Southern District of Texas Document Format Requirements

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

Civil cases

The list of creditors with addresses must be filed with the petition in the Clerk-prescribed format, unless the specified extension motion is filed with the petition.

a. The list of creditors (with addresses) must be filed with the petition in the format prescribed by the Clerk unless a motion for extension of time under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure (FRBP) 1007(a)(4) is filed with the petition.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Producing parties must produce electronic documents as single-page TIFF files.

A producing party must produce each electronic document in single- page Tagged Image File Format. TIFF files must be single page

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

Criminal cases

Each party’s counsel must provide the Court with that party’s exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Counsel for each party is required to provide the Court with a copy of that party’s exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

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

Civil cases

Absent good cause, ESI production need not include metadata.

Absent a showing of good cause, ESI need not include production of metadata.

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Civil cases

Each single-page TIFF file must be named with a unique production number followed by the appropriate file extension.

TIFF files must be single page and named with a unique production number followed by the appropriate file extension.

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

Civil cases

When those fields exist, ESI must include the document’s sent and received dates and times and complete distribution list.

Where such fields exist, ESI must include the date and time that a document was sent and received, as well as the complete distribution list.

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

Civil cases

Text-searchability is not generally required, but documents already in or converted to text-searchable format for the litigation must be produced in that format at no cost to the recipient.

No party has an obligation to make its production searchable by text. But where a party’s documents already exist in such format independent of this litigation, or are converted to such format for use in this litigation (including for use by the producing party’s counsel), then such documents must be produced in the same format at no cost to the receiving party.

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Civil cases

Each document image must have a footer showing a sequentially ascending production number.

Each document image must contain a footer with a sequentially ascending production number.

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Civil cases

After review, a receiving party may reasonably request a document in native format, and the producing party must provide it or raise burden concerns.

A party receiving a document produced in the format specified above may make a reasonable request after review to receive the document in its native format. Upon such request, the producing party must produce the document in its native format or bring concerns of burden to the requesting party’s attention.

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Civil cases

Before producing documents under the Initial Discovery Protocols, the parties must meet and confer about the production format.

Prior to the production of documents by either Party to the other pursuant to the Initial Discovery Protocols, the Parties will meet and confer regarding the format (e.g. TIFF/text, searchable .pdf, Excel) for such production.

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

Civil cases

The exhibit notebook provided to the Court must be tabbed and indexed.

E. Counsel for each party is required to provide the Court with a properly tabbed and indexed notebook which contains a copy of each exhibit.

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

Civil cases

Each offering party must mark its exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

Each offering party must mark its own exhibits. Include the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit.

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Criminal cases

All pleadings, including plea agreements, should have numbered pages.

The pages of all pleadings (including plea agreements) are to be numbered so as to ease the review of the same by the Court and opposing counsel.

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

Civil cases

Documents containing Designated Material must be marked with the specified confidentiality designation, and nondocumentary material must be designated in a reasonably equivalent way.

Documents shall be designated by stamping or otherwise marking the documents with the words “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL-FOR ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY” thus clearly identifying the category of Designated Material for which protection is sought under the terms of this Order. Designated Material not reduced to documentary form shall be designated by the producing party in a reasonably equivalent way.

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Required

Always ?

Filings must be double-spaced and in 13-point or larger font.

Summary: All filings must be double-spaced and use a font of at least 13 points.

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Format

PDF

responses, other briefs, and pleadings—must be filed in text-searchable PDF format, not as scanned images, so the court can search the text.

Summary: Filings such as responses, briefs, and pleadings must be filed in text-searchable PDF format, not as scanned images.

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Criminal cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

For Non-Jury Trials, each party must file: 1) Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word).

Summary: In non-jury trials, each party must file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher or Microsoft Word.

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Margins

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All briefs must be in 13-point proportionately spaced font for text, with 12-point font for footnotes, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and full-justified.

Summary: Briefs must use 13-point proportionally spaced font (12-point for footnotes), be double-spaced, one-inch margins, and full-justified.

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Minimize your use of footnotes. Do not put citations to authorities or exhibits in footnotes. Those must be in the body of the document.

Summary: Briefs should minimize footnotes, and citations to authorities or exhibits must appear in the body of the document, not in footnotes.

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All exhibits must be pre-marked with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number.

Summary: All trial exhibits must be pre-marked with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number.

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Civil cases

Each requested instruction, definition, and interrogatory must be numbered and presented on a separate sheet of paper with the citation of authority upon which counsel rely.

Summary: Each requested instruction, definition, and interrogatory must be numbered, presented on a separate sheet of paper, and include the citation of authority upon which counsel rely.

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Civil cases

All exhibits must be marked and exchanged among counsel prior to trial. The offering party will mark his own exhibits with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit to be offered.

Summary: All exhibits must be marked and exchanged among counsel before trial, with the offering party marking each exhibit with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number.

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Civil cases

Announcements must be received in writing and shall always include how the court costs are to be divided.

Summary: Announcements of settlement must be received in writing.

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Except for motions to seal, exhibits to motions, responses, and other briefs and pleadings should be readily distinguishable from both the document to which they are appended and each other.

Summary: Exhibits, responses, and other briefs and pleadings (except motions to seal) must be readily distinguishable from the document to which they are appended and from each other.

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Each exhibit should be individually attached and descriptively labeled on CM/ECF.

Summary: Each exhibit must be individually attached and descriptively labeled on CM/ECF.

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Exhibits consisting of sound or video files should be sent to the court in USB thumb drives—not on CDs.

Summary: Sound or video exhibits must be sent to the court on USB thumb drives, not CDs.

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Format

DOCX ?

Plaintiffs/petitioners in ex parte admiralty matters should email Word versions of all proposed orders to Judge Edison's Case Manager at ruben castro@txs.uscourts.gov.

Summary: Proposed orders in ex parte admiralty matters must be submitted in Word format when emailed to chambers.

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Criminal cases

Each proposed voir dire question must be in question form.

Summary: Each proposed voir dire question must be submitted in question form.

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Every disputed instruction, definition, or question must be set out in bold type, underlined text, or italics (not in a contrasting font color).

Summary: Disputed jury charge instructions, definitions, and questions must be set out in bold, underlined, or italicized text, not a contrasting font color.

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the parties must jointly submit two sets of each of the following, printed double-sided, placed in binders of 4-inches or less, and complete with an index and corresponding tabs

Summary: Trial notebooks and exhibit binders must be printed double-sided, placed in binders of 4 inches or less, and include an index and corresponding tabs.

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The offering party must mark its own exhibits before trial to include the party's name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit.

Summary: The offering party must pre-mark its exhibits before trial with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit.

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with each instruction and definition numbered, presented on a separate page, and supported by citations to authority

Summary: Each proposed jury instruction and definition must be numbered, presented on a separate page, and supported by citations to authority.

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Civil cases

All appendices should contain a paginated table of contents and should be tabbed such that the Court can locate the materials more readily.

Summary: All appendices must be tabbed so the Court can locate the materials readily.

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

If they are not e-filed in a format that may be used by the Court, counsel should email jury instructions to the Case Manager in Microsoft Word.

Summary: If jury instructions and interrogatories are not e-filed in a format usable by the Court, counsel should email them to the Case Manager in Microsoft Word.

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Civil cases

Underline the names of corporations with publicly traded securities.

Summary: In the financial-interest disclosure list, the names of corporations with publicly traded securities must be underlined.

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Required

Always ?

Filings should substantially comply with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, the Texas Law Review’s The Greenbook: Texas Rules of Form and Manual on Usage & Style (a.k.a. “The Whitebook”), and Bryan Garner’s The Redbook: A Manual on Legal Style. Conflicts between The Bluebook and The Greenbook should be resolved in The Greenbook’s favor. Any citation to these rules should follow this example: Gal. Div. R. Prac. 5.

Summary: Filings must substantially comply with The Bluebook, The Greenbook, and The Redbook, with The Greenbook controlling conflicts, and citations to these rules must follow the form 'Gal. Div. R. Prac. 5'.

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Civil cases

The Court prefers that deposition offers be presented in pagination order.

Summary: The Court prefers (but does not strictly require) that deposition offers be presented in pagination order.

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Margins

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Briefs and memoranda shall be in 12 point, Times New Roman Font, with one-inch margins. Footnote citations shall be in 10 point, Times New Roman Font.

Summary: Briefs and memoranda must use 12pt Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins; footnotes must use 10pt Times New Roman font.

