Judge Justin Lewis
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
A Jury Trial Discovery Control Plan and Scheduling Order must be completed and signed when the trial is set
If you are asking the Court to divide property, you must provide a proposed property division which lists all assets and debts .
- Document
- Proposed property division
Must include
- •Lists all assets and debts
If you are asking the Court to order spousal support or divide expenses, you must provide a financial information statement listing income and expenses.
- Document
- Financial information statement
Must include
- •Listing income and expenses
no objection is filed
The Court may sign a temporary order without a hearing only if it is accompanied by an objection-rights letter, the submitting attorney certifies service, and no objection is filed.
Court's wording
Temporary Orders may be signed by the Court without the necessity of a hearing under the following circumstances: (1) The order is accompanied by a letter that notifies the opposing counsel/party of their right to object to the order within ten days of the date that the letter was mailed; (2) the submitting attorney certifies that the order and letter were sent to the opposing counsel via eFile, or to the opposing party at their last known address and/or email address if there is previous correspondence with the opposing party via that email; and (3) no objection is filed
Do NOT bring a child to court without prior express permission from the Court.
Please put only the few items of genuine concern in the TRO so that the court can tell what relief you ' re actually requesting.
The court prefers an editable format, such as an Excel spreadsheet.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A notice of hearing with the selected date must be e-filed.
Please e-file a notice of hearing with the date filled in.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
A Scheduling Order containing the trial date and mediation details must be e-filed to set the trial.
Please e-file a Scheduling Order with the trial date and mediation details filled in.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
Attorneys must e-file requests for ex parte relief and may not seek the requested relief by coming to the courthouse in person.
Attorneys shall e-file requests for ex parte relief electronically without coming to the courthouse in person.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Ex Parte Relief - TROs, etc.
If the parties cannot agree on a trial date after several attempts, e-file a proposed scheduling order and a letter describing the efforts made.
If, after several attempts, you are not able to get an agreed date, please e-file a proposed scheduling order with a letter describing your efforts.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Each party must file the course completion certificate within 65 days after service of the original petition on any respondent.
(c) Within sixty-five (65) days of service of the Original Petition upon any Respondent, each party to the case shall file a Certificate of Completion of the parent education and family stabilization course as provided hereinabove.
Civil cases
Page 1 | LOCAL RULES ORDER
Potentially dispositive motions must be filed and heard at least 30 days before trial.
All potentially dispositive civil/family motions (summary judgment, plea to the jurisdiction, plea in abatement, etc.) must be filed AND HEARD at least 30 days before trial.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Dispositive Motions
The court coordinator will not place a case on the calendar until a completed notice of hearing is submitted.
The coordinator does not add the case to the court calendar until a completed notice of hearing is submitted.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
Service and Proof of Service Rules
To proceed on a motion or hearing without the other side present, proof of notice must be filed or tendered to the court reporter as an exhibit.
If you want to go forward on a motion/hearing without the other side present, you must tender proof of notice to the court either by filing your proof of notice or by offering it as an exhibit for the court reporter.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proof of Notice
The submitting attorney must certify that the temporary order and accompanying letter were sent to opposing counsel via eFile or to the opposing party at the stated address or qualifying email address.
the submitting attorney certifies that the order and letter were sent to the opposing counsel via eFile, or to the opposing party at their last known address and/or email address if there is previous correspondence with the opposing party via that email
Civil cases
Page 3 | Signing Temporary Orders
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Any request, even an agreed request, to continue a trial beyond the one-year anniversary of filing requires a verified continuance motion and a hearing.
Requests (even if agreed) to continue a trial date beyond the 1-year anniversary date of filing requires a verified motion for continuance and hearing.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Continuances
Failure to mediate timely will not constitute adequate grounds for a continuance and will result in the stated reduced trial-time limits.
Failure to timely mediate will not be considered adequate grounds for a continuance and will result in the foregoing time limits being imposed at trial.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Mediation
Chambers Communication Rules
To set a trial, email the court coordinator and work with the other side to agree on an available date.
To set a trial, please email the court coordinator at grivera@co.hill.tx .us and/or psvacina@co.hill.tx.us You will be provided with the Court's available dates and should work with the other side to get an agreed date.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
To set a hearing, email the court coordinators, work with the other side to agree on a date, and e-file a completed notice of hearing.
To set a hearing, please email the court coordinators at grivera@co.hilLtx.us and/or psvacina@co.hill. tx.us You will be provided with the Court's available dates and should work with the other side to get an agreed date. Please e-file a notice of hearing with the date filled in.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Settings - Civil
After e-filing an ex parte motion and proposed order, call or email the court coordinator to request action on the filing.
If you file a motion requesting ex parte relief and submit your proposed order through e-filing, please call or e-mail the court coordinator to let him know that you want action taken on the request.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Ex Parte Relief - TROs, etc.
Without notice to the coordinator that action is desired, an ex parte request will remain in the e-filing queue without action.
If you do not contact the coordinator to alert her that you want the request addressed, it will remain in thee-filing queue without action.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Ex Parte Relief - TROs, etc.
If a child interview is required by Tex. Fam. Code §153.009, contact the court coordinator by email during the week before trial to ensure the court is aware of the request.
Contact the court coordinator at psvacina@co.hill.tx.us or grivera@co.hill.tx.us the week before your trial date to ensure the court is aware of the request.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Child Interviews