, must copy all parties, and cannot address merits except for allowed discovery disputes.
1. Written communication from counsel to the Court. Accepted for routine matters such as scheduling, advising of settlement status, etc. with copy to counsel for all parties. No communication should address the merits of any matter, except for providing information pertaining to informal discovery disputes as expressly directed by the Court. Counsel for all parties should be copied.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
If there is a time-sensitive matter related solely to scheduling, counsel may contact chambers by telephone with participation or express permission of counsel for all parties.
If there is a time-sensitive matter related solely to scheduling, counsel may contact chambers by telephone with participation or express permission of counsel for all parties.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
7. Accommodations for out-of-town parties, attorneys, or witnesses. The Court will attempt to accommodate specific problems related to the appearance of out-of- town parties, attorneys, and witnesses. Counsel should alert the Court as soon as they become aware of any such issues by email to TXWDml_NoJudge_Chambers_WA_JudgeMacLemore@txwd.uscourts.gov with copy to all
7. Accommodations for out-of-town parties, attorneys, or witnesses. The Court will attempt to accommodate specific problems related to the appearance of out-of- town parties, attorneys, and witnesses. Counsel should alert the Court as soon as they become aware of any such issues by email to TXWDml_NoJudge_Chambers_WA_JudgeMacLemore@txwd.uscourts.gov with copy to all
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to clerk
Communication with law clerks is permitted via email; time-sensitive scheduling matters may use phone with all parties' permission.
2. Communication between counsel and the Judge’s law clerks. Permitted, as per above, via email to TXWDml_NoJudge_Chambers_WA_JudgeMacLemore@txwd.uscourts.gov. If there is a time-sensitive matter related solely to scheduling, counsel may contact chambers by telephone with participation or express permission of counsel for all parties.
CRITICALCivil cases
Counsel must notify the courtroom deputy in advance when planning to use video deposition testimony or the Court’s evidence presentation equipment at trial.
Counsel must notify the courtroom deputy in advance if video deposition testimony will be utilized at trial or if counsel wishes to make use of the Court’s evidence presentation equipment.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Redacted sealed orders must be emailed to specific chambers email address
The movant shall email the redacted, public version to the Court's law clerk (TXWDml_Chambers_WA_All@TXWD.USCOURTS.GOV).
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Requests for either must be made in writing to Judge Derek T. Gilliland's Courtroom Deputy Melissa Copp at Melissa_Copp@txwd.uscourts.gov, or to Judge Dan MacLemore's Courtroom Deputy Abigail Ernstes at Abigail_Ernstes@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Requests for either must be made in writing to Judge Derek T. Gilliland's Courtroom Deputy Melissa Copp at Melissa_Copp@txwd.uscourts.gov, or to Judge Dan MacLemore's Courtroom Deputy Abigail Ernstes at Abigail_Ernstes@txwd.uscourts.gov.
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Other than when submitting ex parte mediation statements, opposing counsel should generally be copied on all correspondence with the Court.
Other than when submitting ex parte mediation statements, opposing counsel should generally be copied on all correspondence with the Court.
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6357
Parties may contact court during depositions in emergencies at (210) 472-6357.
Yes, in emergencies parties can call chambers at: (210) 472-6357.
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6357
Emergency contact number for civil matters is (210) 472-6357.
In a true emergency concerning a civil matter, call chambers at: (210) 472-6357.
CRITICAL
Please contact chambers as early in the process as possible.
Please contact chambers as early in the process as possible.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Parties may not contact the court during depositions.
No.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550 ext 5016
A courtesy call should be made to Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016 and notice should be given to the opposing party of the fact of filing or notice of any hearing set. Parties should comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 and the Local Rules.
A courtesy call should be made to Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016 and notice should be given to the opposing party of the fact of filing or notice of any hearing set. Parties should comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65 and the Local Rules.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-5870
Contact Priscilla Springs for emergencies; if unavailable, contact Chambers directly.
Contact Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016, or priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov. If unable to reach Courtroom deputy and immediate assistance is required you may contact Chambers at (210) 472-5870.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
Notify Priscilla Springs if evidentiary sentencing hearing is requested.
The parties are required to notify the Court if a evidentiary hearing is requested. Contact Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016, or priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Parties are prohibited from contacting the court during depositions.
May parties contact the court during depositions? No.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-5870
For emergencies, first call the Courtroom Deputy; if unreachable and immediate assistance is needed, contact Chambers.
Please first call Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016. If unable to reach Courtroom deputy and immediate assistance is required, you may contact Chambers at (210) 472-5870.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550 ext 5016
Contact Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016, or priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov. If unable to reach Courtroom deputy and immediate assistance is required you may contact Chambers at (210) 472-5870.
Contact Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016, or priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov. If unable to reach Courtroom deputy and immediate assistance is required you may contact Chambers at (210) 472-5870.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
A courtesy call should be made to the courtroom deputy clerk and notice should be given to the opposing party of the fact of filing or notice of any hearing set.
A courtesy call should be made to the courtroom deputy clerk and notice should be given to the opposing party of the fact of filing or notice of any hearing set.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550 ext 5016
Parties must notify the court when an evidentiary sentencing hearing is requested.
The parties are required to notify the Court if a evidentiary hearing is requested. Contact Priscilla Springs, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016, or priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (915) 534-6744
Emergency court contact is via telephone at (915) 534-6744.