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Judge Rodriguez requires that this “mark” be in the form of redline—a single red underline denoting the amended portion—on not only petitions and their supporting documents, but as to all amended pleadings, proposed orders, documents, and briefs.

Summary: All amended pleadings, proposed orders, documents, and briefs must mark changed content with a single red underline (redline).

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THE PROPOSED ORDER MUST INCLUDE A BLANK SPACE FOR THE COURT’S SIGNATURE. DO NOT INCLUDE A SIGNATURE BLOCK OR SIGNATURE TEXT BLOCK.

Summary: Proposed orders must include a blank signature space for the court and omit signature blocks/text.

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Submission of an Agreed Order utilizing a form from the court’s website may not be altered without first obtaining leave of court.

Summary: Agreed Order forms from the court’s website cannot be altered without leave of court.

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evidentiary hearings/trials in Chief Judge Rodriguez’s Court.1 Failure to use Form 1-100 will result in the Court striking the noncomplying list.

Summary: Witness and exhibit lists for evidentiary hearings/trials must use Form 1-100, failure to comply results in the noncomplying list being struck.

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All exhibits, whether hard copy or electronic, must comply with the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of Texas General Order 2021-5, paragraph 4, which states: If a party-in-interest intends to introduce documents into evidence at a remote or at an in-person hearing, the documents must be filed on CM/ECF. A witness and exhibit list should be filed as a document, with each exhibit being filed as a separate attachment to the witness and exhibit list. For example, if there are three exhibits, and the next CM/ECF document sequence is 101, the witness and exhibit list will be ECF document 101, exhibit 1 will be ECF document 101-1, exhibit 2 will be ECF document 101-2, and exhibit 3 will be ECF document 101-3.

Summary: All exhibits must comply with General Order 2021-5 paragraph 4, requiring CM/ECF filing, separate witness/exhibit list, and each exhibit as a separate attachment.

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Relief from stay must be sought, with respect to exempt residences or exempt vehicles, on a standard form of motion promulgated by the Court.

Summary: Motions for relief from stay regarding exempt residences or vehicles must use the court's standard promulgated form.

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A proposed form of agreed or default order on a motion for relief must use the form promulgated by the Court, unless otherwise provided in the Local Rules. Parties are not authorized to alter the promulgated form of order without first obtaining leave of Court.

Summary: Proposed agreed or default orders for motions for relief from stay must use the court-promulgated form; no alterations are permitted without leave of court.

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A motion for continuation of the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)(B), or request for the imposition of the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(4)(B), shall be a contested matter commenced by the filing and service of a motion in accordance with FED. R. BANKR. P. 9014. The motion shall contain allegations of specific fact supporting the requested relief, verified by an affidavit or declaration under oath upon the declarant’s personal knowledge. Any relief sought by the movant or requesting party other than the continuation or imposition of the automatic stay shall not be included in the motion, but may be sought in a separate request for relief filed in accordance with FED. R. BANKR. P. 9014 and/or FED. R. BANKR. P. 7001, as applicable.

Summary: Motions for continuation or imposition of automatic stay must comply with Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9014, include verified specific facts, and not include relief other than the stay continuation/imposition.

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All Means Test documents must be filed as a separate CM/ECF event in each case where a Means Test is required.

Summary: Means Test documents must be filed as a separate CM/ECF event in all cases requiring a Means Test.

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All amended documents must be redlined.

Summary: All amended documents must be submitted with redline changes.

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All petitions and schedules must be electronically bookmarked when e-filed.

Summary: Petitions and schedules must include electronic bookmarks when e-filed.

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Required

Always ?

E-Filed documents must be submitted without security settings/protection preventing editing.

Summary: E-filed documents must not have security settings that prevent editing.

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Emergency motion must contain the word “Emergency” in the title of the motion.

Summary: Emergency motions must include the word 'Emergency' in the document title.

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Civil cases

Procedures adopt use of standardized forms for motions and orders. Use is mandatory throughout the Southern District of Texas.

Summary: Motions and orders for stay relief on exempt residences and vehicles must use standardized forms, mandatory throughout Southern District of Texas.

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Civil cases

If agreement is later reached, utilize identical forms as already displayed.

Summary: Parties must use identical forms if an agreement is reached after initial filing of Form M-2.

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Civil cases

Submit order with no boxes marked

Summary: Proposed orders (Form O-1) must have no boxes marked.

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Format

PAPER ?

Correspondence shall not be filed electronically.

Summary: Correspondence is prohibited from electronic filing.

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Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents greater than 50 pages in length. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional filing of documents over 50 pages; electronic filing encouraged.

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Required

Always ?

Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents printed on both sides. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional filing of double-sided documents; electronic filing encouraged.

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Required

Always ?

Leave of Court is required for the filing of over-sized or irregularly shaped documents which are not capable of being readily imaged by court personnel and equipment. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for filing over-sized or irregularly shaped documents not readily imagable; electronic filing encouraged.

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A Bench copy of all documentary exhibits intended to be introduced. If voluminous, documents may be provided on disc in .pdf, .doc, or .wpd formats.

Summary: A bench copy of all documentary exhibits is required; voluminous exhibits may be provided on disc in PDF, DOC, or WPD formats.

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Proposed voir dire questions are to be included in the Final Pretrial Order.

Summary: Proposed voir dire questions must be included in the Final Pretrial Order.

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Required

Always ?

Except as expressly provided or unless permitted by the presiding Judge, the Court requires documents being filed to be submitted, signed or verified by electronic means that comply with the procedures established by the Court.

Summary: All filed documents must be submitted via Court-compliant electronic means unless exempted.

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Opposed motions shall A. Be in writing;

Summary: Opposed motions must be in writing.

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Must be written;

Summary: Responses to motions must be in writing.

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LR10.2 Format. Papers offered for filing may not be in covers. They must be on 8½" x 11" paper, stapled at the top only, punched at the top with two holes, double spaced, and paginated.

Summary: Filing papers must be 8½x11 inch letter paper, stapled at the top only, punched with two top holes, double-spaced, paginated, and not enclosed in covers.

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C. Application. The lawyer shall file an application on a form prescribed by the Court.

Summary: Bar admission applications must be filed on the form prescribed by the Court.

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Required

Always ?

The provisions of LR5 with respect to electronic filing and service in civil cases are applicable to criminal cases.

Summary: Electronic filing and service rules for civil cases under LR5 apply to criminal cases.

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On a form similar to the one provided by the clerk, each party will attach two lists of all exhibits expected to be offered

Summary: Exhibit lists must be prepared on a form similar to the clerk-provided template.

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Parties must mark their exhibits to include the date and case number on each.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with date and case number as a formatting requirement.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Filings must be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font. All footnotes must be in Times New Roman 12-point font.

Summary: All filings must use double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point font, including footnotes.

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Civil cases

All authority must be cited within the body of the document and not footnoted;

Summary: All legal authority in motions must be cited within the document body, not in footnotes.

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Civil cases

Do not include “Proposed” in the title of the order. An example of an Order can be found at the bottom of this document. Please use the format featured in the example;

Summary: Proposed orders must not include “Proposed” in the title and must use the format of the example order provided.

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Prior to the docket call, each party must email the Case Manager a courtesy copy of the Proposed Jury Instructions in Microsoft Word format.

Summary: Proposed Jury Instructions must be submitted in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

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Civil cases

Attorneys should use numbers, not letters, for exhibits.

Summary: Exhibits must be identified with numbers, not letters.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Filings must be double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font. All footnotes must be in Times New Roman 12-point font.

Summary: All filings must be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, with footnotes in the same font.

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Prior to the docket call or pretrial conference, each party must email the Case Manager a courtesy copy of the Proposed Jury Instructions in Microsoft Word format.

Summary: Proposed Jury Instructions courtesy copy must be in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

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Use Form 15 to prepare deposition designations.

Summary: Deposition designations must be prepared using Form 15.

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Use Form 11 to prepare draft proposed orders.

Summary: Draft proposed orders must be prepared using Form 11.

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Margins

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Use American letter-size paper, a minimum 13-point font, and a minimum of 1" margins. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Summary: Motion papers must use letter-size paper, minimum 13-point font, 1-inch margins, and be double-spaced except for quotations, headings, and footnotes.

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a. Form. Use Form 12 to prepare a Joint Pretrial Order. Adapt it within reason to accommodate the nature and complexity of the case.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must use Form 12, adapted as needed for case complexity.

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a. Form. Use Form 13 to prepare a trial exhibit list. Also refer to Section 14. Each offering party must mark its own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number. List only those exhibits intended in good faith for use before the jury during trial.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists must use Form 13, exhibits marked with party name/case number/exhibit number, only good faith jury exhibits listed.

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Seek agreement on the form of exchange. Absent agreement, exchange well-organized USB drives or provide for similar download.

Summary: Exhibits must be exchanged via agreed form; absent agreement, use well-organized USB drives or similar download.

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Use Form 14 to prepare a witness list.

Summary: Witness lists must be prepared using Form 14.

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For bench trials, also offer the entire deposition marked as an exhibit.

Summary: For bench trials, the entire deposition must be offered marked as an exhibit.

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Include a cover sheet with concise summary of topics for each witness, the first deposition page, and at least two pages prior to and after any designation.

Summary: Deposition designations must include a cover sheet with specified content for each witness.

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Highlight in contrasting colors to indicate all designated testimony, counter-designations, and objections.

Summary: Deposition designations must highlight designated testimony, counter-designations, and objections in contrasting colors.

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Use a condensed transcript (four pages to one) when available.

Summary: Condensed transcripts (four pages to one) must be used for deposition designations when available.

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Identify by bold, italicized, or differently colored font any disputed language and which party requests each competing version;

Summary: Disputed language in civil jury instructions must be marked with bold, italicized, or differently colored font, identifying the requesting party for each version.

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Format

DOCX ?

c. Court copies. Follow Section 21 regarding submission of the charge. In civil cases, counsel for plaintiff must also jointly submit a Word version by email or USB drive. In criminal cases, counsel for prosecution and defense must each also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

Summary: For jury instruction (charge) submissions, civil cases require plaintiff to submit a DOCX version via email/USB; criminal cases require prosecution and defense to each submit a DOCX version via email/USB.

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Format

DOCX ?

f. Court copies. Follow Section 21 regarding submission of these materials. Counsel for plaintiff must also jointly submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

Summary: For bench trial proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, plaintiff counsel must submit a DOCX version via email or USB drive.

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Use black font for all agreed findings and conclusions. Where the parties disagree, use different color font, with plaintiff submitted in red and defendant submitted in blue.

Summary: Agreed findings/conclusions use black font; plaintiff disagreements use red font, defendant disagreements use blue font.

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Civil cases

Margins

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ALL PLEADINGS (SUBSEQUENT TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT) FILED IN THE COURT MUST BE: DOUBLE SPACED, NOT LESS THAN ONE INCH MARGINS AND 14 POINT FONT.

Summary: All pleadings filed after the original complaint must be double-spaced, with at least 1-inch margins and 14-point font.

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Civil cases

The offering party shall mark its exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with the offering party's name, case number, and exhibit number.

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Civil cases

proposed Jury Instructions (with citation of authority on a separate page)

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must have citations of authority on a separate page.

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Use Form 4 on this Court’s home page. 1

Summary: Proposed scheduling order must use Form 4 from the Court’s home page.

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Use the forms provided on the Court’s website. https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/Tipton.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must use the forms provided on the Court’s website.

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Form. Provide hard copies as well as electronic copies. When providing hard copies, organize exhibits and attachments by tab at the right margin. Use the smallest binders that comfortably hold the material. Do not use binders larger than four inches. Divide into multiple binders when necessary. Provide courtesy copies marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF system docket number unless submitted on an urgent basis.

Summary: Courtesy copies must include hard and electronic copies, with hard copies tabbed, binder size limited to 4 inches, and marked with CM/ECF docket number unless urgent.

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Margins

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Use American letter-size paper, a minimum 12-point font, and a minimum of 1-inch margins with ½-inch margins for footnotes, page numbers and any headers or footers. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Summary: Motion papers must use letter-size paper, minimum 12-point font, 1-inch margins (½-inch for footnotes/headers), double spacing except for specified sections.

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Boilerplate objections or responses will not be considered.

Summary: Boilerplate objections or responses to deposition designations will not be considered by the Court.

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Do not file boilerplate motions.

Summary: Boilerplate motions in limine are prohibited.

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Do not make copies. Return all questionnaires on conclusion of jury selection.

Summary: Juror questionnaires may not be copied and must be returned after jury selection concludes.

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Submit a complete joint charge with the proposed instructions in the order that you would like them read to the jury. Where the parties agree, say so in the heading of that proposed instruction. Where the parties disagree, each party should offer their own proposed instruction in order. Present each instruction, definition, and question with supporting legal authority; Use the Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions whenever possible; and Identify with legal support any deviations from the pattern instructions.

Summary: Civil joint proposed jury charges must meet specific content and formatting requirements including order, authority, and pattern instruction use.

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Each side must provide supporting legal authority for all requested instructions, definitions, and questions.

Summary: Criminal parties must provide supporting legal authority for all requested jury instructions, definitions, and questions.

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Format

DOCX ?

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Court’s Case Manager. In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email.

Summary: Jury instruction court copies must be submitted in Word (DOCX) format.

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Use black font for all agreed findings and conclusions. Make it clear in the proposed findings that this means that the parties are agreed as to those. Where the parties disagree, use different color font. For example, if the parties do not agree on finding of fact number 7, plaintiff should submit their proposed number 7 in red and the defendant should submit their proposed number 7 in blue. Also, where the parties do not agree, provide citations to specific testimony and evidence from trial.

Summary: Agreed findings use black font; conflicting parties use red (plaintiff) and blue (defendant) font, with trial citations required for disagreements.

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Civil cases

Use Form 4 on this Court’s home page.

Summary: Proposed scheduling order must use Form 4 from the Court’s home page.

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Civil cases

Use the forms provided on the Court’s website. https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/Tipton.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must use the forms provided on the Court’s website and contain Rule 26(a)(3) disclosures.

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Form. Provide hard copies as well as electronic copies. When providing hard copies, organize exhibits and attachments by tab at the right margin. Use the smallest binders that comfortably hold the material. Do not use binders larger than four inches. Divide into multiple binders when necessary. Provide courtesy copies marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF system docket number unless submitted on an urgent basis.

Summary: Hard copy courtesy copies must be tabbed at the right margin, in binders no larger than 4 inches, marked with CM/ECF docket number unless urgent.

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Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

Style. Use American letter-size paper, a minimum 12-point font, and a minimum of 1-inch margins with ½-inch margins for footnotes, page numbers and any headers or footers. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Summary: Motion papers must use letter-size paper, minimum 12-point font, 1-inch margins (½-inch for footnotes/headers/footers), double-spaced except for quotations/headings/footnotes.

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Supply affidavits, deposition testimony excerpts, and supporting documents as separate exhibits to the filing. Provide a cover sheet to identify and separate each exhibit and identify them clearly on the CM/ECF docket entry when filing, e.g., “Exhibit A Declaration of John Doe.”

Summary: Supporting evidence must be filed as separate exhibits with cover sheets and clearly identified on CM/ECF docket entries.

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Supply all cases or other authority not readily available through Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis as an appendix to any filing. Provide a cover sheet to identify and separate each authority.

Summary: Legal authority not available on Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis must be filed as an appendix with a cover sheet.

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Applies to

Joint pretrial order

Use Form 6 to prepare a Joint Pretrial Order.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must be prepared using Form 6.

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Applies to

Joint pretrial order

When filing the Joint Pretrial Order on the CM/ECF system, file the pretrial filings set out in Section 19 as exhibits.

Summary: Section 19 pretrial filings must be filed as exhibits to the Joint Pretrial Order on CM/ECF.

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Applies to

Joint pretrial order

All lead counsel must sign the Joint Pretrial Order.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must be signed by all lead counsel.

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Unless otherwise set by Court order, on the date the Joint Pretrial Order is filed each party must file: • An exhibit list as per Section 20; • A witness list as per Section 21; • Designation of deposition excerpts as per Section 22; • Motions in limine as per Section 23; • Proposed topics and questions for voir dire as per Section 24; • In jury trials, a proposed joint jury charge as per Section 25; and • In bench trials, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law as per Section 26.

Summary: Each party must file required pretrial filings on the date the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Trial exhibit list

Use Form 7 to prepare a trial exhibit list, which must be filed on the date the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists must use Form 7 and be filed on the Joint Pretrial Order filing date.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Trial exhibit ?

Each offering party must mark its own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

Summary: Trial exhibits must be marked with the offering party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

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Use Form 9 to prepare deposition designations, which must be filed on the date the Joint Pretrial Order is filed.

Summary: Deposition designations must be prepared using Form 9 and filed on the Joint Pretrial Order filing date.

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Do not make copies.

