Judge Maya Guerra Gamble
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Demonstrative Aid
- 2 copies
Exhibits
- 1 copy
- 1 copy • At Hearing
- 3 copies
- 3 copies • At Hearing
Powerpoint Presentation, Demonstrative Aid
- 2 copies
Appendices
Court-wide
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideDuty Judge
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Lawyers must use the Court's jury charge and Exhibit List templates which will be provided once your case has been assigned to the 459th District Court.
Pre-marked with party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-1, D-2, R-3)
Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders (with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel)
- Exhibits
- Pleadings
- Motions
- Case law
Formatting
- •Documents provided to the Court must be indexed and uploaded to Box
- •Paper copies must be placed in binders
- •A copy of the index must be provided to opposing counsel
Proposed jury questions and instructions must be submitted in Word format.
- File type
- Word
- Proposed jury questions
- Jury instructions
Court's wording
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Document Filing Requirements17 rules
All attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
All attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Trial exhibits should be pre-marked, exchanged before trial, unopposed exhibits offered at pretrial for pre-admission, and an index provided to the Court and court reporter in the Court’s preferred format.
- Document
- Trial exhibits
Should include
- •Exhibit list
Court's wording
Trial exhibits should be: o Pre-marked with party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-1, D-2, R-3) o Exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial o Unopposed exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission o An index of exhibits should be provided to the Court and court reporter, using the 459th District Court’s preferred format
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Upload to Box in Word and/or bring a proposed order with the relief being sought to each hearing.
- Document
- Hearing
Include
- •Proposed order
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Do not include items that are in the Standing Order in Limine in the parties' Motions in Limine.
All attorneys must certify to the Court before trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Upload to Box in Word and/or bring a proposed order with the relief being sought to each hearing.
Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders (with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel), and should include: o Operative pleadings, if pertinent to the hearing o Motions, responses, and replies, together with their exhibits, if any o Controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted
and should include: o Operative pleadings, if pertinent to the hearing o Motions, responses, and replies, together with their exhibits, if any o Controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted
An index of exhibits should be provided to the Court and court reporter, using the 459th District Court's preferred format
- Document
- Trial exhibits
Should include
- •Exhibit list
Unopposed exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission
Lawyers must use the Court’s jury charge and Exhibit List templates which will be provided once your case has been assigned to the 459th District Court.
If the Court announces its ruling and an appropriate order has not been prepared in advance, the prevailing party’s counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and promptly forward it to the Briefing Attorney approved as to form.
Do not include items that are in the Standing Order in Limine in the parties’ Motions in Limine.
If the Court announces its ruling and an appropriate order has not been prepared in advance, the prevailing party's counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and promptly forward it to the Briefing Attorney approved as to form. The Court prefers to sign these within a week.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits uploaded to Box, which will serve as the official exhibits.
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits, uploaded to Box. The electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Proposed jury questions and instructions are due at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Special instructions for jury trials (in addition to the relevant ones above)
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Trial exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial.
Exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Upload documents for the Court to Box; if using paper exhibits, bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents for the Court to review.
Documents should be uploaded electronically to the Court’s Box account, but if you also want to use paper exhibits, you must bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents you want the Court to review.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
If paper exhibits are used alongside electronic upload, at least one courtesy paper copy of any documents the party wants the Court to review must be brought.
Documents should be uploaded electronically to the Court's Box account, but if you also want to use paper exhibits, you must bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents you want the Court to review.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
If unable to upload electronic exhibits, parties must bring no fewer than three indexed, binder-bound paper copies of each exhibit offered into evidence (for the Court, the witness who receives the original, and opposing counsel).
However, if you are unable to upload electronic exhibits, you must bring no fewer than three paper copies of each exhibit to be offered into evidence (one each for the Court, witness [who gets the original], and opposing counsel), and they must be indexed and placed in binders.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Electronic exhibits uploaded to Box are preferred and official; if uploading is not possible, bring at least three indexed paper copies of each offered exhibit in binders.
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits, uploaded to Box. The electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits. However, if you are unable to upload electronic exhibits, you must bring no fewer than three paper copies of each exhibit to be offered into evidence (one each for the Court, witness [who gets the original], and opposing counsel), and they must be indexed and placed in binders.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Chambers Communication Rules
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Court staff may not be contacted to set hearings or trials or to make docket announcements for Central Docket matters; the Local Rules govern those procedures.
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials, or to make docket announcements for matters on the Central Docket. See the Local Rules for instructions on setting hearings and trials and handling announcements on the Central Docket.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about an order’s form; instead, forward a redlined order with comments explaining the disagreement.
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials or make docket announcements for Central Docket matters; follow the Local Rules instead.
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials, or to make docket announcements for matters on the Central Docket. See the Local Rules for instructions on setting hearings and trials and handling announcements on the Central Docket.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court
Emergency matters for the Civil District Courts, except specially assigned cases, should be directed to the designated Duty Judge through the Judge’s staff.
The designated Duty Judge handles all emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) and should be contacted through their staff.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court
Emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) go to the designated Duty Judge, who is contacted through their staff and listed on the county website.
The designated Duty Judge handles all emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) and should be contacted through their staff. The Duty Judge is listed at www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/files/dockets/civil-district.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
Civil cases
Page 3 | Court orders and matters under advisement
For specially assigned matters, contact the listed court staff to set hearings or trials or follow up on a matter heard by the Court.
To set hearings or trials on matters specially assigned to this Court pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, or to follow up on a matter that was heard in this Court, you may contact: Shannon Matusek-Steele, JEA: shannon.matusek-steele@traviscountytx.gov Keri Ward, Briefing Attorney: keri.ward@traviscountytx.gov Alicia Dubois, Ct Reporter: alicia.dubois@traviscountytx.gov
Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court
When in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, counsel may check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney.
If in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, please feel free to check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney.
Civil cases
Page 3 | If in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, please feel free to check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney
To set hearings or trials on specially assigned matters or to follow up on a matter heard in this Court, counsel may email the JEA, Briefing Attorney, or Court Reporter.
To set hearings or trials on matters specially assigned to this Court pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, or to follow up on a matter that was heard in this Court, you may contact: Shannon Matusek-Steele, JEA: shannon.matusek-steele@traviscountytx.gov Keri Ward, Briefing Attorney: keri.ward@traviscountytx.gov Alicia Dubois, Ct Reporter: alicia.dubois@traviscountytx.gov
Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders