Judge Maria Cantu Hexsel
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Appendices
Court-wideAppendix
Court-wide- With Brief Delivery
Brief
Court-wide- When Delivering Opening Brief
Brief, Appendix
Court-wide- With Delivery of Opening Brief
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideDuty Judge
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Court-wideClerk
Document Format Requirements16 rules
Prior to uploading, make sure that any scanned documents are searchable using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool.
4) Exhibits must be marked with numerals, not letters. While A, B, C is often used for exhibits attached to pleadings, numerals must be used for exhibits offered in court. No letters, hyphens, or dots should be added to the exhibit numbers.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •No letters, hyphens, or dots may be added to the exhibit numbers
The computer file must not be password-protected, encrypted, or protected by rights management.
Formatting
- •Files must not be password-protected
- •Files must not be encrypted
Exhibits must be marked with numerals, not letters.
2) Each exhibit must be uploaded as a separate text-searchable PDF file. Do not combine multiple exhibits into a single PDF. Word and Excel documents must be converted to PDF.
- File type
- Exhibits
The computer file must not be password-protected, encrypted, or protected by rights management.
Each exhibit must be uploaded as a separate text-searchable PDF file. Do not combine multiple exhibits into a single PDF.
- File type
- Exhibit
Formatting
- •Each PDF must be text-searchable
No letters, hyphens, or dots should be added to the exhibit numbers.
Word and Excel documents must be converted to PDF.
- File type
While A, B, C is often used for exhibits attached to pleadings, numerals must be used for exhibits offered in court.
Each exhibit file name must be a three-digit exhibit number to keep exhibits in proper order within Box (i.e., P-001, P-010, P-100, D-001, D-010, D-100).
6) Each exhibit file name must be a three-digit exhibit number to keep exhibits in proper order within Box (i.e., P-001, P-010, P-100, D-001, D-010, D-100). If you anticipate exhibit numbers to go beyond 999, use four-digit numbering for all exhibits, i.e., P-0001, P-0010, P-0100, P-1000.
Prior to uploading, make sure that any scanned documents are searchable using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool.
Audio files (.mp3) and video files (.mp4) may be uploaded to Box, but each audio/video file may not exceed 10GB.
If you anticipate exhibit numbers to go beyond 999, use four-digit numbering for all exhibits, i.e., P-0001, P-0010, P-0100, P-1000.
7) Audio files (.mp3) and video files (.mp4) may be uploaded to Box, but each audio/video file may not exceed 10GB.
Formatting
- •Audio files (.mp3) and video files (.mp4) are permitted in Box
Document Filing Requirements15 rules
If an exhibit number is not on the exhibit image, there must be a separator page preceding the image to show the party designation and exhibit number.
3) The first page of each exhibit must be marked with the party designation and exhibit number that correlates with the PDF file name.
- Document
- Exhibits
- Placement
- First page
If an exhibit number is not on the exhibit image, there must be a separator page preceding the image to show the party designation and exhibit number.
The first page of each exhibit must be marked with the party designation and exhibit number that correlates with the PDF file name.
Do not use “Movant” or “Non-Movant.”
Each exhibit must include the party's designation from the current lawsuit (P, D, R, or I, as full word or letter) along with the exhibit numeral, regardless of which party is the movant.
Court's wording
5) Each exhibit must contain a party designation letter or name along with the numeral. Your designation in the current lawsuit is the designation to be used for exhibits, regardless of which party is the moving party for any particular motion. You may use the full word or just the designation letter: Plaintiff or Petitioner (P); Defendant (D); Respondent (R); Intervenor (I).
Each exhibit must contain a party designation letter or name along with the numeral.
Upload an exhibit list to your Box folder.
8) Upload an exhibit list to your Box folder.
- Document
- Exhibits
Include
- •Exhibit list
Your designation in the current lawsuit is the designation to be used for exhibits, regardless of which party is the moving party for any particular motion.
Uploading exhibits does not constitute an offer into evidence.
Any exhibit that is not offered on the record during a hearing or trial will be deleted and not included in the record.
Do not use "Movant" or "Non-Movant." use distinguishing words to identify the parties (i.e., Defendant Jones, Defendant Smith).
If there is more than one party with the same designation, such as two defendants, use distinguishing words to identify the parties (i.e., Defendant Jones, Defendant Smith).
You may use the full word or just the designation letter: Plaintiff or Petitioner (P); Defendant (D); Respondent (R); Intervenor (I).
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Upload exhibits to the folder designated for your party.
Upload your exhibits to the correct folder for your party.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
The Court may move the case to the bottom of the docket or reset the hearing if exhibits are not properly uploaded to Box.
Please ensure that your exhibits are uploaded correctly. The Court reserves the right to move your case to the bottom of the docket or reset your hearing if the exhibits are not properly uploaded.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Exhibits must be uploaded to the correct folder for the uploading party in Box.
Upload your exhibits to the correct folder for your party.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Uploading an exhibit to Box is not an offer into evidence; unoffered exhibits will be deleted from the record, and exhibits not intended for evidence need not be uploaded.
Uploading exhibits does not constitute an offer into evidence. Any exhibit that is not offered on the record during a hearing or trial will be deleted and not included in the record. If you do not intend to offer exhibits into evidence, they do not need to be uploaded.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
The Court may move a case to the bottom of the docket or reset the hearing if exhibits are not uploaded properly.
The Court reserves the right to move your case to the bottom of the docket or reset your hearing if the exhibits are not properly uploaded.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Exhibits need not be uploaded if they will not be offered into evidence.
If you do not intend to offer exhibits into evidence, they do not need to be uploaded.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Box access links are sent to email addresses on the announcement sheet, and additional team members' email addresses can be added through the announcement portal.
9) Box links are generated and sent to email addresses included on the announcement sheet. The announcement portal is designed to allow parties to go back into it to add additional email addresses for people on your team who may also need access to Box.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Exhibits must be uploaded to Box at least 24 hours before a hearing or trial.
1) Upload exhibits to Box at least 24 hours in advance of a hearing or trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Exhibits must be uploaded to Box at least 24 hours before a hearing or trial.
Upload exhibits to Box at least 24 hours in advance of a hearing or trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Parties are expected to exchange exhibits themselves before any hearing or trial.
The civil courts expect that parties will exchange exhibits on their own prior to any hearing or trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Exhibits cannot be downloaded from Box, so parties must exchange exhibits with each other on their own prior to any hearing or trial.
Box is for uploading and viewing. While each side can view the opposing side's exhibits, exhibits may not be downloaded from Box. The civil courts expect that parties will exchange exhibits on their own prior to any hearing or trial.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Chambers Communication Rules
For technical assistance with Box, contact Courts-Help by email or phone.
If you need technical assistance with Box, you may contact Courts-Help at courts-help@traviscountytx.gov or 512-854-8324.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts
Technical assistance with Box is available from Courts-Help by email at courts-help@traviscountytx.gov.
If you need technical assistance with Box, you may contact Courts-Help at courts-help@traviscountytx.gov or 512-854-8324.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Instructions and Guidance for Electronic Exhibits for All Travis County Civil Courts