Judge Marcia A. Crone
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- 1 copy
- Upon Filing
Binding: Securely Bound
Deposition
- 2 copies • Upon Filing
Exhibit
- 2 copies • With Joint Pretrial Order
Binding: Three Ring Binder
Filings > 75 pages
Binding: Securely Bound
Communication
Phone
Clerk, Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Cases before United States District Judge Marcia A. Crone - Limit of twelve (12) spectators, sitting six (6) feet apart. No persons under 18 years of age will be permitted in the courtroom; and
- Spectator
- Up to 12 pages
Following the court's examination, each side will be allowed from fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes to examine the panel.
Document Format Requirements11 rules
All persons must maintain appropriate distancing and follow staff instructions in the Courthouse.
Formatting
- •Maintain appropriate distancing
- •Follow staff instructions
- •Sit at assigned location
Court's wording
Each person must maintain appropriate distancing from others in the Courthouse, to include sittin at the location assigned by a member of the court staff. Each person must follow the instructions of the court staff and court security officers ( CSOs ) to aid in maintaining distance in the Courthouse;
Judge Stetson requires 6-foot distancing between non-household spectators and masks at all times.
- Margins
- 6 inches
Court's wording
Cases before United States Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson - All spectators who do not reside in the same household must sit six (6) feet apart, and all spectators must wear a face mask at all times.
Each person must use the hand sanitizer furnished at the front door upon entering the Courthouse;
Formatting
- •Use hand sanitizer at courthouse entrance
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the prior five (5) days is prohibited from entering the Courthouse during the CDC recommended quarantine and isolation period.
Courtroom No. 4 - All spectators who do not reside in the same household must sit six (6) feet apart, and all spectators must wear a face mask at all times;
- Margins
- 6 inches
Maintain social distancing and follow staff instructions in courthouse
Court's wording
Each person must maintain appropriate distancing from others in the Courthouse, to include sitting at the location assigned by a member of the court staff. Each person must follow the instructions of the court staff and court security officers ( CSOs ) to aid in maintaining distance in the Courthouse;
Courtroom No. 3 - Limit of twelve (12) spectators, sitting six (6) feet apart. No persons under 18 years of age will be permitted in the courtroom;
- Margins
- 6 inches
The court requires concise, pertinent, and well-organized briefs and memoranda of law. Citations to cases must include jump cites to the specific pages relied upon to support the party’s position.
Each party must use a different color binder. Joint exhibits must be placed in a binder of another color.
- Binding
- Binder
Exhibits must be marked with party name, case number, and exhibit number; multi-page exhibits must have consecutively numbered pages.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Number pages consecutively if multiple pages
Court's wording
The offering party shall mark his or her own exhibits before trial to include the party's name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit, unless joint exhibits are to be used and marked accordingly. If an exhibit has multiple pages, each page must be numbered consecutively.
If an exhibit has multiple pages, each page must be numbered consecutively.
- Exhibit
Formatting
- •Each page of multi-page exhibits must be numbered consecutively
Document Filing Requirements33 rules
Any person who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the prior five (5) days is prohibited from entering the Courthouse during the CDC recommended quarantine and isolation period.
Each person must use the hand sanitizer furnished at the front door upon enterin the Courthouse;
- Document
- Entry to courthouse
Must include
- •Hand sanitizer use
Visitors and guests to the Courthouse are not per itted to bring any of the following items into the Courthouse without prior approval from a District or Magistrate Judge:
(a) Liquids, aerosols, or gels. This includes bottles of water.
(c) Cigarette Lighters.
Include
- •Cigarette Lighters
(b) Laser Lights / Pointers.
Include
- •Laser Lights / Pointers
(d) Vape pens.
Include
- •Vape pens
Briefs or memoranda with more than 10 pages of argument must contain all nine listed items including table of contents, table of authorities, statement of proceeding, undisputed facts list, response to facts, issues statement, argument summary, argument with headings, and conclusion.
