Judge Tamika Craft-Demming
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Adjournments
- A motion for continuance is required; agreed motions need all counsel signatures; second motion needs thorough reason; third needs dire necessity.
Request must include
Communication
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideDocument Format Requirements1 rule
Counsel must test courtroom equipment before trial; failure won't delay trial.
Court's wording
PRIOR TO THE START OF TRIAL, Counsel and/or counsel's Tech team MUST visit the Courtroom to test out the equipment. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL NOT DELAY THE TRIAL PROCEEDING AND COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE PARTIES WHO HAVE FAILED TO COMPLY.
Document Filing Requirements23 rules
Counsel must provide the Court with a hardcopy trial binder.
Upon announcing settlement, a notification of settlement must be filed with the Court to remove the case from the active trial docket.
If the case is DWOP'd due to failure to file judgment/non-suit, counsel will have to file a motion to reinstate the case and set the reinstatement formally before the Court for ruling.
All parties must prepare, exchange, and bring to the pretrial conference, a Trial Notebook that contains: * Motion in Limine and Order * Exhibit List * Witness List * Proposed Order on ALL Objections
Motions for Substituted Service will not be granted without an affidavit verifying that at least 5 attempts of personal service have been made.
All parties are to submit a Proposed Jury Charge/Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Proposed Final Judgment to the Court via email in Word Format or on a thumb drive.
To avoid DWOP after settlement, a motion to retain and proposed order must be filed.
- Document
- Motion to retain
Must include
- •Proposed order
Court's wording
If a judgment/non-suit has not been filed at the time of DWOP and counsel would like to maintain the case on the docket, a Motion to Retain must be filed with the Court. A Proposed Order must be filed in order for a Motion to Retain to be granted and avoidance of DWOP.
A Motion to Retain and Proposed Order must be filed to retain the set case for dismissal on the Court's docket.
- Document
- Motion to retain
Must include
- •Proposed order
The certificate of conference must detail efforts to resolve issues and sufficient communication attempts; a bare statement of sending a letter is insufficient.
Court's wording
The Certificate of Conference should include a detailed statement of the movant’s efforts to resolve the issues in the motion with opposing counsel/party prior to filing the motion. If a party was unable to reach the other side prior to filing the motion, the certificate should state the efforts to communicate with that party. A statement along the lines of, "Counsel faxed, emailed, or mailed a letter to opposing counsel and they did not respond," is NOT sufficient to meet the requirement to confer.
If only one side feels it is an emergency, e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing.
Proposed order of severance must include the listed elements.
Court's wording
The proposed Order of Severance should include the following: How the severed case is to be styled. The new cause number- (A) (B) (C) The parties to be included in the severed case. All the pleadings that are to be severed into the new file, which include document title, document filed date, and image number. Whether the Order disposes of the severed case, or whether it will remain an active case; and Who will pay for the costs of severance.
Counsel shall file a Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and a Final Judgment with the Court prior to trial.
Preferential setting requires a motion and proposed order, stating the reason, and a signed order.
- Document
- Motion for preferential setting
Must include
- •Proposed order
Court's wording
Counsel must file a Motion and Proposed Order. The motion must notate the reason for need of the preferential setting. There must be a signed order in the case file for a case to be observed as a preferential setting case.
All Motions require a Certificate of Conference, with the following exceptions: Motion for Default Judgment, Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
A Proposed Order must be filed with all Motions for Continuances.
- Document
- Continuance motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
ALL Motions and Responses filed with the Court must have a Proposed Order filed with the Court before the hearing or the hearing will automatically be passed.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
If your matter is opposed and you do not schedule your hearing and file a notice of hearing with a certificate of service, the court will not make a ruling.
Special exceptions require attaching the pleading or stating verbatim paragraphs, and proposed orders list each exception separately.
Court's wording
Attach a copy of the pleading you are excepting to as an exhibit (unless the exception is only to the amount of damages sought) or state verbatim which paragraphs you except to. Proposed orders should list each exception separately.
Motions in limine should not duplicate the standing order but only address 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.
Proposed Orders should list each discovery issue separately so that the Court may sign a specific order granting or denying the requested relief.
Discovery motions must specify each discovery response at issue and include a copy or state the request and answer verbatim.
Court's wording
Discovery Motions should specify each specific discovery response at issue and include a copy of the response(s) at issue as sub-documents when e-filing, or state verbatim the request and answer in the body of your motion.