Summary: Parties are prohibited from making copies of juror questionnaires.

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Format

DOCX ?

Court copies. In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Court’s Case Manager. In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email.

Summary: Civil plaintiffs and criminal prosecution and defense must submit Word-format jury instructions via email to the Court’s Case Manager.

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Use black font for all agreed findings and conclusions. Make it clear in the proposed findings that this means that the parties are agreed as to those.

Summary: Agreed proposed findings and conclusions must be in black font.

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Where the parties disagree, use different color font. For example, if the parties do not agree on finding of fact number 7, plaintiff should submit their proposed number 7 in red and the defendant should submit their proposed number 7 in blue.

Summary: Disagreed proposed findings must be in red for plaintiff and blue for defendant.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Counsel for each party is required to provide the Court with a copy of that party's exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Summary: Exhibit copies provided to the Court must be formatted in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

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Civil cases

Parties must mark their exhibits to include the date and case number on each.

Summary: All exhibits must be marked with the date and case number.

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Civil cases

On a form like the one provided by the Clerk of the Court, each party will attach four lists of all exhibits expected to be offered and will make the exhibits available for opposing counsel’s examination. See sample at Appendix D-1.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Order must include four lists of expected exhibits per party on the Clerk of Court’s provided form.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

On a form similar to the one provided by the Clerk of the Court, each party will attach four lists with the names and addresses of witnesses who may be called with a brief statement of the nature of their testimony. See sample at Appendix D-2.

Summary: Witness lists must be on a form similar to the Clerk's provided form, include required witness details, and follow Appendix D-2 sample.

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Civil cases

BROWNSVILLE DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. B- V. EXHIBIT LIST LIST OF: TYPE OF HEARING: JUDGE: CLERK: REPORTER: FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ, JR. BALVINA ESPINOZA SHEILA PERALES N O. DESCRIPTION OFR OBJ ADM DATE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. APPENDIX “D-1”

Summary: Exhibit lists must be filed on Appendix D-1 form with specified header information and columns for exhibit details.

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Criminal cases

Applications for restraining orders or other applications for immediate relief must be made through the District Clerk’s office: U.S. District Clerk’s Office 600 E. Harrison Street, Suite 101 Brownsville, Texas 78520 (956) 548-2500

Summary: Applications for restraining orders or immediate relief must be filed through the District Clerk’s office at the specified address and phone number.

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Criminal cases

The Southern District of Texas requires the electronic filing of all pleadings. This reduces the burden on the District Clerk’s Office and increases the efficiency of the Court. Generally, all pleadings in this District must be filed through the Electronic Case Filing System (ECF).

Summary: All pleadings must be filed electronically through the ECF system.

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Criminal cases

Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents greater than 50 pages in length. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional filing of documents over 50 pages; electronic filing preferred.

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Criminal cases

Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents printed on both sides. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional filing of double-sided documents; electronic filing preferred.

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Criminal cases

Leave of Court is required for the filing of over-sized or irregularly shaped documents which are not capable of being readily imaged by court personnel and equipment. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for filing over-sized/irregular documents not readily imaged; electronic filing preferred.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Prior to the Final Pretrial Conference, the offering party will mark each exhibit to be offered with the party's identity, case number, and exhibit copy of that party's exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with party identity, case number, and exhibit number prior to Final Pretrial Conference.

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Do not submit a proposed order that contains a bare signature block.

Summary: Proposed orders are prohibited from containing a bare signature block.

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contain a proposed order setting forth the relief requested by the movant. Orders should be in the form used by the Court, and should not contain any document system codes or client/matter billing numbers.

Summary: Proposed orders must use the Court's form and exclude system codes and billing numbers.

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Please append copies of cases and the relevant parts of authorities that are cited only if the authorities are not found in commonly used resources such as the United States Code, United States Supreme Court Reporter, Federal Reporters, Federal Rules Decisions, Federal Supplement, Southwestern Reporter Second or Third, or Vernon=s Revised Statutes and Codes Annotated. Unpublished authorities that are easily available on Westlaw or Lexis also do not need to be provided to the Court.

Summary: Append copies of cited authorities only if not in commonly used resources or easily accessible on Westlaw/Lexis.

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Copies of supporting affidavits, deposition testimony excerpts, and other evidence relied upon in the motion, brief, or memorandum should be separately filed in one or more appendices.

Summary: Evidence relied on in motions/briefs/memoranda must be filed in separate appendices.

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If the plaintiff fails to file the Joint Pretrial Order, then the defendant is responsible for filing the defendant=s portions of the Proposed Pretrial Order in the Joint Pretrial Order format.

Summary: Defendants must file their Joint Pretrial Order portions in proper format if plaintiffs fail to file timely.

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Format

DOCX ?

b. Proposed Conclusions of Law and email it to the Case Manager (electronically in Microsoft Word); and

Summary: For non-jury trials, Proposed Conclusions of Law must be filed in Microsoft Word format.

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Each disputed instruction, definition, or question should be set out in bold type, underlined or italics and identified as disputed.

Summary: Disputed jury charge items must be formatted in bold, underline, or italics.

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Format

DOCX ?

d. Prior to the start of trial, the parties shall also submit the proposed charge electronically in Microsoft Word, by emailing it to the Case Manager.

Summary: Proposed jury charge must be submitted in Microsoft Word format via email to the Case Manager prior to trial.

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Format

DOCX ?

a. Proposed Findings of Fact and email it to the Case Manager (electronically in Microsoft Word);

Summary: For non-jury trials, Proposed Findings of Fact must be filed in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The offering party should mark its own exhibits prior to trial and include the party=s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit to be offered. (Example: Smith Construction, 3:10-cv-0010, Ex. 1.)

Summary: Offering parties should mark exhibits pre-trial with party name, case number, and exhibit number.

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Each requested instruction, definition, and interrogatory must be numbered and presented on a separate sheet of paper with the citation and authority upon which counsel rely.

Summary: Jury instructions must be numbered, on separate sheets, with citations and authority.

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Civil cases

10. Documents shall be designated by stamping or otherwise marking the documents with the words “CONFIDENTIAL” or “CONFIDENTIAL—FOR ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY,” thus clearly identifying the category of Designated Material for which protection is sought under the terms of this Order. Designated Material not reduced to documentary form shall be designated by the producing party in a reasonably equivalent way.

Summary: Designated documents must be marked with CONFIDENTIAL or CONFIDENTIAL—FOR ATTORNEYS’ EYES ONLY; non-documentary material must be designated equivalently.

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Civil cases

13. Deposition transcripts or portions thereof may be designated either (a) when the testimony is recorded, or (b) by written notice to all counsel of record, 3 ===== PAGE 4 ===== transcript, in which case all counsel receiving such notice shall be responsible for marking the copies of the designated transcript or portion thereof in their possession or control as directed by the Designating Party. Pending expiration of the 10 business days, the deposition transcript shall be treated as designated. When testimony is designated at a deposition, the Designating Party may exclude from the deposition all persons other than those to whom the Designated Material may be disclosed under paragraph 5 of this Order. Any party may mark Designated Material as a deposition exhibit, provided the deposition witness is one to whom the exhibit may be disclosed under paragraph 5 of this Order, and the exhibit and related transcript pages receive the same confidentiality designation as the original Designated Material.

Summary: Deposition transcripts may be designated when recorded or by written notice to counsel; counsel must mark copies as directed, and exhibits must have the same confidentiality designation as the original material.

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Criminal cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact must be filed electronically in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law must be filed electronically in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

identified as “SEALED” in the title of the document. For example, a motion for summary judgment filed under seal must be docketed as “MOTION for Summary Judgment (SEALED).” No pleading may be filed for docketing simply as “SEALED DOCUMENT” without advance permission of the Court.

Summary: Sealed documents must include 'SEALED' in the title, be docketed with '(SEALED)' suffix, and cannot be docketed as 'SEALED DOCUMENT' without court permission.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Counsel shall include in their filings their email addresses.

Summary: Counsel must include their email addresses in all filings.

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

The proposed charges must also be submitted electronically on a CD in Microsoft Word.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must be submitted on a CD in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact for Non-Jury Trials must be filed in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law for Non-Jury Trials must be filed in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

The parties must provide the Court with a complete printed set of exhibits for use at trial in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Summary: Parties must provide the Court with a complete printed set of exhibits in a tabbed, indexed notebook for trial use.

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Each appendix should contain a paginated table of contents and should be tabbed to locate easily the materials contained in the appendix.