- Document
- Brief
Must include
- •Table of contents
Court's wording
Any brief or memorandum that has more than ten (10) pages of argument must contain all the following items listed: (1) A table of contents setting forth the page number of each section, including all headings designated in the body of the brief or memorandum; (2) A table of citations of cases, statutes, rules, treatises, and other authorities, alphabetically arranged; (3) A short statement of the nature and stage of the proceeding; (4) A list of undisputed facts upon which the movant relies to demonstrate entitlement to the relief requested. The list shall contain only material facts that are not in dispute, and each fact shall be enumerated in a separately numbered sentence with reference to the evidentiary record; (5) A response by the opposing party to the movant's claimed undisputed material facts. Each response to the movant's list shall be designated as such and contain a specific numbered reply to each numbered sentence in the movant's list of claimed undisputed facts. The response shall consist of the single word "undisputed," the single word "disputed" followed by a specific reference to the evidentiary record, a short explanatory phrase such as "undisputed but not material," or "undisputed by context clarified in sentence ____ below." If the non-moving party needs more discovery as to a particular fact listed by the movant, such party must state exactly what discovery is required, from whom it is needed, and when the party proposes to complete such discovery. The non-movant may then list any additional material facts which are deemed to require denial of the motion, setting out each fact in a separate sentence with a citation to the evidentiary record; (6) The movant shall clearly set forth a statement of the issues to be ruled upon by the court and a short statement, supported by authority, of the standard of review for each issue. The non-movant need not list these issues in the response but may state other issues, such as affirmative defenses, that would justify denial of the motion; (7) A short summary of the argument; (8) The argument shall be divided under appropriate headings, succinctly setting forth separate points with citations to controlling statutes and/or cases which explain why the court should resolve the issues accordingly; (9) A short conclusion stating the precise relief sought.
With respect to motions for summary judgment and other dispositive motions, all briefs and memoranda must contain items (3), (4), (5), (6), (8), and (9) from the list below.
Parties using AI to draft pleadings must include a Certificate of Generative AI Usage disclosing AI use, verifying accuracy, and certifying no disclosure of confidential information.
- Document
- Pleading
Must include
- •AI disclosure
- •Certificate of Generative Artificial Intelligence Usage
Court's wording
If a party utilizes AI to draft or assist in drafting a pleading, the party must include with the pleading a "Certificate of Generative Artificial Intelligence Usage." The certificate must disclose the use of AI and certify that the party has independently verified the accuracy of any portion of the document drafted or assisted by the tool. The party must further certify that the use of AI has not resulted in the disclosure of confidential or privileged information to an unauthorized party.
Any brief, memorandum, or motion that cites authorities not found in the United States Code, United States Supreme Court Reporter, Federal Reporter, Federal Appendix, Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, Southwestern Reporter, or Vernon’s Revised Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated should have attached as an appendix complete copies of such cases and the relevant portions of other non-case authorities.
Copies of any affidavits, deposition testimony, or other discovery referred to in the motion should also be contained in the appendix. All appendices should contain a paginated table of contents.
- Document
- Motion
Should include
- •Appendices
- •Table of contents
Any foreign language document offered by a party in a proceeding shall be accompanied by an English language translation and a certification signed by the translator that must be printed legibly or typed.
Motions to amend scheduling order must include a proposed scheduling order and follow the format of the most recently entered scheduling order.
Court's wording
A party seeking to amend the scheduling order should file a motion and attach a proposed scheduling order using deadlines that are business days consistent with the bolded instructions on the sample scheduling order form and following the format of the most recently entered scheduling order in that case.
Joint pretrial order must include motions in limine, deposition designations, proposed charge/interrogatories or proposed findings/conclusions, and must be signed by all counsel.
Court's wording
The joint pretrial order, including motions in limine, deposition designations, and a proposed charge and interrogatories or proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be filed on or before the date set forth in the scheduling order. Joint pretrial orders must be signed by all counsel.
Place the proposed interrogatories at the end of the document, after all instructions and definitions. Each requested instruction and definition should be simple, concise, and include a citation to the relevant authority.
The JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER, including motions in limine, deposition designations, and a proposed charge or proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be filed and proposed trial exhibits shall be exchanged on or before this date.
Court employees and other building tenants are exempt from this policy.
Copies of any affidavits, deposition testimony, or other discovery referred to in the motion should also be contained in the appendix. All appendices should contain a paginated table of contents.
- Document
- Motion
Should include
- •Table of contents
Briefs citing authorities not in standard reporters must attach complete copies as an appendix.
Court's wording
Any brief, memorandum, or motion that cites authorities not found in the United States Code, United States Supreme Court Reporter, Federal Reporter, Federal Appendix, Federal Supplement, Federal Rules Decisions, Southwestern Reporter, or Vernon's Revised Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated should have attached as an appendix complete copies of such cases and the relevant portions of other non-case authorities.
With the motion for appointment, counsel will notify the court administrator by letter requesting a settlement conference.
Prior to settlement conference, counsel must provide a copy of the proposed final judgment.
Court's wording
Prior to the conference, counsel shall furnish the court a copy of the proposed final judgment and any additional information that counsel feel might be helpful to the court in approving the settlement.
Post-trial juror contact allowed if permitted, but no impeachment of verdict.
