Judge Christine A. Nowak
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Page & Word Limits1 rule
This summary is intended to be an aid for the Court and should be limited to one page.
- Page limit
- Up to 1 page
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Proposed jury charges (instructions, definitions, and questions) in hard copy and emailed in editable Word format to the court coordinator.
- File type
- Word
Formatting
- •Hard copy required
A proposed property division must be provided to the court at the beginning of trial in both hard-copy and electronic formats.
Court's wording
A Proposed Property Division should be provided to the Court at the beginning of trial, in both hard copy and electronic format, which lists all assets and liabilities, whether community, separate, or mixed character.
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Any expert not properly disclosed will not be permitted to testify. A testifying expert disclosure must include all information required by the rules.
The sworn inventory must describe and value all owned or claimed property and list all debts, including each creditor and amount owed.
Court's wording
Sworn Inventory: For Divorce cases, each party shall serve the other party within 30 days of this Order with a sworn inventory setting forth a description and value of all property (real or personal; community, separate, and mixed) owned or claimed by the parties and a list of all debts (stating the creditor and amount) owed by the parties
**Per Rule 191.2, all discovery motions or requests for hearing relating to discovery must contain a certificate of conference
- Document
- Discovery motion or hearing request
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
**Per Rule 191.2, all discovery motions or requests for hearing relating to discovery must Date: contain a certificate of conference**
- Document
- Discovery motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
A testifying expert disclosure must include all information required by the rules.
A JOINT trial summary for any cause of action outside the Family Code, including each element of each cause of action and defense and, if appropriate, a precise legal standard for measure of damages.
All exhibits produced to court reporter and pre-marked for identification (for the purpose of stipulating to the authenticity and admissibility of exhibits).
Completed witness lists and exhibit lists.
Designation of any deposition testimony to be offered.
If you cannot get an opposing counsel or party to sign this order or agree to a trial date, please file a letter describing your efforts and submit your proposed scheduling order to the court
- Document
- Letter
Include
- •Describing your efforts
A Proposed Property Division should be provided to the Court at the beginning of trial, in both hard copy and electronic format, which lists all assets and liabilities, whether community, separate, or mixed character.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Summary-judgment motions must be filed, set for hearing, and heard at least 30 days before trial or they are waived, and the deadline cannot be moved without leave of court.
All motions for summary judgment Trial Setting motions must be filed, set for hearing, and heard at least thirty (30) days before trial or they Date: are waived, absent leave of court. **This deadline cannot be moved without leave of court**
Civil cases
Page 3 | Motions for Summary Judgment
An objection or motion to exclude or limit expert testimony must be filed at least 30 days before trial and heard by the pre-trial conference or it is waived, and the deadline cannot be moved without leave of court.
Any objection or motion to Trial Setting exclude or limit expert testimony must be filed at least thirty (30) days before trial and Date: heard at or before the pre-trial conference or it is waived. **This deadline cannot be moved without leave of court**
Civil cases
Page 3 | Motions to Exclude Expert Testimony
All pretrial motions must be filed at least 10 days before the formal pretrial conference and will be heard at that conference.
All pre-trial motions (motions in limine, etc.) shall be filed at least 10 days before the formal pre-trial conference and will be heard at the formal pre-trial conference.
Civil cases
Page 1 | FORMAL PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
Summary-judgment motions must be filed, set for hearing, and heard at least 30 days before trial or they are waived absent court permission.
All motions for summary judgment Initial Trial Setting motions must be filed, set for hearing, and heard at least thirty (30) days before trial or they are waived, absent leave of court.
Civil cases
Page 2 | MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
A motion to compel discovery responses must be filed within 10 days after discovery closes or the complaint is waived, except for exclusion under Rule 193.6.
Any motion to compel responses to discovery days after must be filed no later than 10 (ten) days after the close of the discovery period or such discovery period complaint is waived, except for the sanction of exclusion under Rule 193.6.
Civil cases
Page 2 | MOTIONS TO COMPEL DISCOVERY
Objections or motions to exclude or limit expert testimony must be filed at least 30 days before trial and heard at or before the pretrial conference or be waived.
Any objection or motion to Initial Trial Setting exclude or limit expert testimony must be filed at least thirty (30) days before trial and heard at or before the pre-trial conference or it is waived.
Civil cases
Page 2 | MOTIONS TO EXCLUDE EXPERT TESTIMONY
Service and Proof of Service Rules
In divorce cases, each party must serve a sworn inventory on the other party within 30 days after the order.
Sworn Inventory: For Divorce cases, each party shall serve the other party within 30 days of this Order with a sworn inventory setting forth a description and value of all property (real or personal; community, separate, and mixed) owned or claimed by the parties and a list of all debts (stating the creditor and amount) owed by the parties
Civil cases
Page 2 | Sworn Inventory
Amended pleadings asserting new claims or defenses must be filed with the court and served on all other parties by the stated deadline.
Parties shall file with the Court and serve all other parties with any amended pleadings asserting new causes of action/claims for affirmative relief or defenses by this date.
Civil cases
Page 1 | AMENDED PLEADINGS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance or reset of the initial trial setting will not alter established deadlines unless the parties agree under Rule 11 or the court orders a change after a motion showing good cause.
Reset or continuance of the Initial Trial Setting will not alter any deadline established by this Order or established by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, unless specifically provided by Rule 11 of the parties or Court order after motion showing good cause.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial Setting
The court ordinarily will not continue an agreed trial setting except in an emergency or when other good cause is shown.
It is the policy of this Court not to grant a continuance of any trial setting when such date has been agreed to by the parties or attorneys, except in an emergency or for other good cause shown.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Bench Trial