Summary: Appendices must be tabbed to easily locate contained materials.

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Format

DOCX ?

(i) One set of proposed jury instructions that have been agreed to by counsel should be submitted to the Court electronically (via email in a Word format) and in hard copy at least one business day before the first day of trial. These instructions should be in the most final form possible.

Summary: Agreed civil jury instructions must be submitted via email in Word format and hard copy at least one business day before trial.

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contingent upon events that may occur during the trial (for example, an instruction to disregard testimony that has been ordered stricken from the record), the instruction should be clearly indicated in brackets and bold typeface.

Summary: Contingent jury instructions must be marked in brackets and bold typeface.

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Format

DOCX ?

If counsel cannot agree on a particular instruction, the proponent of the contested instruction should submit, on a separate disk or email in a Word format and in hard copy, an additional set of proposed jury instructions with the requested addition, deletion, or revision clearly indicated in brackets and bold italic typeface.

Summary: Contested jury instructions must be submitted via separate disk/email (Word format) and hard copy, with changes in brackets and bold italic.

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If the inclusion of any particular instruction is contingent upon events that may occur during the trial (for example, an instruction to disregard testimony that has been ordered stricken from the record), the instruction should be clearly indicated in brackets and bold typeface.

Summary: Contingent civil jury instructions must be enclosed in brackets and formatted in bold typeface.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Proposed jury instructions

Format

DOCX ?

the proponent of the contested instruction should submit, on a separate disk or email in a Word format and in hard copy, an additional set of proposed jury instructions with the requested addition, deletion, or revision clearly indicated in brackets and bold italic typeface.

Summary: Proponents of contested jury instructions must submit an additional set in Word format (via disk or email) and hard copy, with changes marked in brackets and bold italic.

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If a special master or court-appointed expert has been appointed, the moving party must provide the Opening Brief on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits, to the special master or court-appointed expert.

Summary: If special master/expert appointed, moving party must provide Opening Brief on disk/CD plus hard copy tabbed/bound in notebook to them.

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If a special master or court-appointed expert has been appointed, the nonmoving party must supply a copy of its Response on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits, to the special master or court-appointed expert.

Summary: If special master/expert appointed, nonmoving party must provide Responsive Brief on disk/CD plus hard copy tabbed/bound in notebook to them.

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If a special master or court-appointed expert has been appointed, the moving party must provide the Reply Brief on disk or CD along with a hard copy, tabbed and bound in notebook format with exhibits, to the special master or court-appointed expert.

Summary: If special master/expert appointed, moving party must provide Reply Brief on disk/CD plus hard copy tabbed/bound in notebook to them.

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Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

Parties to submit Claim Construction Chart in WordPerfect 8.0 (or higher) format in compliance with P.R. 4-5(d).

Summary: Claim Construction Chart must be submitted in WordPerfect 8.0 or higher format per P.R. 4-5(d).

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All depositions to be read into evidence as part of the parties’ case-in-chief must be EDITED (with notice to opposing parties) to exclude all unnecessary, repetitious, and irrelevant testimony. ONLY those portions relevant to the issues in controversy may be read into evidence.

Summary: Depositions read into evidence must be edited to exclude irrelevant/repetitious testimony; only relevant portions allowed.

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Civil cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

A brief or memorandum of law must be on 81/2 by 11-inch paper. The text must be double-spaced, but quotations more than two lines long may be indented and single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may be single-spaced. Margins must be at least one inch on all four sides

Summary: Briefs must use 8.5x11 paper, double-spaced text (exceptions for quotes, headings, footnotes), and 1-inch margins.

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Civil cases

No brief or motion shall be filed with the Court with a font or typeface smaller than twelve (12) point type. Footnotes may be in a font smaller than twelve (12) but not less than ten (10) point type.

Summary: Briefs and motions must use at least 12-point font; footnotes may be 10-point minimum.

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Civil cases

All appendices should contain a paginated table of contents and should be tabbed for easy location of the materials contained.

Summary: All appendices must contain a paginated table of contents and be tabbed for easy material location.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

The parties shall submit the proposed jury charge electronically and by e-mail to the Case Manager, in Microsoft Word format.

Summary: Proposed jury charges must be in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed findings of fact, electronically and by e-mail, to the Case Manager in Microsoft Word format. Counsel should include references to testimony and exhibits that support each proposed finding;

Summary: Proposed findings of fact must be in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

Proposed conclusions of law, electronically and by e-mail, to the Case Manager in Microsoft Word format. Each proposed conclusion of law should contain citation to legal authority supporting the conclusions;

Summary: Proposed conclusions of law must be in Microsoft Word format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Counsel is required to provide the Court with the original and one copy of the exhibits on the day of trial in properly tabbed notebook form.

Summary: Exhibits must be submitted in properly tabbed notebook form.

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Civil cases

Conventionally filed (i.e., not electronically) appendices and all courtesy copies should be tabbed at the right margin to facilitate location of the materials cited.

Summary: Conventionally filed (non-electronic) appendices must be tabbed at the right margin.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). Counsel are strongly encouraged to include references to testimony and exhibits that support each proposed finding;

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact must be filed electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3+ or Microsoft Word, with references to supporting testimony and exhibits.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Corel WordPerfect, X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). Each proposed conclusion of law shall contain citation to legal authority supporting the conclusions;

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law must be filed electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3+ or Microsoft Word, with citations to supporting legal authority.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Parties must mark their exhibits to include the date and case number on each.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with the date and case number on each.

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Criminal cases

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

12-point font, double-spaced, with 1” margins

Summary: Memoranda of law must use 12-point font, double spacing, and 1-inch margins.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). The Court strongly encourages counsel to reference testimony and exhibits that support each proposed finding of fact;

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact must be electronic in Corel WordPerfect X3+ or Microsoft Word; encourage referencing supporting testimony and exhibits.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law must be electronic in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

The Court will use the Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) to capture evidence electronically during the trial. This is the only method by which evidence may be submitted, and the parties must submit all files on a single storage device to the Case Manager by noon on the day before trial. For further instructions on the proper use of JERS, including the acceptable storage devices, file formats, and naming conventions, refer to the Court’s JERS information page on the Court’s website.

Summary: Exhibits must be submitted via JERS on single storage device to Case Manager by noon day before trial; JERS is only allowed method.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). The Court strongly encourages counsel to reference testimony and exhibits that support each proposed finding of fact;

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact must be electronic in Corel WordPerfect X3+ or Microsoft Word; counsel encouraged to reference supporting testimony/exhibits.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word).

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law must be electronic in Corel WordPerfect X3+ or Microsoft Word.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

The Court will use the Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) to capture evidence electronically during the trial. This is the only method by which evidence may be submitted, and the parties must submit all files on a single storage device to the Judicial Assistant by noon on the day before trial. For further instructions on the proper use of JERS, including the acceptable storage devices, file formats, and naming conventions, refer to the Court’s JERS information page on the Court’s website.

Summary: JERS is the only accepted method for electronic evidence submission; files must be submitted on single storage device to Judicial Assistant by noon day before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Conventionally filed (i.e., not electronically) appendices and all courtesy copies should be tabbed at the right margin to facilitate location of the materials cited.

Summary: Conventionally filed appendices and all courtesy copies must be tabbed at the right margin.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Proposed Findings of Fact (electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). Counsel are strongly encouraged to include references to testimony and exhibits that support each proposed finding;

Summary: Proposed Findings of Fact must be filed electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher or Microsoft Word.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Proposed Conclusions of Law (electronically in Corel WordPerfect, X3 or higher, or Microsoft Word). Each proposed conclusion of law shall contain citation to legal authority supporting the conclusions;

Summary: Proposed Conclusions of Law must be filed electronically in Corel WordPerfect X3 or higher or Microsoft Word, with citations to legal authority.

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Trial Deposition excerpts when objections have been lodged. Highlight the objections and the questions/answers to which those objections are directed.

Summary: Trial deposition excerpts with objections must have the objections and corresponding questions/answers highlighted.

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When providing hard copies, organize exhibits and attachments by tab at the right margin. Use the smallest binders that comfortably hold the material. Do not use binders larger than four inches. Divide into multiple binders when necessary. Provide courtesy copies marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF system docket number unless submitted on an urgent basis.

Summary: Hard copy courtesy copies must be tabbed at the right margin, stored in binders no larger than 4 inches, and marked with the CM/ECF docket number unless urgent.

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Use Form 5 to prepare draft proposed orders.

Summary: All draft proposed orders must be prepared using Form 5.