Court's wording
In accordance with Local Rule CV-47, after the verdict is rendered and the jury and counsel are excused, counsel may contact the jurors if permitted by the court, but counsel may not use information gained from such discussions to impeach the verdict.
The panel comes from the jury administrator set up in a random fashion-do not ask for are-shuffle.
Do not waste voir dire by using it as an opening statement.
Counsel shall attach to the joint pretrial order a list of all exhibits to be offered on a form substantially similar to that attached and shall submit to the court administrator prior to the final pretrial conference a final revised list of exhibits to be offered.
- Document
- Joint pretrial order
Must include
- •Exhibit list
Foreign language exhibits must include an English translation and a signed translator certification.
Court's wording
Any foreign language document offered by a party shall be accompanied by an English language translation and a certification signed by the translator that must be printed legibly or typed. Such certification must include a statement that the translator is competent to translate the document, and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator's knowledge.
Witness list must list witnesses in order of calling and state estimated examination time, on a form substantially similar to the attached form.
Court's wording
Counsel shall submit as part of the joint pretrial order a copy of the party's witness list, listing the witnesses in the order in which they will be called and stating the estimated time for examination, on a form substantially similar to that attached.
If no motions are pending at the time of the Motion Cut-Off deadline, the parties shall submit a joint status report by this date.
The pretrial order must include a specific statement about additional witnesses.
Court's wording
Include in this section the following statement: In the event there are any other witnesses to be called at the trial, their names, addresses, and the subject matter of their testimony shall be reported to opposing counsel as soon as they are known. This restriction shall not apply to rebuttal or impeachment witnesses, the necessity of whose testimony cannot reasonably be anticipated before the time of trial.
Counsel shall submit a written summary of the qualifications of each expert witness.
Remember that strikes will be made from the top of the panel list.
Counsel receives juror list and information sheets before voir dire.
Court's wording
Prior to the commencement of voir dire, counsel for each party will receive a copy of a list of randomly selected, pre-qualified jurors prepared by the Clerk's office as well as a brief information sheet on each panelist.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
For jury trials, the agreed charge must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
An agreed charge, including proposed jury instructions (aside from usual prefatory or boilerplate instructions), definitions, and interrogatories shall be filed on CM/ECF electronically.
Page 2 | (b)(2)(A)(i)
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law filed on CM/ECF electronically.
Page 3 | Non-Jury Trials
For non-jury trials, the listed documents must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
For non-jury trials, file the following electronically on CM/ECF AND DELIVER TWO COURTESY COPIES TO CHAMBERS: (a) Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, separating those agreed from those in dispute. The conclusions of law must include citation of authority; (b) Memoranda of law on disputed issues of law; (c) Deposition designations.
Page 12 | Additional Required Attachments
For jury trials, the listed documents must be filed electronically on CM/ECF.
For jury trials, file the following electronically on CM/ECF AND DELIVER TWO COURTESY COPIES TO CHAMBERS: (a) Proposed questions for the voir dire examination; (b) Agreed charge, including proposed jury instructions, definitions, interrogatories, and authority; (c) Memoranda of law on disputed issues of law; (d) Motions in limine; (e) Deposition designations.
Page 12 | Additional Required Attachments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Closing papers must be filed within 30 days of settlement announcement.
Announcement of settlement must be followed by the closing papers within thirty (30) days.
Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER MC-41 SETTLEMENTS AND ORDERS OF DISMISSAL (a)(5)
No motions (except motions in limine) may be filed after the motion cut-off date without good cause.
MOTION CUT-OFF. Aside from motions in limine, no motion, including motions to exclude or limit expert testimony, shall be filed after this date except for good cause shown.
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Responses to objections must be filed by the deadline; failure to respond creates a presumption that the objection will be sustained.
RESPONSES TO OBJECTIONS shall be filed by this date. A failure to file a response to an objection shall create a presumption in favor of the court’s sustaining the objection.
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Objections to exhibits, witnesses, and deposition designations, and responses to motions in limine must be filed by the objections deadline.
OBJECTIONS TO proposed exhibits, witnesses, and deposition designations, as well as responses to motions in limine, shall be filed by this date.
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Objections to exhibits must be filed by the date in the scheduling order; otherwise exhibits are admitted.
The court will admit into evidence all exhibits listed in the final pretrial order unless opposing counsel files written objections with authorities by the date set forth in the scheduling order.
Page 11 | Exhibits
Only one summary judgment motion per party is allowed without leave of court.
Without leave of court, a party may file only one summary judgment motion.
