Judge Dedra Davis
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Trial Binder
Communication
Phone
Clerk
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Counsel must provide the Court with a hardcopy trial binder.
- File type
- Paper
- Trial binder
Document Filing Requirements16 rules
Upon announcing settlement, a notification of settlement must be filed with the Court to remove the case from the active trial docket.
Certificates of conference must state how and when parties have conferred on the matters on which relief is sought, and whether the relief is opposed, agreed, or agreed in part.
- Placement
- Certificate section
Rule 106 motions for substituted service must be accompanied by an affidavit verifying that the defendant lives/works at the address, listing each service attempt (minimum seven, including two before 7:30am and two after 7:30pm), identifying persons present, and noting cars or other indications of residence.
Court's wording
All Motions for Substituted Service under Rule 106 must be accompanied by an affidavit that includes the following information: Efforts taken to verify that defendant actually lives or works at the subject address. Each attempt at service, with date and time, there should be a minimum of seven attempts. Identify of persons who were present at the subject address and what was said. Identify of cars in the driveway or other indications that defendant resides at the subject address. At least two attempts before 7:30am AND two attempts after 7:30pm.
A proposed order must be filed in order for a verified motion to retain to be granted and avoidance of DWOP.
- Document
- Motion to retain
Must include
- •Proposed order
Motions to withdraw must comply with Rule 10 TRCP; where the party will be pro se, the motion must include the party's phone number, address, email, a statement about consultation, and current deadlines and trial settings.
Court's wording
Motions to withdraw as attorney of record require strict compliance with Rule 10 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Motions in which the party will be pro-se litigant after the attorney withdraws must include: the party's telephone number; the party's address; the party's email address; a statement regarding consultation with the party regarding the motion; and current deadlines and trial settings.
A certificate of conference is required on all motions, pleas, and special exceptions EXCEPT for: * Motions for Summary Judgments * Defaults Judgments * Motions for voluntary dismissal or non-suit * Post-verdict motions * Motions involving service of citation * Writ of Sequestration
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Certificate section
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Orders on motions to withdraw also must include contact information for the pro-se litigant.
Do not bring a jury questionnaire to the first day of trial.
Parties need to have a signed signature block of the outgoing & incoming attorney or attach a Certificate of Conference stating all parties are in agreement of substitution. If not agreed by all, this will need to be set for a hearing.
- Document
- Motion to substitute counsel
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
The Court will pass motions that do not have a certificate stating (1) that the movant has actually talked to opposing counsel, or (2) why counsel have not been able to discuss the motion.
- Document
- Motion
- Placement
- Certificate section
Motions in Limine should not duplicate the Court's standing Order in Limine and should be limited to case-specific items.
Court's wording
The Court has adopted a standing Order in Limine applicable to all cases. Do not duplicate these items in your Motions in Limine. Your motion should be limited to only those items specific to the facts and circumstances in your case.
The trial binder should contain the motion in limine, exhibits, exhibit lists, witness lists, and page line designation.
- Document
- Trial binder
Should include
- •Exhibit list
A certificate of conference stating that you sent a letter or email to opposing counsel and received no response is not a proper certificate of conference.
A Guardian Ad Litem will be required for all settlements involving minor children. The parties must submit a motion and order to request a Guardian Ad Litem. * Minor must be present for the minor settlement hearing.
If the withdrawing attorney represents a corporation, counsel must notify the corporate party that corporations cannot proceed pro-se or self-represented in Texas courts.
Will be submitted to the court for review upon filing.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All MSJs must be filed via the District Clerk's online E-hearing portal submission docket.
All MSJs must be put on the MSJ submission docket. 2. The MSJ submission docket is only accessed via the District Clerk's online E-hearing
Page 1 | Motion For Summary Judgments
Oral hearing requests for the motion docket must be made through the E-Hearing Portal.
Any party requesting an oral hearing for the motion docket should use our E-Hearing Portal. You can go to www.hcdistrictclerk.com; Online Services; My Filings.
Page 1 | ORAL DOCKET
All other contested motions must be set on the Law Day Docket via the E-hearing portal.
All other types of contested motions must be set under the Law Day Docket using the E-hearing portal.
Page 1 | SUBMISSION DOCKET
All motions for summary judgments must be set on the submission docket.
ALL motions for summary judgments must be set on the submission docket.
Page 1 | SUBMISSION DOCKET
Default judgment motions are set on the oral docket only, using the E-Hearing System.
Can be set on the oral docket ONLY. Utilize the E-Hearing System for an available date.
Page 1 | MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT
A hearing must also be set on the Law Day Docket.
A hearing must also be set on the Law Day Docket.
Page 1 | MOTION TO WITHDRAW
Pro se litigants set MSJ hearings on the Law Day Docket under 'Other Type of Motions' instead of the submission docket.
If a party is a pro-se litigant, then the MSJ hearing must be set on the Law Day Docket, under Other Type of Motions.