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Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

b. Style: Use American letter-size paper, and a minimum of 1-inch margins with ½-inch margins for footnotes, page numbers and any headers or footers. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes. Acceptable fonts are Times New Roman size 13 or larger, Book Antiqua size 12 or larger, and Century Schoolbook size 12 or larger.

Summary: Motion papers must use letter-size paper, 1-inch margins (0.5 inches for footnotes/headers/footers), double spacing (with exceptions), and specified fonts/sizes.

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g. Supporting Evidence: Supply affidavits, deposition testimony excerpts, and supporting documents as separate exhibits to the filing. Provide a cover sheet to identify and separate each exhibit. Prepare and submit a table of contents when attachments are numerous. Upload exhibits as separate attachments during filing on the CM/ECF system.

Summary: Supporting evidence must be filed as separate exhibits with cover sheets; numerous exhibits require a table of contents; exhibits must be uploaded as separate CM/ECF attachments.

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Use Form 6 to prepare a Joint Pretrial Order. Adapt this form within reason to accommodate the nature and complexity of the case.

Summary: Civil Joint Pretrial Orders must be prepared using Form 6, adaptable within reason for case complexity.

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Use Form 9 to prepare deposition designations.

Summary: Deposition designations must be prepared using Form 9.

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Use Form 7 to prepare a trial exhibit list. Also refer to Section 12. Each offering party must mark its own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number. List only those exhibits intended in good faith for use during trial.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists must use Form 7; exhibits must be marked with party name, case number, exhibit number, and only list exhibits intended for trial use.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Use Form 8 to prepare the trial witness list.

Summary: Trial witness lists must be prepared using Form 8.

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Include a cover sheet with concise summary of topics for each witness, the first deposition page, and at least two pages prior to and after any designation. Highlight in contrasting colors to indicate all designated testimony, counter-designations, and objections. Use a condensed transcript (four pages to one) when available.

Summary: Deposition designations must include a cover sheet with required contents, use contrasting colors for designations/objections, and use condensed transcripts when available.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

For bench trials, also offer the entire deposition marked as an exhibit.

Summary: For bench trials, the entire deposition must be offered marked as an exhibit.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Do not make copies. Return all questionnaires on conclusion of jury selection.

Summary: Juror questionnaires must not be copied and must be returned after jury selection concludes.

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Identify by bold, italicized, or differently colored font any disputed language and which party requests each competing version.

Summary: Disputed language in joint proposed jury charge must be marked with bold, italic, or different color font, noting the requesting party.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Court’s Case Manager.

Summary: Civil cases require plaintiff's counsel to submit Word version of jury charge by email to Court's Case Manager.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Use black font for all agreed findings and conclusions. Make it clear in the proposed findings that this means that the parties are agreed as to those. Where the parties disagree, use different color font. For example, if the parties do not agree on finding of fact number 7, plaintiff should submit their proposed number 7 in red and the defendant should submit their proposed number 7 in blue.

Summary: Agreed post-trial findings and conclusions must use black font; disagreed items must use different color font per party.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email to the Case Manager.

Summary: Civil cases require plaintiff's counsel to submit a Word version of documents via email to the Case Manager.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each submit a Word version by email.

Summary: Criminal cases require prosecution and defense counsel to each submit a Word version of documents via email.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Use the forms provided on the Court’s website: https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/district-magistrate- judges-procedures-schedules.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must use the forms provided on the Court’s website.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

Notices of Settlement must be received in writing

Summary: Notices of Settlement must be submitted in writing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

E. Providing Exhibits to the Court. Counsel for each party must provide the Court with a hard copy of its exhibits in a tabbed and indexed binder by the Final Pretrial Conference.

Summary: Counsel must provide hard copies of exhibits in a tabbed and indexed binder by the Final Pretrial Conference.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

A. Applications for restraining orders and other applications for immediate relief must be filed with the District Clerk’s Office: U.S. District Clerk’s Office 600 E. Harrison Street, Suite 101 Brownsville, Texas 78520 (956) 548-2500

Summary: Restraining order and immediate relief applications must be filed with the District Clerk’s Office at the specified address.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

A. All pleadings are to be electronically filed through the Electronic Case Filing System (“ECF”). Electronic filings must follow the “Administrative Procedures for Electronic Filing in Civil and Criminal Cases.” Answers to frequently asked questions about electronic filing may be obtained from the District Clerk’s Office.

Summary: All pleadings must be electronically filed through ECF, following Administrative Procedures for Electronic Filing; FAQ answers from District Clerk’s Office.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

B. If a filing, including attachments, contains 50 pages or more, the party must submit the filing electronically and submit a hard copy to the District Clerk’s Office. The hard-copy filing must be submitted to the District Clerk’s Office within seven days after the electronic

Summary: Filings with 50 or more pages (including attachments) require electronic filing plus hard copy to District Clerk’s Office within seven days of electronic filing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

At least 5 days before the initial pretrial conference, counsel must file a joint proposed scheduling order using the Court’s template and the certificate regarding generative artificial intelligence.

Summary: Joint proposed scheduling order must use the Court’s template.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All exhibits and witness lists must be marked and exchanged between counsel on the same date as the JPO deadline. The offering party will mark each of his/her own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number. All exhibits and witness lists must be filed electronically by the JPO deadline.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with party name, case number, and exhibit number; exchanged and e-filed by JPO deadline.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Counsel for each party must provide the Court with a hard copy of its exhibits in a tabbed and indexed binder by the Final Pretrial Conference.

Summary: Parties must submit hard copy exhibits in tabbed, indexed binders to the Court by the Final Pretrial Conference.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

Stipulations of Dismissal, under FRCP 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), must be received in writing and must be signed by all parties who have appeared.

Summary: Stipulations of Dismissal must be received in writing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

Notices of Settlement must be received in writing and must include a separate Agreed Judgment or Stipulation of Dismissal within 30 days of the Notice of Settlement.

Summary: Notices of Settlement must be received in writing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Parties must mark each exhibit with the date and case number.

Summary: All exhibits must be marked with the date and case number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Copies of all exhibits must be provided to the Court and to opposing counsel in tabbed, indexed binders.

Summary: All exhibits must be provided to the Court and opposing counsel in tabbed, indexed binders.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

A copy of all exhibits, witness lists, and expert or agent reports must be provided to the Court and to opposing counsel in tabbed, indexed binders.

Summary: Exhibits, witness lists, and expert reports must be provided to the Court and opposing counsel in tabbed, indexed binders for jury trials.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

At least 10 days before trial, proposed voir dire questions must be filed electronically.

Summary: Proposed voir dire questions must be filed electronically at least 10 days before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

At least 10 days before trial, proposed jury instructions must be filed electronically.

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must be filed electronically at least 10 days before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Criminal cases

Exhibits must be provided to opposing counsel in tabbed, indexed binders.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Every disclosure under FRCP 26(a)(1) or (a)(3) and every discovery request, response, or objection must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's own name — or by the party personally, if unrepresented — and must state the signer's address, email address, and telephone number. See FRCP 26(g).

Summary: Discovery disclosures, requests, responses, and objections must be signed by the attorney of record (or party if pro se) and include the signer's address, email, and phone number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All exhibits submitted in support of a motion, memorandum of law, or brief must be tabbed at the right margin. A party who submits more than five exhibits shall include a table of contents describing each exhibit and listing the tab where it is located. All citations to an exhibit must refer to the letter or number of its tab.

Summary: Exhibits supporting motions/briefs must be tabbed at the right margin; more than 5 exhibits require a TOC with tab numbers.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Citations to deposition or affidavit testimony must include the appropriate page or paragraph numbers. Citations to other documents or materials with three or more pages must include some sort of pinpoint citation. For example, a contract may be cited by section number, an employee handbook may be cited by page number, and a document without internal divisions may be Bates-stamped or otherwise marked and cited accordingly.

Summary: Deposition/affidavit citations must include page/paragraph numbers; documents over 3 pages require pinpoint citations.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Follow the form distributed by the court, adapting it within reason to the size and type of case.

Summary: Joint pretrial orders must use the court-distributed form, adapted reasonably to the case.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

thumb-drive compatible with Corel WordPerfect X9.

Summary: Proposed jury charge must be submitted on a thumb-drive compatible with Corel WordPerfect X9.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Each requested instruction, definition, and question must be numbered and presented on a separate sheet of paper with authority. If the parties, in good faith, cannot agree on all instructions, definitions, and questions, they will submit a single, unified charge. Each disputed instruction, definition, and question is to be underlined and identified as disputed. Each disputed item should be labeled to show which party is requesting the disputed language. Accompanying the charge will be the authority on which the offering party relies and on which the opposing party relies.