The court has also established a permanent zoom link which should be put in notices of hearings and provided to parties/lawyers/witnesses who are part of the hearing - permanent zoom link.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Should include
- •Permanent zoom link
Unopposed/agreed motions, non-suits, motions for substitute service do not require setting a hearing.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All cases in the 189th Civil District Court must be electronically filed.
In accordance with the Local Rules of Harris County District Courts, all cases in the 189th Civil District Court shall be electronically filed.
Civil cases
Page 1
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A supplemental certificate of conference must be filed at least 3 days before the submission/hearing date for discovery motions.
Further, a Supplemental Certificate of Conference should be filed notating further efforts to resolve the discovery disputes at least 3 days before the submission/hearing date for the motion.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Certificate of Conference
Motions to exclude experts must be filed and heard 30 days before trial, with exception for good cause.
All motions to exclude experts should be filed and heard 30 days prior to trial. The Court will NOT consider such motions filed after the deadline in the docket control order without a motion for leave demonstrating exceptionally good cause.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Daubert/Robinson
Counsel has sixty days to file an Agreed Judgment or Final Non-Suit after settlement announcement.
Counsel has sixty days to file an Agreed Judgment or Final Non-Suit with the Court.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settlements
A final order must be filed three days before the structured settlement hearing.
The Court requires the party to seek evaluator services. A Final Order must be filed three days in advance of the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Structured Settlement
For minor settlement hearings, final order and ad litem fee report must be filed three days before the hearing.
Regarding Minor Settlement Hearings, a Final Order and the Attorney Ad Litem's Fee Report must be filed three days in advance of the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Minor Settlement Hearings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Parties must exchange specified documents at least one day before the pretrial hearing.
Exchange: Motions in Limine, Witness Lists, Exhibit Lists, Deposition Excerpts, and any Objections thereto at least one day prior to the pretrial hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Pretrial
Filing Bundling Requirements
Do not split your documents into separate envelopes when filing.
Do not split your documents in different envelopes.
Civil cases
Page 1 | E-Filing Instructions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A motion for continuance is required; agreed motions need all counsel signatures; second motion needs thorough reason; third needs dire necessity.
A Motion for Continuance must be filed in order for the Court to consider a trial to be continued. Motions that notate "Agreed" must contain signatures of all counsels. The Court will consider a first motion for continuance, a second motion for continuance must have a thorough reason, and a third motion for continuance must have a dire necessity reason notated. The Court will not be so inclined to grant a third, fourth, or fifth motion for continuance.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial Continuance
Chambers Communication Rules
If both sides agree to an emergency hearing, email the court clerk and request a phone conference with the judge.
If both sides agree to an emergency/expedited hearing, email the court clerk and request a phone conference with the judge.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Emergencies/Expedited
Contact the court coordinator to schedule technical testing.
Prior to appearance for technical testing, please contact the Court Coordinator to confer and agree on a day and time.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial Technical Accommodations
Email the Court Coordinator copies of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Proposed Final Judgment in Word format before trial.
Please email the Court Coordinator a copy of The Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law and a Proposed Final Judgment in Word format prior to trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Bench Trial
Notify the court reporter a month in advance if a daily transcript is needed.
If a daily transcript of trial proceedings will be necessary, please notify the Court Reporter, Amanda King, with a month's advance notice.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Court Reporter Transcript
Hearings on opposed matters may be scheduled by contacting clerk Dee Mosley or online via the District Clerk's eHearing system.
You may schedule a hearing on an opposed matter by contacting the court's clerk Dee Mosley: 832-927-2325 deandra.mosley@hcdistrictclerk.com or online by logging in to the District Clerk's website and following the eHearing instructions: eHearing Instructions.
Page 1 | SETTING A HEARING:
Email court clerks and cc court coordinator when following up on rulings.
When following up on a ruling, please email the Court Clerks and cc the Court Coordinator.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Rulings
Contact court clerks to schedule hearings.
Please contact the court clerks to schedule any hearings, oral and submission dockets.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Hearings
Questions about remote hearings should be directed to clerk Dee Mosley by phone or email.
If you have questions, please contact the court’s clerk Dee Mosley at 832-927-2325 or deandra.mosley@hcdistrictclerk.com.
Page 1 | THE 189TH WILL CONTINUE CONDUCTING REMOTE ORAL HEARINGS TILL THE END OF 2022 EXCEPT FOR SPECIALLY SET IN COURT HEARINGS: