Bexar County Civil District Courts Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
47 rules from official source documents
6 of 47 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Pre-motion conference and letter requirements before filing motions, including sequential steps. This page is scoped to Bexar County Civil District Courts; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must confer before requesting a hearing about the hearing subject and available dates/times, including with an Attorney General's Office representative when that office is involved.
Attorneys and Self-represented litigants are required to confer in advance of requesting a hearing regarding the subject of the hearing AND available dates and times for the hearing. The requirement to confer will be enforced. If a case involves the Attorney General's Office, attorneys/self-represented litigants must confer with a representative from that office regarding the subject of the suit as well as their availability.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL
Before requesting a hearing, counsel must confer with the opposing party about the dispute, with a minimum of three legitimate conferral attempts required on non-emergency issues.
Confer with opposing counsel/self-represented litigant regarding the dispute BEFORE requesting a hearing. A minimum of three legitimate attempts to confer must be made on non-emergency issues.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Summary-judgment motions are decided by submission within statutory deadlines, and the court will notify parties by email of the date the motion will be considered.
Motions for Summary Judgment filed in the 407ᵗʰ District Court will be ruled on by submission within statutory deadlines. To ensure compliance with these newly-mandated deadlines, when a summary judgment is filed in the 407ᵗʰ, the court will issue notice to the parties on file by e-mail with the date the motion will be considered.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026WARNING
A hearing is required for any amended docket control order request that extends the trial date beyond the suggested completion dates.
Any requests for an amended docket control order that extends the trial date further than the suggested completion dates listed above will require a hearing.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
Summary-judgment hearings are scheduled after 3:00 p.m., and each party has 30 minutes for oral argument unless the court permits otherwise.
Hearings on Motions for Summary Judgments are scheduled in the afternoons after 3:00 p.m., and parties are limited to thirty (30) minutes of oral argument each unless otherwise permitted by the court.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026INFO
Amended Agreed Docket Control Orders may be submitted for signature without a hearing when the extended trial date stays within the applicable completion dates.
Amended Agreed Docket Control Orders may be submitted for signature without a hearing if the extended trial date remains within the trial completion dates listed in the paragraph above (18 months, 12 months, or 6 months).
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Only the following motions shall return to the Visiting Judge who originally ruled: a. Motion to Enter b. Motion to Reconsider c. Motion to Clarify d. Motion for New Trial e. Motion to Set Aside Order
Summary: Only motions to enter, to reconsider, to clarify, for new trial, and to set aside an order may return to the Visiting Judge who originally ruled the matter.
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Civil cases
Set the motion in Presiding Court pursuant to the Bexar County Civil District Courts Local Rules (https://www.bexar.org/DocumentCenter/View/40194/Bexar-County-Civil-District-Court-Local-Rules-2024-1924?bidId=) on a date the Visiting Judge is scheduled to assist Presiding Court.
Summary: Motions for the Visiting Judge must be set in Presiding Court, per the Bexar County Civil District Courts Local Rules, on a date the Visiting Judge is scheduled to assist Presiding Court.
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Civil cases
Your announcement to the Presiding Judge must include the name of the Visiting Judge that should hear the matter.
Summary: The announcement to the Presiding Judge must include the name of the Visiting Judge that should hear the matter.
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Civil cases
Note: All hearings before a Visiting Judge must adhere to these procedures and must be assigned by the Presiding Judge
Summary: All hearings before a Visiting Judge must follow these procedures and must be assigned by the Presiding Judge.
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Civil cases
Set the hearing per local rules, either at 8:30 a.m. (non-evidentiary) or 9:00 a.m. (evidentiary).
Summary: Hearings on these motions must be set per local rules at 8:30 a.m. for non-evidentiary matters or 9:00 a.m. for evidentiary matters.
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- Required
- Always ?
Prior to setting a hearing, counsel and/or self-represented litigants must make reasonable efforts to actually speak to one another regarding the date, time, and format (i.e., whether in-person or remote) of a hearing or trial and the substance of the motion in a genuine effort to narrow their disputes before seeking court intervention.
Summary: Before setting any hearing or trial, parties must make reasonable efforts to actually speak about the date, time, and format of the setting and the substance of the motion to narrow their disputes.
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If the parties to a proceeding wish to involve the Domestic Relations Office in the case, a motion must be filed and a hearing set before the Presiding Judge. The Presiding Judge will determine if the involvement of the Domestic Relations Office is appropriate. No orders, including orders agreed to by the parties, will be signed unless the Presiding Judge has determined at a hearing that the involvement of the Domestic Relations Office will assist the Court.
Summary: Parties wishing to involve the Domestic Relations Office must file a motion and set a hearing before the Presiding Judge, and no orders (including agreed orders) will be signed unless the judge determines at a hearing that DRO involvement will assist the Court.
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- Required
- Always ?
Counsel and self-represented litigants must confer on all motions prior to presenting any issue to the trial court and must bring to the hearing an order conforming to any agreements reached on an issue and providing space for the trial judge to rule on the remaining disputed issues.
Summary: Parties must confer on all motions before presenting them to the trial court and bring a conforming proposed order to the hearing.
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- Required
- Always ?
Attorneys and Self-represented litigants are required to confer in advance of requesting a hearing regarding the subject of the hearing AND available dates and times for the hearing. The requirement to confer will be enforced.
Summary: Attorneys and self-represented litigants must confer before requesting any hearing regarding both the subject of the hearing and available dates and times, and this requirement is enforced.
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If a case involves the Attorney General's Office, attorneys/self-represented litigants must confer with a representative from that office regarding the subject of the suit as well as their availability.
Summary: In cases involving the Attorney General's Office, attorneys and self-represented litigants must also confer with an AG representative regarding the subject of the suit and their availability.
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- Required
- Always ?
Confer with opposing counsel/self-represented litigant regarding the dispute BEFORE requesting a hearing. A minimum of three legitimate attempts to confer must be made on non-emergency issues.
Summary: Before requesting any hearing, parties must confer with opposing counsel or self-represented litigants, making a minimum of three legitimate attempts to confer on non-emergency issues.
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Before filir.g any contested motion, the movant shall confer with all parties affected by the requested relief to determine whether the motion will be opposed and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
Summary: Before filing any contested motion, the movant must confer with all affected parties and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
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Civil cases
All Motions for Summary Judgment will be heard by submission.
Summary: All Motions for Summary Judgment are heard by submission; an in-person or Zoom hearing is held only if requested and granted by the Court.
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Before filing any contested motion, the movant shall confer with all parties affected by the requested relief to determine whether the motion will be opposed and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
Summary: Before filing any contested motion, the movant must confer with all affected parties to determine whether the motion will be opposed and prepare a Certificate of Conference.
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- Required
- Always ?
No jury trial on the merits shall be conducted in any case until all contested issues have been referred to Mediation. Mediation will be at the discretion of the court and may be requested by the parties. If the patties cannot agree, the Court will appoint a qualified Mediator.
Summary: No jury trial may be held until all contested issues have been referred to mediation, which is discretionary, may be requested by the parties, and for which the Court will appoint a mediator if the parties cannot agree.
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- Required
- Always ?
Except on leave of Court, the parties and all authorized agents with the authority to settle the case must attend mediation.
Summary: The parties and all agents with settlement authority must attend mediation unless the Court grants leave excusing attendance.
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Civil cases
All Motions for Summary Judgment filed in the 37th District Court will be heard in the 37th District Court, rather than in Presiding Court.
Summary: All Motions for Summary Judgment filed in the 37th District Court are heard in the 37th District Court rather than in Presiding Court.
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Civil cases
When a Motion for Summary Judgment is filed in the 37th, the court will issue a notice to the parties via e-mail with a hearing date. The hearing date will be set between 35 - 45 days from the filing of the motion, usually between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. or at another time depending on the court's availability. The parties will have 30 minutes to present and respond to the motion.
Summary: Upon filing an MSJ, the court emails the parties a hearing date set 35-45 days from filing (usually between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m., or otherwise at the court's availability), and the parties have 30 minutes to present and respond.
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Civil cases
All Motions for Summary Judgment filed in the 131st District Court will be heard in the 131st District Court, rather than in Presiding Court.
Summary: Motions for Summary Judgment filed in the 131st District Court are heard in the 131st District Court rather than in Presiding Court.
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Civil cases
The parties will have 30 minutes to present and respond to the motion.
Summary: The parties have 30 minutes total to present and respond to a summary judgment motion at the hearing.
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Prior to setting any MTE in the 438th District Court, the parties shall contact the court to obtain dates of availability and confer with the opposing pro se party or counsel on those dates prior to filing the setting.
Summary: Before setting any MTE, parties must contact the court for available dates and confer with the opposing pro se party or counsel on those dates before filing the setting.
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Only 15 minutes is allowed per MTE hearing.
Summary: Each MTE hearing is limited to 15 minutes.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?
The court requires the parties to meaningfully confer in advance of the hearing which includes having exchanged the proposed order and submitting proposed changes. Failure to confer may result in the MTE being reset or the parties ordered to confer in a zoom breakout room prior to the court taking up the matter.
Summary: Parties must meaningfully confer before an MTE hearing, including exchanging the proposed order and proposed changes, or risk the MTE being reset or being ordered to confer in a Zoom breakout room.
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No MTE settings are permitted on Mondays nor Tuesdays following a Monday court holiday.
Summary: During the court's jury weeks, no MTE settings are permitted on Mondays or on Tuesdays following a Monday court holiday.
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No MTE settings are permitted on Mondays and Fridays.
Summary: During the court's nonjury weeks, no MTE settings are permitted on Mondays or Fridays.
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MTE's requiring up to 30 minutes of time, may only be set during non-jury weeks starting at 4:30pm, and are subject to the court's availability.
Summary: MTEs requiring up to 30 minutes may only be set during nonjury weeks starting at 4:30pm, subject to the court's availability.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Dispositive motions, Motions for New Trial and Ex Parte matters do not require a Certificate of Conference.
Summary: Dispositive motions, motions for new trial, and ex parte matters are exempt from the Certificate of Conference requirement.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
d. The Court will review the request and set appropriately. e. If the Court denies your request, you will keep the original submission date.
Summary: The Court reviews in-person/Zoom hearing requests and sets them appropriately; if the request is denied, the motion keeps the original submission date.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
The Court currently considers Summary Judgment Motions on submission; however, if any party requests a hearing, the court will grant one at its discretion. Should a party require a hearing, they must contact the court's clerk or coordinator to schedule an appropriate date.
Summary: Summary judgment motions are decided on submission, but a hearing will be granted at the court's discretion upon request and must be scheduled by contacting the court's clerk or coordinator.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
Dispositive motions, Motions for New Trial and Ex Parte matters do not require a Certificate of Conference.
Summary: Dispositive motions, Motions for New Trial, and ex parte matters are exempt from the Certificate of Conference requirement.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?
The Court currently considers Summary Judgment Motions on submission; however, if any party requests a hearing, the court will grant one at its discretion. Should a party require a hearing, they must contact the court's clerk or coordinator to schedule an appropriate date.
Summary: Summary judgment motions are decided on submission, but the Court will grant a hearing at its discretion upon request, which the party must schedule by contacting the court's clerk or coordinator.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
Civil cases
The above Motions are ordinarily fairly short matters, however please confer with opposing counsel on your time announcement.
Summary: Counsel should confer with opposing counsel on the time announcement because these motions are ordinarily short matters.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
Once the request is received, all counsel/self-represented litigants will be given a time to approach the Court to briefly discuss the contested issues, This will be a brief conference which can be done via Zoom or in person.
Summary: For hearings with time announcements of 3 hours or more, all parties will be given a time to briefly discuss the contested issues with the Court (via Zoom or in person) before the hearing date is provided.
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A docket call will be held approximately three weeks prior to jury trial and multi-day bench trial dates (see court website for dates). The conference will be limited to providing the trial announcement, time requested, whether an interpreter is needed, whether the case has been mediated, and if there are any out-of-town parties or witnesses.
Summary: A docket call is held approximately three weeks before jury trials and multi-day bench trials, limited to the trial announcement, time requested, interpreter needs, mediation status, and out-of-town parties or witnesses.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
Once all counsel/self-represented litigants have replied to the email providing available dates the hearing will be confirmed.
Summary: For hearings with time announcements under 3 hours, the hearing will be confirmed once all counsel and self-represented litigants reply to the settings email with available dates.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
Dispositive motions, Motions for New Trial and Ex Parte matters do not require a Certificate of Conference.
Summary: Dispositive motions, Motions for New Trial, and Ex Parte matters are exempt from the Certificate of Conference requirement.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
The rest of the week, and subject to the court's availability, MTEs are permissible starting at 1pm.
Summary: During jury weeks, MTE settings are permissible on the remaining weekdays starting at 1pm, subject to the court's availability.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?
The rest of the week, and subject to the court's availability, MTEs are permissible starting at 1pm and 1:30pm.
Summary: During nonjury weeks, MTE settings are permissible on the remaining weekdays starting at 1pm and 1:30pm, subject to the court's availability.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Parties may request a hearing in writing prior to the date provided in the court’s notice. Before requesting a hearing, all parties must confer and make best efforts to agree on dates of mutual availability.
Summary: Parties may request a hearing in writing before the noticed submission date, but must first confer and make best efforts to agree on mutually available dates.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
All settings must be confirmed with the clerk before a notice of hearing is filed. Settings made without prior court approval may not be honored.
Summary: The clerk must confirm settings before a notice of hearing is filed, and settings without prior court approval may not be honored.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
Parties may request a hearing in writing prior to the date provided on the Courts' notice. Before doing so, all parties must confer and make best efforts to agree on dates of mutual availability.
Summary: Before requesting a hearing on a Motion for Summary Judgment, all parties must confer and make best efforts to agree on mutually available dates.
Does Bexar County Civil District Courts require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?
Bexar County Civil District Courts rules set a pre-motion procedure for motion to enter, motion to reconsider, motion to clarify, motion for new trial, and motion to set aside order. Only motions to enter, to reconsider, to clarify, for new trial, and to set aside an order may return to the Visiting Judge who originally ruled the matter. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.
Judge Christine Vasquez Hortick's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Attorneys and self-represented litigants must confer before requesting a hearing about the hearing subject and available dates/times, including with an Attorney General's Office representative when that office is involved.
Judge Tina Torres's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Summary-judgment motions are decided by submission within statutory deadlines, and the court will notify parties by email of the date the motion will be considered.
44 more rules answer this question in the list above.
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