Summary: Proposed joint jury charge must have numbered items on separate sheets with authority; disputed items underlined, labeled, with both parties' authority.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The offering party will mark his own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit to be offered.

Summary: Offering parties must mark each exhibit with their name, case number, and exhibit number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Counsel for each party is required to provide the court with a copy of that party’s exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Summary: Parties must provide the court with a copy of their exhibits in a properly tabbed and indexed notebook.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

If a power-point presentation is used during oral argument, provide a printed copy of the presentation to the court and opposing counsel at the hearing.

Summary: Printed copy of power-point presentation used in oral argument must be provided to court and opposing counsel at the hearing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Provide video or audio exhibits on a thumb drive or disc labeled with the exhibit number.

Summary: Video or audio exhibits must be provided on a thumb drive or disc labeled with the exhibit number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The Joint Pretrial Order shall follow the form set forth in Local Rule 16.2, Appendix B.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must follow the form specified in Local Rule 16.2, Appendix B.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

Parties must submit Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law to the court in an electronic Word document.

Summary: Findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted as electronic Word documents.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

The parties shall submit the proposed charge to the Case Manager in an electronic Word document.

Summary: Joint proposed jury charge must be submitted as Word document to Case Manager.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Counsel for each party shall provide a tabbed and indexed notebook of exhibits for the court and the witness.

Summary: Counsel must provide tabbed, indexed exhibit notebooks to court and witness.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Counsel must provide the court with a single copy of any deposition from which excerpts will be used at trial and should use color-coded highlighting to represent each parties’ requested deposition excerpts.

Summary: Deposition excerpts must use color-coded highlighting for party designations.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

PDF

The .pdf document must contain bookmarks identifying each exhibit and bookmarks set to the portions of the document cited or referenced in the motion or brief. Further, when a motion or brief refers only to a small portion of a voluminous exhibit, the party should highlight the referenced portion of the exhibit.

Summary: Exhibits over 50 pages provided as PDF must include bookmarks for each exhibit and cited portions, and highlight small referenced portions.

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Underline the name of each corporation whose securities are publicly traded.

Summary: Interested party certificates must underline the names of corporations with publicly traded securities.

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Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

Style. Use American letter-size paper, a minimum 12-point font, and a minimum of 1inch margins with ½ inch margins for footnotes, page numbers and any headers or footers. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.

Summary: Motion papers must use letter-size paper, minimum 12-point font, 1-inch margins (½ inch for footnotes/headers/footers), double-spaced except as noted.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Provide pinpoint citation for all legal authority. Do the same for evidence. For instance, cite to page and line for depositions, to page and paragraph number for affidavits and pleadings, and to page and section number for contracts and similar materials. Use Bates numbers as the page reference where available.

Summary: All legal authority and evidence must have pinpoint citations; specific citation formats required for different evidence types; use Bates numbers where available.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

through Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis as an appendix to any filing. Provide a cover sheet to identify and separate each authority.

Summary: Appendix of Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis authorities must include a cover sheet identifying and separating each authority.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Use Form 6 to prepare a Joint Pretrial Order. Adapt this form within reason to accommodate the nature and complexity of the case.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders must be prepared using Form 6, adaptable within reason for case complexity.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Confer and prepare a joint trial notebook to provide the Court. Include each party’s materials paired together in the order listed above. In civil cases, include the Joint Pretrial Order as the first item.

Summary: Joint trial notebooks must include each party’s materials paired in order, with Joint Pretrial Order first in civil cases.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Use Form 7 to prepare a trial exhibit list. Also refer to Section 12.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists must be prepared using Form 7.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Each offering party must mark its own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

Summary: Each party must mark their exhibits with their name, the case number, and the exhibit number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

List only those exhibits intended in good faith for use before the jury during trial.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists must only include exhibits intended in good faith for use before the jury during trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The designator must prepare and have ready at the Court’s request each designated deposition. Include a cover sheet with concise summary of topics for each witness, the first deposition page, and at least two pages prior to and after any designation. Highlight in contrasting colors to indicate all designated testimony, counter-designations, and objections. Use a condensed transcript (four pages to one) when available.

Summary: Deposition designations must include a cover sheet, required pages, highlighted designations, and condensed transcripts when available.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Identify by bold or italicized font any disputed language and which party requests each competing version;

Summary: Disputed language in civil jury instructions must be marked with bold or italic font, and the requesting party must be identified.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Do not use footnotes to argue or explain disagreements.

Summary: Footnotes may not be used to argue or explain disagreements in civil jury instructions.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also jointly submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

Summary: Civil jury instruction filings must be submitted in Word (DOCX) format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In criminal cases, counsel for Prosecution and Defense must each also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

Summary: Criminal jury instruction filings must be submitted in Word (DOCX) format by each party.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

In civil cases, counsel for Plaintiff must also submit a Word version by email or USB drive.

Summary: Civil bench trial filings (proposed findings, conclusions, memorandum) must be submitted in Word (DOCX) format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed jury charge

A single, joint proposed jury charge, including all instructions, definitions, and questions, separately numbered and presented on a separate page, with authority.

Summary: Joint proposed jury charge must be separately numbered and presented on a separate page.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed jury charge ?

If there are instructions, definitions, or questions as to which the parties cannot agree, the disputed language is to be set out in bold type, italics, or underlined to identify it as disputed and labeled to indicate which party is requesting the disputed language.

Summary: Disputed language in joint proposed jury charge must be bold/italic/underlined and labeled with requesting party.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed jury charge ?

The proposed charge must also be submitted on a CD compatible with Corel WordPerfect 11 word processing or Microsoft Word 2003 or later.

Summary: Proposed jury charge must be submitted on CD compatible with Corel WordPerfect 11 or Microsoft Word 2003 or later.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

Without leave of court, all motions are limited to 25 double-spaced pages with 13-point font and 1” margins.

Summary: All motions must be double-spaced, 13-point font, 1-inch margins unless leave of court is granted.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

Parties must submit Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law to the court in an electronic Word document.

Summary: Parties must submit Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as electronic Word documents.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

The parties shall submit the proposed charge to the Case Manager in an electronic Word document.

Summary: Proposed jury charge must be submitted to the Case Manager as an electronic Word document.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Counsel must provide the court with a single copy of any deposition from which excerpts will be used at trial and should use color-coded highlighting to represent each parties’ requested deposition excerpts.

Summary: Deposition excerpts should use color-coded highlighting for each party's designations.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

All briefs must be in 13-point proportionately spaced font for text, with 12-point font for footnotes, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and full-justified. Minimize your use of footnotes. Do not put citations to authorities or exhibits in footnotes. Those must be in the body of the document.

Summary: All briefs must use 13-point proportionally spaced text, 12-point footnotes, double spacing, 1-inch margins, full justification; citations to authorities/exhibits must be in document body, not footnotes.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Every requested instruction, definition, and question must be numbered and substantiated (in footnotes) with authority. Identify any modifications to language from pattern jury charges.

Summary: All requested jury instructions must be numbered, substantiated with authority in footnotes, and note pattern jury charge modifications.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Every disputed instruction, definition, or question must be set out in bold type, underlined text, or italics (not in a contrasting font color). For all disputed items, include footnotes that identify (a) which party is requesting them; and (b) the opposing party’s basis for disputing their inclusion.

Summary: Disputed jury instructions must be formatted in bold, underline, or italics (no contrasting color) and include footnotes identifying requesting party and opposition basis.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

DOCX ?

Email the Case Manager electronic copies of the proposed jury charge and verdict form, in Microsoft Word. See supra § 1(e).

Summary: Proposed jury charge and verdict form must be in Microsoft Word (DOCX) format.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

printed double-sided, placed in binders of 4-inches or less, and complete with an index and corresponding tabs

Summary: Trial materials must be printed double-sided, in binders of 4 inches or less, with index and corresponding tabs.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All exhibits must be pre-marked with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number.

Summary: Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with the party's name, case number, and exhibit number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

proposed jury instructions, definitions—with each instruction and definition numbered, presented on a separate page, and supported by citations to authority

Summary: Proposed jury instructions must be numbered, on separate pages, with citations to authority.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

The Southern District of Texas requires electronic filing of all pleadings. LR 5.1.

