Court Rules
Judge

Judge William D. LaFortune

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Tulsa County District Court

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

MotionCourt-wide
20 pgs
Reply BriefCourt-wide
5 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

Court-wide
  • Upon Filing
Filters:AllMandatoryFormattingExhibitsBinders/TabsJuryMemoranda

Document Format Requirements2 rules

FormattingCivil cases

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

Documentary and photographic trial exhibits must be placed in a binder or notebook compliant with Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.33.

All documentary/photographic exhibits must be in a binder or notebook in compliance with Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules for Appeals (Rule 1.33).

2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
FormattingCivil cases

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

All trial exhibits must be pre-marked by number, and those numbers must match the numbers on the Pretrial Order.

All trial exhibits must be pre-marked by number, and the numbers must correlate with the numbers on the Pretrial Order.

2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER

Document Filing Requirements8 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Only non-OUJI and modified OUJI instructions may be submitted, and all OUJI instructions must be identified by number only in the Pretrial Order.

Please submit only non-OUJI and modified OUJI; all OUJI by number only in the Pretrial Order.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Only witnesses and exhibits included on the final list may be used at trial unless the court orders otherwise.

Only Witnesses and Exhibits on the final list may be used at trial unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

Document Type

Final Witness And Exhibit Lists

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

All exhibits must be exchanged no later than 20 days before pretrial.

All exhibits must be exchanged no later than twenty (20) days before Pretrial.

Document Type

Exhibits

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Plaintiff must provide a proposed Pretrial Order 15 days before pretrial, and Defendant must complete and return it no later than 5 days before pretrial.

Plaintiff must provide a proposed Pretrial Order fifteen (15) days before pretrial. Defendant must complete and return the Pretrial Order no later than five (5) days prior to pretrial.

Document Type

Pretrial Order

Content & Formatting
Proposed Order
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW (Non-Jury) must be filed by:

Summary: For a non-jury trial, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order.

Document Type

Proposed Findings Conclusions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

TRIAL BRIEF must be filed by:

Summary: A trial brief must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order.

Document Type

Trial Brief

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

MOTIONS IN LIMINE must be filed by: or will not be considered.

Summary: Motions in limine must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

Document Type

Motion In Limine

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

ALL MOTIONS must be filed by: or will not be considered.

Summary: All motions must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

Document Type

Motion

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2025 SCHEDULING ORDER LaFortune|SecSCHEDULING ORDER

Filing & Service rules

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

A date set in the scheduling order may be changed only for good cause and by written order submitted before the scheduled date.

IT IS ORDERED that no date set above will be changed except for good cause on written Order before the date scheduled.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 1 | ADDITIONALLY ORDERED

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 86 rules apply across Tulsa County District Court. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 24
  • Applies to
    Default judgment
    Must include
    certificate of service

    A default judgment submitted without proof of service will be rejected.

  • Applies to
    Petition

    Every party must provide a completed Cover Sheet when filing a petition in a CJ or CS case.

  • Applies to
    Refiled case cover sheet

    A case refiled after dismissal must disclose that fact on the Cover Sheet and to the Court Clerk when refiled.

Fees

All 16
  • Applies to
    Transferred action

    Actions transferred under 20 O.S. § 642 must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fees unless the Court waives them.

  • Applies to
    Transferred action

    The plaintiff must advance the applicable filing fees unless the Court directs otherwise.

  • Applies to
    Jury and court reporter fees

    The requesting party must pay specified jury and court reporter fees no later than pretrial, and the court will not file a pretrial order until the applicable fees are paid.

Service

All 15
  • Applies to
    Summons

    After issuance, the original summons must be returned and filed with the Court Clerk.

  • Applies to
    Order

    The original order must be filed with the Court Clerk after issuance, and certified copies must be used to serve the parties when the order is a contempt or restraining order, grants injunctive relief, or arises in another extraordinary proceeding requiring personal notice.

  • Applies to
    Journal entry or order

    When opposing counsel has not settled a proposed journal entry or order, the proposing attorney must notify opposing counsel of the presentation time for the judge's signature.

Filing Timing

All 11

  • Reply briefs should be filed separately rather than attached to the application, within five days after permission is granted.

  • Deadline
    30 calendar days

    A withdrawal application filed within 30 days before a scheduled hearing or trial will not be granted absent compelling circumstances.

  • Deadline
    15 calendar days

    Plaintiff's counsel must send a proposed pretrial order to opposing counsel at least 15 days before the pretrial conference hearing to initiate its preparation.

More categories

View all Tulsa County District Court rules
About Judge William D. LaFortune

**Current assignment** **Courtroom:** 513 **Phone:** (918) 596-5415

Common questions about Judge William D. LaFortune's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge William D. LaFortune?

Judge William D. LaFortune's formatting rule includes all documentary/photographic exhibits must be in a binder or notebook in compliance with oklahoma supreme court rules for appeals (rule 1.33).. Documentary and photographic trial exhibits must be placed in a binder or notebook compliant with Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.33.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SCHEDULING ORDER

What must be included with motion in limine filings before Judge William D. LaFortune?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Motions in limine must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SCHEDULING ORDER

What must be included with motion filings before Judge William D. LaFortune?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. All motions must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SCHEDULING ORDER

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge William D. LaFortune?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. A date set in the scheduling order may be changed only for good cause and by written order submitted before the scheduled date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section ADDITIONALLY ORDERED
Complete rules summary for Judge William D. LaFortune

Motions in limine must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

All motions must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order or they will not be considered.

All exhibits must be exchanged no later than 20 days before pretrial.

Plaintiff must provide a proposed Pretrial Order 15 days before pretrial, and Defendant must complete and return it no later than 5 days before pretrial.

All trial exhibits must be pre-marked by number, and those numbers must match the numbers on the Pretrial Order.

Documentary and photographic trial exhibits must be placed in a binder or notebook compliant with Oklahoma Supreme Court Rule 1.33.

Only witnesses and exhibits included on the final list may be used at trial unless the court orders otherwise.

Only non-OUJI and modified OUJI instructions may be submitted, and all OUJI instructions must be identified by number only in the Pretrial Order.

For a non-jury trial, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order.

A trial brief must be filed by the deadline stated in the scheduling order.

A date set in the scheduling order may be changed only for good cause and by written order submitted before the scheduled date.

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