Eastern District of Texas Chambers Communication Rules

34 rules from official source documents

1 of 34 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.

Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes. This page is scoped to Eastern District of Texas; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026INFO

Contact: Phone to clerk
Phone: (409) 654-7000

For other Courthouse matters, contact the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Lufkin Division by phone.

For any other Courthouse matters, please contact the office of the Deputy Clerk in Charge of the Lufkin Division at (409) 654-7000.

Judge Michael J. Truncale

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Phone to clerk ?
Phone: (409) 654-2880

Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the court administrator only, not to the law clerks or to the judge. The court administrator may be contacted at (409) 654-2880.

Summary: Telephone inquiries should be directed to the court administrator, not to law clerks or judge.

Judge Marcia A. Crone

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Email to chambers ?

Substantive issues should not be raised in letter form or via email because letters and emails are not docketed or included in the appellate record.

Summary: Do not raise substantive issues via letter or email; they are not docketed.

Judge Marcia A. Crone

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Phone to clerk ?

Applications for restraining orders or for other immediate relief should be made through the court administrator. The court administrator will present such applications to the court following counsel’s affirmation that the opposing party has been contacted and that both parties can be available for a hearing on the record.

Summary: Emergency applications (restraining orders, immediate relief) must be made through the court administrator after affirming opposing party contacted and both parties available for hearing.

Judge Marcia A. Crone

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Chambers to chambers ?

If a party is interested in having a Newer Attorney argue a motion, after the motion is ripe, the party should contact chambers to request oral argument and inform chambers that a Newer Attorney will argue the motion or a portion of the motion.

Summary: Parties must contact chambers to request oral argument by a newer attorney.

Judge Michael J. Truncale

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: All to juror ?

All attorneys, parties, and their respective employees and agents, including jury consultants, are prohibited from communicating with or causing another to communicate with in any way, directly or indirectly (including through any non-lawyers or lawyers, connected to the case or not), any juror or potential juror or family members of such individuals, except in the course of official proceedings in this case.

Summary: Prohibits communication with jurors or potential jurors except during official proceedings

Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Social media to juror ?

All attorneys, parties, and their respective employees and agents, including jury consultants, are prohibited from personally or through another sending an access request to the electronic social media ('ESM') platform of any juror or potential juror, including for example a friend request, follow request, or similar access request.

Summary: Prohibits sending access requests to jurors' social media accounts

Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

It is further ORDERED that all CSOs, following substantive guidance provided by this order and administrative guidance from the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas ( EDTX ), shall deny entry to anyone attempting to enter, or remain in, the Courthouse in violation of these protocols. In the event of any uncertainty as to whether a person should be denied entrance to the Courthouse, the CSOs shall immediately contact the U.S. Marshal for the EDTX or the designated Deputy Marshal for a determination, which shall control.

Summary: CSOs must deny entry to anyone violating protocols and contact Marshal for uncertain cases.

Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Contact: Letter ecf to chambers ?

Plaintiff’s counsel shall immediately notify the court upon settlement.

Summary: Plaintiff's counsel must immediately notify court upon settlement.

Senior Judge Ron Clark

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Contact: Letter ecf to chambers ?

When a party decides that it will, or is likely to, commission such a study, the party shall notify the court. Notice shall be provided at least one month prior to the final pre-trial conference. The notification may be in camera, and shall include a brief description of the study’s methodology and the expected number of citizen participants. The party shall also notify the court in camera when the study has been completed.

Summary: Parties must notify court at least one month before final pre-trial conference when commissioning mock trials/focus groups, including methodology and participant count.

Senior Judge Ron Clark

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Contact: Phone to clerk ?

The case load prevents the court administrator from responding to casual telephone inquiries about motions and case status. Inquiries about such matters should be in writing unless time does not permit.

Summary: Court administrator cannot respond to casual telephone inquiries about motions/status; written inquiries preferred unless urgent.

Judge Marcia A. Crone

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

At the court’s direction, the law clerks may contact counsel, but they will not discuss matters other than the subject of the call, and counsel should not attempt to extract additional information. Counsel should respond promptly to a law clerk’s inquiry and treat the law clerk with courtesy.

Summary: Law clerks may contact counsel at court's direction; counsel should respond promptly, treat courteously, and not extract additional information.

Judge Marcia A. Crone

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge s chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow up by email;

Summary: An attorney scheduled to appear in court should contact the judge’s chambers by telephone and, if necessary, follow up by email if unable to gain entry under the order’s restrictions.

Judge Michael J. Truncale

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Contact: Phone to chambers ?

If you are an attorney scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact that judge’s Chambers directly by telephone, and if necessary, follow-up by email.

Summary: Attorneys unable to enter courthouse should contact judge's Chambers by phone, then email if needed.

Senior Judge Ron Clark

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Contact: Letter ecf to court ?

Plaintiff’s counsel shall immediately notify the court upon settlement.

Summary: Plaintiff's counsel must immediately notify the court when a settlement is reached.

Senior Judge Ron Clark