Summary: All pleadings must be electronically filed per Local Rule 5.1.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents greater than 30 pages in length. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional filing of documents over 30 pages, with electronic filing preferred.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Leave of Court is required for the conventional filing of documents printed on both sides. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave of Court required for conventional double-sided filing, with electronic filing preferred.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Leave of Court is required for the filing of over-sized or irregularly shaped documents which are not capable of being readily imaged by court personnel and equipment. Such documents should be filed electronically when possible.

Summary: Leave required for over-sized/irregular documents not readily imaged, with electronic filing preferred.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Follow the form distributed by the Court, adapting it within reason to the size and type of case.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Order must follow the court-provided form, adapted reasonably for the case size and type.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Each requested instruction, definition, and interrogatory must be numbered and presented on a separate sheet of paper with the citation of authority upon which counsel rely.

Summary: All requested jury instructions, definitions, and interrogatories must be numbered, placed on separate sheets, and include supporting authority citations.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

All exhibits must be marked and exchanged among counsel prior to trial. The offering party will mark his own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit to be offered.

Summary: Exhibits must be marked with party name, case number, and exhibit number, and exchanged among counsel before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The forms to be used for the Plan and Order are Attachments 1 and 2 to this document.

Summary: Joint Discovery/Case-Management Plan must use Attachment 1 form.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

must be numbered and presented on a separate page.

Summary: Jury instructions must be numbered and presented on a separate page.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Each disputed instruction, definition, or question is to be set out in bold type, or italics, or underlined, and identified as disputed.

Summary: Disputed jury instructions must be formatted in bold, italics, or underlined and marked as disputed.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The charge must also be submitted on a CD compatible with Word.

Summary: Proposed jury charge must be submitted on a CD compatible with Microsoft Word.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

All exhibits must be marked and exchanged among counsel before trial.

Summary: All trial exhibits must be marked and exchanged between counsel before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The offering party will mark his own exhibits with the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit to be offered.

Summary: The offering party must mark their exhibits with party name, case number, and exhibit number.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

exhibits in a notebook.

Summary: Trial exhibits must be organized in a notebook.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

The offering party will mark his own exhibits before trial to include the party’s name, case number, and exhibit number on each exhibit.

Summary: Offering parties must mark exhibits with party name, case number, and exhibit number before trial.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

If there are instructions, definitions, or questions as to which the parties cannot agree, the disputed language is to be set out in bold type, italics, or underlined to identify it as disputed and labeled to indicate which party is requesting the disputed language.

Summary: Disputed language in proposed jury charges must be bold, italicized, or underlined, and labeled with the requesting party.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Format

WORD_PERFECT ?

The proposed charge must also be submitted on a CD compatible with Corel WordPerfect 11 word processing.

Summary: Proposed jury charges must be submitted on a CD compatible with Corel WordPerfect 11.

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

Civil cases

If a document is more than one page, the unitization of the document and any attachments and/or affixed notes must be maintained as they existed in the original document.

Summary: For multipage documents, preserve the original unitization of the document and its attachments or affixed notes.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

When providing copies of filings over one hundred pages, print double-sided and submit in a binder. Organize exhibits and attachments by tab at the right margin. Use the smallest binders that comfortably hold the material, but not larger than four inches. Divide into multiple binders when necessary. Provide courtesy copies marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF system docket number unless submitted on an urgent basis.

Summary: Courtesy copies of filings exceeding 100 pages must be double-sided, bound in tabbed binders no larger than 4 inches, and marked with the ECF docket number unless urgent.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Footnotes are strongly disfavored. Their use is discouraged by the setting of word limits rather than page limits. Use the same font as text for any footnote believed necessary. Evidence or argument raised only by footnote will be disregarded.

Summary: Footnotes strongly disfavored; must use same font as main text, and evidence/argument in footnotes is disregarded.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Provide pinpoint citation for all legal authority. For evidence, cite to page and line for depositions, to page and paragraph number for affidavits and pleadings, and to page and section number for contracts and similar materials. Use Bates number as the page reference where available.

Summary: Pinpoint citations required for all legal authority; specific citation formats required for depositions, affidavits, pleadings, contracts; Bates numbers preferred.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Don’t use footnotes to argue or explain disagreements.

Summary: Footnotes may not be used to argue or explain disagreements in civil jury instructions.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

The Court disfavors footnotes. The Court disregards evidence or argument raised only in footnotes.

Summary: The Court disfavors footnotes and disregards evidence or argument raised solely in footnotes.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Provide pinpoint citation for all legal authority. Do the same for evidence. For instance, cite to page and line for depositions, to page and paragraph number for affidavits and pleadings, and to page and section number for contracts and similar materials. Use Bates numbers as the page reference where available.

Summary: Pinpoint citations are required for all legal authority and evidence, with specific formatting per document type, and Bates numbers where available.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Applies to

Trial exhibit list ?

Exhibit lists may not be amended or supplemented after this date unless by agreement.

Summary: Trial exhibit lists cannot be amended or supplemented after filing unless parties agree.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Applies to

Trial exhibit list ?

List only those exhibits intended in good faith for use during trial.

Summary: Only exhibits intended in good faith for trial may be listed on trial exhibit lists.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Applies to

Trial exhibit ?

Seek agreement on the form of exchange. Absent agreement, exchange well-organized USB drives or provide for similar electronic transfer or

Summary: Exhibits must be exchanged via agreed method, or USB/electronic transfer if no agreement is reached.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Counsel should use a numbering system during the discovery process to allow for the orderly discussion of documents during the discovery and pretrial process.

Summary: Counsel must use a numbering system for documents during discovery and pretrial process.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Do not append copies of cases and the relevant parts of authorities that are cited in a brief, memorandum, or motion unless the authorities are not published or reasonably available through Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis.

Summary: Do not append copies of cited authorities to briefs/motions unless they are unpublished or unavailable via Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

f. Citations: Provide pinpoint citation for all legal authority. For evidence, cite to page and line for depositions, to page and paragraph number for affidavits and pleadings, and to page and section number for contracts and similar materials. Use Bates numbers as the page reference where available.

Summary: Pinpoint citations required for all legal authority; specific citation formats required for evidence; Bates numbers required where available.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

h. Copies of Legal Authority: Supply all cases or other authority not readily available through Westlaw or Lexis-Nexis as an appendix to any filing. Provide a cover sheet to identify and separate each authority.

Summary: Legal authorities not on Westlaw or Lexis must be appended as an appendix with a cover sheet.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Counsel must adapt the “Joint Pretrial Order form” provided by the Court.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Order must use the Court-provided form.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

When providing copies of filings over fifty pages, print double-sided and submit in a binder. Organize exhibits and attachments by tab at the right margin. Use the smallest binders that comfortably hold the material. Do not use binders larger than four inches. Divide into multiple binders when necessary.

Summary: Courtesy copies of filings over 50 pages must be double-sided, submitted in a three-ring binder no larger than four inches, with exhibits tabbed at the right margin.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Provide courtesy copies marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF system docket number unless submitted on an urgent basis.

Summary: Courtesy copies must be marked with the file-stamped CM/ECF docket number unless submitted urgently.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

The Court disfavors footnotes and discourages their use by setting word limits rather than page limits. The Court disregards evidence or argument raised only by footnote.

Summary: Footnotes are disfavored; the court disregards any evidence or argument raised only in footnotes.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

All appendices should contain a paginated table of contents and should be tabbed such that the Court can locate the materials more readily.

Summary: Appendices must include a paginated table of contents and be tabbed for easy navigation.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.INFO?

Applies to

Proposed confirmation order ?

Prior to a hearing, Judge Rodriguez would like the most recent draft to be filed on the docket, with a “redline” demonstrating whatever changes have been made since the original proposed order was filed.

Summary: Most recent draft of proposed confirmation order with redline changes should be filed before hearing.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.INFO?

The form for the Joint Pretrial Order should be followed, but may be adapted within reason to accommodate the size and nature of the case.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Order form should be followed, with reasonable adaptations allowed for case size and nature.

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LR16.2. Pretrial Order. The form of the pretrial order in Appendix B is acceptable to the judges who require one.

Summary: Pretrial orders required by judges may use the form provided in Appendix B.

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Civil cases

Attorneys should use numbers, not letters, for exhibits.

Summary: Exhibits should be numbered, not lettered.

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A form Joint Pretrial Order is attached. It should be followed, but may be adapted, within reason, to accommodate the size and nature of the case.

Summary: Joint Pretrial Orders should use the Court's attached form, with reasonable adaptations allowed.

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Recorded depositions should be edited to remove “dead air”.

Summary: Recorded depositions should be edited to remove dead air.