Western District of Texas Chambers Communication Rules
270 rules from official source documents
Rules 101 to 150, page 3 of 6
Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Yes. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and/or proposed finds of fact and conclusions of law should be provided in Microsoft Word and emailed to magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Yes. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and/or proposed finds of fact and conclusions of law should be provided in Microsoft Word and emailed to magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov.
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
Parties may not contact the Court during depositions.
No.
WARNINGCivil cases
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 Magda Muzza.
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 Magda Muzza.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
Yes. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and/or proposed finds of fact and conclusions of law should be provided in Microsoft Word and emailed to 9 758659.1 magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov.
Yes. Proposed jury instructions, verdict forms and/or proposed finds of fact and conclusions of law should be provided in Microsoft Word and emailed to 9 758659.1 magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov.
WARNINGCivil cases
Do not contact the Judge’s law clerks directly.
Please do not contact the Judge’s law clerks directly.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone
- Phone
- (210) 244-5021
In certain circumstances. If a telephone conference is requested, the requesting party should contact Magda Muzza at (210) 244-5021 or at magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov. The party must explain why a telephone conference is necessary. If approved by the Court, Magda Muzza will arrange the telephone conference with parties.
In certain circumstances. If a telephone conference is requested, the requesting party should contact Magda Muzza at (210) 244-5021 or at magda_muzza@txwd.uscourts.gov. The party must explain why a telephone conference is necessary. If approved by the Court, Magda Muzza will arrange the telephone conference with parties.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone
An attorney may address a procedural question that cannot be answered by the federal rules of procedure, local rules and standing orders, or the Judge’s scheduling order to the courtroom deputy. Please do not call the Judge’s staff to inquire about substantive issues.
An attorney may address a procedural question that cannot be answered by the federal rules of procedure, local rules and standing orders, or the Judge’s scheduling order to the courtroom deputy. Please do not call the Judge’s staff to inquire about substantive issues.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Notify courtroom deputy and hand deliver copy to Chambers after filing expedited motion.
After the motion has been filed with the Clerk’s office, notify the courtroom deputy and hand deliver a copy to Chambers.
WARNING
Internet access available but requires advance arrangements and signed Wi-Fi agreement.
Yes, there is Internet access, but arrangements must be made ahead of time. Attorneys must sign the Wi-Fi End User Agreement in order to access the Internet.
WARNING
- Contact
Internet access requires advance arrangements and Wi-Fi End User Agreement.
Yes, there is Internet access, but arrangements must be made ahead of time. Attorneys must sign the Wi-Fi End User Agreement in order to access the Internet.
WARNING
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Must immediately notify court if motion is unopposed.
Not immediately notifying the Court that a motion is unopposed (or that portions of a motion are uncontested).
WARNING
- Contact
All laptops used in courtroom are subject to inspection.
All laptops being used in the courtroom are subject to inspection.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Parties may not contact Court during depositions
No.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Parties cannot contact Court during depositions.
No.
WARNING
- Contact
All laptops in courtroom are subject to inspection.
All laptops being used in the courtroom are subject to inspection.
WARNING
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Must immediately notify court when case is settled.
Not immediately notifying the Court that the case has been settled.
WARNINGCivil cases
The parties should notify the court ahead of time of a circumstance such as this. Contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
The parties should notify the court ahead of time of a circumstance such as this. Contact Natasha Martinez, Courtroom Deputy.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Lawyers should not call chambers to request the status of motions.
Lawyers should not call chambers to request the status of motions.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
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.
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Email Courtroom Deputy; faxes not accepted
Yes. Email Sylvia Fernandez, Courtroom Deputy, sylvia_fernandez@txwd.uscourts.gov. The Court cannot accept faxes.
WARNINGCivil cases
Must immediately notify court when case has been settled.
Not immediately notifying the Court that the case has been settled.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Parties may contact court during depositions only for immediate attention
Yes, but only in circumstances that necessitate the Court's immediate attention.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Law clerks may be contacted for procedural questions only
An attorney may address a procedural question that cannot be answered by the federal rules of procedure, local rules, or the judge's scheduling order to the Law Clerk. Please do not call the judge's staff to inquire about substantive issues.