4. How does the court prefer attorneys to contact the court in an emergency? Telephone: (915) 534-6744.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court will not tolerate tardiness or unpreparedness.
The Court will not tolerate tardiness and unpreparedness.
CRITICALCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- (915) 534-6895
Expedited hearing requests in criminal cases must be coordinated with Courtroom Deputy Virginia Cabrera at (915) 534-6895.
7. What procedures should be followed to request an expedited hearing in a criminal case? Coordinate your formal Motion with the Courtroom Deputy, Virginia Cabrera at (915) 534-6895.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Parties should direct inquiries to the Court’s law clerk by email, which is the preferred contact method.
Parties should generally email any inquiries to the Court’s law clerk. The Court’s voicemail is not checked regularly. Email is the preferred contact method.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
After the opposing response, the requesting party must email issue summaries to both judges’ law clerks and copy opposing counsel.
Once the opposing party provides its response, the requesting party shall email the summaries of the issues to the Court’s law clerks for both Judge Albright and Judge Gilliland with opposing counsel copied.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Parties must jointly email law clerks to confirm the Markman date and report unripe venue or jurisdictional motions.
Parties to jointly email the law clerks (see OGP at 1) to confirm their Markman date and to notify if any venue or jurisdictional motions remain unripe for resolution.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
If a transfer motion is still pending one week before Markman, the movant must email chambers (and technical advisor if appointed) to report that status.
In addition, if by 1 week before the Markman hearing the Court has not ruled on any pending motion to transfer, the moving party is directed to email the Court’s law clerk (and the technical advisor, when appointed), and indicate that the motion to transfer is pending.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
To seek expanded venue/jurisdiction discovery limits, parties must meet and confer first and then contact the law clerk for a telephonic hearing if impasse remains.
If a party believes these limits should be expanded, the party shall meet and confer with opposing counsel and, if an impasse is reached, the requesting party is directed to contact the Court’s law clerk for a telephonic hearing.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Parties must email law clerks an editable copy of the Joint Claim Construction Statement.
Parties submit Joint Claim Construction Statement and email the law clerks an editable copy.
WARNINGCivil cases
Parties must promptly notify the Court of a settlement and request a stay of any deadlines.
Parties will promptly notify the Court if they reach a settlement and request to stay any deadlines.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to clerk
Parties must jointly email the Court’s law clerks eight weeks before trial to confirm the pretrial conference and trial dates.
8 weeks before trial | Parties to jointly email the Court's law clerks (*See* OGP at 1) to confirm their pretrial conference and trial dates.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to clerk
Parties must email the law clerks to confirm the Markman date and report any venue or jurisdictional motions that remain unripe.
Parties email the law clerks (see OGP at 1) to confirm their Markman date and to notify if any venue or jurisdictional motions remain unripe for resolution.
WARNINGCivil cases
The court may not be contacted by e-mail or fax.
No.
WARNINGCivil cases
Notify the law clerk when a contested civil motion is resolved through settlement or otherwise.
Notify the law clerk of civil settlement/resolutions.
WARNINGCivil cases
Law clerks may be contacted ex parte about procedural questions, but substantive issues may be discussed only by telephone conference with all parties.
Yes. Law Clerks may be contacted on an ex parte basis for all procedural questions and by telephone conference with all parties for substantive issues.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Telephone conferences to resolve motions or other matters occur only at the Court’s direction.
Only at the Court’s direction.
WARNINGCivil cases
Notify the Courtroom Deputy in writing when an evidentiary sentencing hearing is required.
Notify the Courtroom Deputy by written communication.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550, ext. 5005
For emergencies, contact the Courtroom Deputy at the listed telephone number.
Contact Courtroom Deputy at (210) 472-6550, ext. 5005.
WARNINGCivil cases
Do not contact the court about motion status; contact the docketing clerk instead.
No. Contact the docketing clerk.
WARNINGCivil cases
Notify the Courtroom Deputy when a contested criminal motion has been resolved.
Notify the Courtroom Deputy.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 244-5021
Please first call Magda Muzza, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 244-5021. If unable to reach Courtroom Deputy and immediate assistance is required, you may contact Missy Kauffman at (210) 244-5183.
Please first call Magda Muzza, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 244-5021. If unable to reach Courtroom Deputy and immediate assistance is required, you may contact Missy Kauffman at (210) 244-5183.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- (210) 244-5021
Yes. If a telephone conference is requested, it should be arranged in coordination with Magda Muzza and will be held only if approved by the Judge.
Yes. If a telephone conference is requested, it should be arranged in coordination with Magda Muzza and will be held only if approved by the Judge.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 244-5021
A courtesy call should be made to Magda Muzza, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 244-5021.
A courtesy call should be made to Magda Muzza, Courtroom Deputy, at (210) 244-5021.
WARNINGCivil cases
Do not generally inquire about motion status; if necessary for case management, contact Missy Kauffman after four months.
Generally, no. The Court will address all pending motions in a timely manner appropriate to management of the Court’s docket. If otherwise necessary for case management, after four months, you may contact Missy Kauffman.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Phone
- (210) 244-5183
Notify Missy Kauffman in a timely manner after a contested civil motion is resolved.
Please contact Missy Kauffman at (210) 244-5183 or missy_kauffman@txwd.uscourts.gov in a timely manner after the contested motion is resolved.
Related categories
Back to all rules for this courtPage & Word Limits
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.