Page 1 | SUBMISSION DOCKET
Temporary injunction hearings are scheduled through the District Clerk's E-Hearing Portal.
Please use the District Clerk's E-Hearing Portal to obtain a hearing date.
Page 1 | TEMPORARY INJUNCTION HEARINGS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Counsel has fourteen days to file an Agreed Judgment or Final Non-Suit after announcing settlement.
Counsel has fourteen days to file an Agreed Judgment or Final Non-Suit with the Court.
Page 1 | SETTLEMENTS
A summary judgment hearing notice must be sent no less than 21 days before the hearing date.
a hearing Notice must sent NO LESS THAN 21 days prior to the hearing date.
Page 1 | MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Failure to appear at the virtual docket call may result in dismissal for want of prosecution.
Failure to appear the virtual docket call will be grounds for dismissal for want of prosecution.
Page 1 | VIRTUAL DOCKET CALL
The virtual docket call is held 2 weeks before trial on Mondays at 8:00 am via Zoom.
The virtual docket call is held 2 weeks before trial on Monday at 8:00 am via ZOOM.
Page 1 | VIRTUAL DOCKET CALL
MSJ submission dockets are held on Tuesdays.
MSJ submission dockets are on Tuesdays.
Page 1 | Motion For Summary Judgments
All summary judgments should be set and heard at least thirty days before trial.
ALL Summary Judgments should be set and heard at least thirty days PRIOR to trial.
Page 1 | MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Motions challenging deposition excerpts or expert witnesses must be set for hearing before the trial date if an advance ruling is sought.
If you seek an advance ruling on deposition excerpts or expert witness challenges, please set all motions to challenge for hearing before the trial date.
Page 1 | PRETRIAL
Parties must inform the Court of their ADR strategy by the DCO deadline.
The DCO will have a deadline for the parties to inform the Court of their ADR strategy.
Page 1 | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Objections to ADR should be filed by the deadline in the DCO.
An objection to ADR should be filed by the deadline specified in the DCO.
Page 1 | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Parties should exchange and file motion in limine, exhibits, exhibit lists, witness lists, deposition excerpts, and objections before the assigned trial.
The parties should exchange and file motion in limine, exhibits, exhibit lists, witness lists, deposition excerpts, and any objections before the assigned trial.
Page 1 | PRETRIAL
Cases on the two-week docket may be called to trial with three hours' advance notice.
Cases on the docket during a two-week period may be called to trial with a three (3) hour advance notice.
Page 1 | VIRTUAL DOCKET CALL
Hearing dates must be selected within the court's 30-day scheduling window.
When selecting a date please stay within the courts 30-day window to select a date.
Page 1 | ORAL DOCKET
Service and Proof of Service Rules
All parties must be served before a temporary injunction hearing proceeds.
All parties need to be served to go forward with the TI.
Page 1 | TEMPORARY INJUNCTION HEARINGS
The Court will not hear default motions lacking a green card on file, proof of service of the notice of hearing, or the returned mail envelope or an approved substitution.
The court will NOT hear any default motions that does not have a green card on file, have proof of service of the notice of hearing, or have the returned mail envelope or any approved substitution.
Page 1 | MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Trial courtesy-copy binders must be delivered to the trial coordinator no later than 4pm on the Thursday before the two-week trial period.
The TRIAL courtesy copy Binders are to be delivered to the trial coordinator, NO LATER THAN 4pm on the Thursday before the two-week trial period.
Page 1 | TRIAL BINDERS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Emergency hearings are granted only if the parties have conferred about the matter.
An emergency hearing will not be granted unless the parties have conferred about the matter.
Page 1 | HOW DO I CONTACT THE COURT FOR AN EMERGENCY HEARING?
All cases must mediate before a temporary injunction hearing is heard.
The 270th REQUIRES ALL cases to mediate before the Temporary Injunction is heard.
Page 1 | TEMPORARY INJUNCTION HEARINGS
The movant must confer person-to-person with opposing counsel before the Court will consider a motion that requires a conference.
The movant must confer person-to-person with opposing counsel before the Court will consider a motion that requires a conference.
Page 1 | CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE
All cases must be mediated before trial.
All cases are required to be mediated before trial.
Page 1 | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Motions for continuance are suspended until further notice.
Motions for Continuance are suspended until further notice.
Page 1 | MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
Chambers Communication Rules
To request an emergency hearing, call the court clerk during court hours.
Call the court clerk during court hours.
Page 1 | HOW DO I CONTACT THE COURT FOR AN EMERGENCY HEARING?
Contact the Court at 832-927-2270 for further assistance.
For further assistance, please contact the Court at 832-927-2270.
Page 1 | 270th Zoom Video Conference Link
Contact the Court at 832-927-2270 for assistance with the e-hearing features.
For further assistance, please contact the Court at 832-927-2270.
Page 1 | ORAL DOCKET