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Courtesy Copy Requirements
Counsel must deliver bound, tabbed courtesy copies to chambers for any brief, memorandum, or motion exceeding 75 pages including exhibits.
Counsel shall deliver to chambers bound, tabbed courtesy copies of any brief, memorandum, or motion that exceeds seventy-five (75) pages, including exhibits.
Page 2 | STANDING ORDER MC-56 SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Courtesy copies required for briefs, memoranda, or motions exceeding 75 pages; must be bound, tabbed, with CM/ECF header, delivered after filing.
Counsel shall deliver to chambers bound, tabbed courtesy copies of any brief, memorandum, or motion that exceeds seventy-five (75) pages, including exhibits, with the CM/ECF header after filing.
Page 2 | (4) BRIEFS AND MEMORANDA
Courtesy copies required for briefs/memoranda/motions over 75 pages.
Counsel shall deliver to chambers bound, tabbed courtesy copies of any brief, memorandum, or motion that exceeds seventy-five (75) pages, including exhibits, with the CM/ECF header after filing.
A copy of urgent documents should be filed and a courtesy copy should be sent directly to chambers to ensure that they quickly come to the court’s attention.
A copy of urgent documents should be filed and a courtesy copy should be sent directly to chambers to ensure that they quickly come to the court’s attention.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
Two courtesy copies of the joint pretrial order and attachments must be delivered to chambers on the day of filing, printed in color and bound in looseleaf three-ring notebooks with dividers.
ON THE DAY OF FILING, TWO (2) COURTESY COPIES OF THE JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER AND ATTACHMENTS, PRINTED IN COLOR AND BOUND IN LOOSELEAF THREE-RING NOTEBOOKS WITH DIVIDERS, ARE TO BE DELIVERED TO CHAMBERS.
Page 2 | (b)(1)
Two courtesy copies of exhibits required in color, in three-ring notebooks with numbered stickers and tabs, labeled, max 3 inches, color-coded by party, delivered to chambers with courtesy copies of joint pretrial order.
Two (2) courtesy copies of the exhibits shall be printed in color and assembled in looseleaf three-ring notebooks with a numbered sticker on each document for use by the court. Such number shall also appear on a tab extending beyond the right side of the notebook. Each page of multi- page exhibits must be numbered consecutively. Each notebook shall be labeled on the outside cover with the name of the offering party, the case style, and the case number, and include a copy of the exhibit list. Each notebook shall not exceed three (3) inches in depth. Unless only joint exhibits are used, the notebooks of each party must be of a different color, and joint exhibits must be placed in a binder of third color and be accompanied by a joint exhibit list. The parties shall confer on notebook colors prior to submission. THESE NOTEBOOKS SHALL BE DELIVERED TO CHAMBERS ALONG WITH THE COURTESY COPIES OF THE JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER.
Page 4 | Exhibits (G)
Two courtesy copies of each complete deposition must be delivered to chambers with the joint pretrial order, with designated portions highlighted per party color scheme.
TWO (2) COURTESY COPIES OF THE COMPLETE DEPOSITION SHALL BE DELIVERED TO CHAMBERS WITH THE JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER. The designated portions of each deposition shall be highlighted as follows. Each party shall use a different color highlighter (e.g., plaintiff shall use a yellow highlighter, defendant shall use a blue highlighter, and a green highlighter will be used for overlapping designations).
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If any deposition designation is objected to, provide two revised courtesy copies with highlighting and objected-to portions underlined in red by the objections deadline.
If any portion of the designation is objected to, the parties shall provide two (2) revised courtesy copies of the complete deposition, which shall include the highlighting of the designated portions as specified above, and the underlining the objected-to portions in red on or before the deadline for objections included in the scheduling order.
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For non-jury trials, file specified documents electronically on CM/ECF and deliver two courtesy copies to chambers.
For non-jury trials, file the following electronically on CM/ECF AND DELIVER TWO COURTESY COPIES TO CHAMBERS: (a) Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, separating those agreed from those in dispute. The conclusions of law must include citation of authority; (b) Memoranda of law on disputed issues of law; (c) Deposition designations.
Page 12 | Additional Required Attachments
For jury trials, file specified documents electronically on CM/ECF and deliver two courtesy copies to chambers.
For jury trials, file the following electronically on CM/ECF AND DELIVER TWO COURTESY COPIES TO CHAMBERS: (a) Proposed questions for the voir dire examination; (b) Agreed charge, including proposed jury instructions, definitions, interrogatories, and authority; (c) Memoranda of law on disputed issues of law; (d) Motions in limine; (e) Deposition designations.