WARNINGCivil cases
Must immediately notify court when motion is unopposed or portions are uncontested.
Not immediately notifying the Court that a motion is unopposed (or that portions of a motion are uncontested).
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Counsel should promptly alert the Court by email about appearance issues involving out-of-town parties, attorneys, or witnesses, copying all counsel of record.
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 counsel of record.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to clerk
Counsel may email the Judge’s law clerks as described above; for a time-sensitive matter solely about scheduling, counsel may telephone chambers if all counsel participate or expressly permit it.
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.
WARNINGCivil cases
Routine written communications to the Court are accepted with copies to all counsel, but must not address the merits except for information about informal discovery disputes when expressly directed by 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.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Counsel may telephone chambers about a time-sensitive matter solely related to scheduling if all counsel participate or expressly consent.
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.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court staff cannot discuss substantive matters with counsel or parties.
Please note that court staff should not be contacted regarding substantive matters. Court staff have been instructed not to discuss substantive matters with counsel or parties.
WARNING
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Email prohibited for inquiring about anticipated rulings or timing.
Please don't email to inquire about anticipated rulings or their timing.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court staff cannot advise parties about timing of rulings.
Not typically. Court staff cannot advise parties when a ruling will issue in a case.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Direct contact with Court staff or Law Clerks is only appropriate when initiated or expressly authorized by the Court.
It's rare that direct contact with Court staff, including my Law Clerks, will be appropriate. When such contact is warranted, it will be initiated or expressly authorized by the Court.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court staff must not be contacted about substantive matters or ruling timing; relief must be sought by motion.
Please note that Court staff should not be contacted regarding substantive matters, including questions about the timing of rulings. If relief is requested from the Court, including regarding scheduling, a motion should be filed.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Opposing counsel should generally be copied on all correspondence with the Court, except ex parte mediation statements.
Other than when submitting ex parte mediation statements, opposing counsel should generally be copied on all correspondence with the Court.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court staff cannot advise parties on the status of motions or when a ruling will issue.
Not typically. Court staff cannot advise parties when a ruling will issue.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Please don't email (or call) to inquire about anticipated rulings or their timing. When necessary, I may be contacted through TXWDml_Chambers_SA_JudgeFarrer@txwd.uscourts.gov
Please don't email (or call) to inquire about anticipated rulings or their timing. When necessary, I may be contacted through TXWDml_Chambers_SA_JudgeFarrer@txwd.uscourts.gov
WARNINGCivil cases
Agreed modifications approved at case start; multiple requests require hearing with good cause.
The Court will approve, in most instances, an agreed modification at the beginning of a case. However, if the court receives multiple requests a hearing will be set in order for counsel to show good cause why additional continuances are needed. If a continuance is not agreed to, the opposing party should file a response to any motion immediately.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone
- Phone
- (210) 472-6550 ext 5016
Telephone conferences require permission one week in advance and are only for extraordinary circumstances.
Only in extraordinary circumstances and permission must be granted at least one week prior to hearing. Please contact Priscilla Springs at (210) 472-6550 ext 5016 or at priscilla_springs@txwd.uscourts.gov.
WARNINGCivil cases
Must notify court of withdrawal of objections to presentence reports before sentencing.
The Court not being notified of withdrawal of objections to presentence investigation reports prior to a sentencing hearing.
WARNINGCivil cases
Withdrawn objections must be notified to court as soon as possible, not at sentencing hearing.
If any objections will be withdrawn prior to sentencing, counsel must notify the court as soon as possible, and are encouraged NOT to wait until the sentencing hearing to do so.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
- Phone
- (210) 472-5870
Emergency contact: call Courtroom Deputy first, then 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.
WARNINGCivil cases
Parties not filing dispositive motions must contact courtroom deputy to set trial date.
If parties elect not to file dispositive motions, they must contact the courtroom deputy on or before this deadline in order to set a trial date.
WARNINGCivil cases
Status inquiries discouraged; contact law clerk for important case info.
Contacting the Court for the mere purpose of attaining the status of a Motion is discouraged. However, if Counsel needs to relay important information regarding a case, they should contact the respective law clerk.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to chambers
Court may be contacted during depositions only for emergencies.
Only if circumstances arise that necessitate the Court’s immediate attention.
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.