Page 12 | Additional Required Attachments
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Redact personal identifiers from witness list before filing; include unredacted version with courtesy copies of joint pretrial order.
Any personal identifiers must be redacted before filing, but include unredacted versions of the witness list with the courtesy copies of the joint pretrial order.
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Adjournment & Extension Requirements
(b) Counsel may, by motion, request that the deadline be extended for a defendant to answer the complaint or file a motion under FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b).
(b) Counsel may, by motion, request that the deadline be extended for a defendant to answer the complaint or file a motion under FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b).
Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER MC-12 FILING OF ANSWERS AND DEFENSES
Extension requests cannot be made by application to the clerk.
(c) No requests for extensions of deadlines may be made by application to the clerk.
Civil cases
Page 1 | STANDING ORDER MC-12 FILING OF ANSWERS AND DEFENSES
Extension motions must be filed early enough to allow opposing counsel time to respond before the deadline.
Motions for extending the discovery or motion deadline must be filed far enough in advance of the deadline to enable opposing counsel to respond before the deadline.
Page 1 | (a)(3) MOTIONS
Motions for extension of deadlines or cut-off dates are not considered emergencies.
Motions for extension of deadlines or cut-off dates are not emergencies.
Page 2 | EMERGENCIES
Chambers Communication Rules
Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the court administrator only, not to the law clerks or to the judge. The court administrator may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.
Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the court administrator only, not to the law clerks or to the judge. The court administrator may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
Do not raise substantive issues via letter or email; they are not docketed.
Substantive issues should not be raised in letter form or via email because letters and emails are not docketed or included in the appellate record.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
Applications for restraining orders or for other immediate relief should be made through the court administrator. The court administrator will present such applications to the court following counsel’s affirmation that the opposing party has been contacted and that both parties can be available for a hearing on the record.
Applications for restraining orders or for other immediate relief should be made through the court administrator. The court administrator will present such applications to the court following counsel’s affirmation that the opposing party has been contacted and that both parties can be available for a hearing on the record.
Page 2 | EMERGENCIES
The case load prevents the court administrator from responding to casual telephone inquiries about motions and case status. Inquiries about such matters should be in writing unless time does not permit.
The case load prevents the court administrator from responding to casual telephone inquiries about motions and case status. Inquiries about such matters should be in writing unless time does not permit.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
Law clerks may contact counsel at court's direction; counsel should respond promptly, treat courteously, and not extract additional information.
At the court’s direction, the law clerks may contact counsel, but they will not discuss matters other than the subject of the call, and counsel should not attempt to extract additional information. Counsel should respond promptly to a law clerk’s inquiry and treat the law clerk with courtesy.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
With respect to electronic communication devices, in addition to the restrictions provided in General Order 18-6, impaneled petit and grand jurors may check such devices into the Clerk s Office and access them during breaks in the judicial proceedings.
With respect to electronic communication devices, in addition to the restrictions provided in General Order 18-6, impaneled petit and grand jurors may check such devices into the Clerk s Office and access them during breaks in the judicial proceedings.
Page 1 | Electronic Communication Devices
Information about e-filing, orders, and docket entries from District Clerk's Office or CM/ECF online database.
Information about the electronic filing of documents, exemptions to the electronic filing of documents, the entry of orders, or docket entries should be obtained from the District Clerk’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas - Beaumont Division at (409) 654-7000. In addition, such information is available through the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) database, which provides attorneys with docketing information, printable images of documents, 24-hour filing capability, and e-mail (rather than fax) notification of the entry of court orders and judgments. This database can be accessed from the Eastern District’s web site at www.txed.uscourts.gov and requires registration.
Page 1 | CONTACT WITH COURT PERSONNEL
Questions about e-filing procedures, requirements, or attorney registration should be directed to the District Clerk's Office.
Any questions concerning electronic filing procedures, requirements, or attorney registration should be directed to the District Clerk’s Office.
Page 2 | ELECTRONIC FILING
b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;
b. If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;
Page 3 | Courthouse Entry Requirements
Contact Deputy Clerk's office for other courthouse matters.
d. For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Be umont Division at (409) 654-7000.
Page 3 | Courthouse Entry Requirements
c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and
c. If you are scheduled to meet with a Probation or Pretrial Services Officer, please contact the Probation and Pretrial Services Office directly for guidance and instructions; and
Page 3 | Courthouse Entry Requirements
All case communications must be directed in writing to the court administrator; urgent matters may be phoned.
All communications concerning the case shall be directed in writing to Julia Colyer, Court Administrator for Judge Crone, 300 Willow St., Suite 239, Beaumont, TX 77701. For urgent matters, Ms. Colyer may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.
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