Judge Grace Pandithurai
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- A unilateral continuance motion will not be considered unless the filer first obtains a contingent appearance date from the Court Coordinator.
- An agreed continuance requires Court approval and an appearance date promptly after the matter is continued.
Request must include
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Before trial begins, the State and Defense must submit a written discovery log acknowledging the disclosure and receipt of all material provided to the Defense under Article 39.14.
Prior to the start of trial, the State and Defense shall submit to the Court a written discovery log, acknowledging the disclosure and receipt of all documents, items, and information provided to the Defense in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 39.14.
Document Type
Discovery Log
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A discovery motion must be accompanied by a certificate of conference or the Court will not consider it or set it for hearing.
However, no attorney shall file a discovery motion without first conferring with opposing counsel, and no motion will be considered by the Court or set for a hearing unless it is accompanied by a certificate of conference, in accordance with the Court's Instructions, Rules and Procedures.
Document Type
Discovery Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
A party must state in its motion the amount of time requested for a contested hearing.
Time Limits on Motions Parties will designate the amount of time needed for a contested hearing in their motion so the Court may schedule accordingly.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
A motion requesting more than 20 minutes for a contested bond hearing should state the need and explain why the additional time is necessary.
If more than 20 minutes is needed for a contested bond hearing, it should be noted in the motion along with the reason why more time is necessary.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
When additional particularized discovery is needed, the Defense may file a written motion addressing a matter not covered by the Standing Order, and the motion must be presented at the earliest opportunity before trial.
In the event that additional, particularized discovery is necessary, the Defense may file a written motion for discovery concerning a matter not addressed in this Order, and any such motion shall be presented to the Court at the earliest opportunity before trial.
Document Type
Discovery Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
If not opposed, the moving party shall accompany the motion with a proposed order signed by all attorneys indicating the approval of the same.
Summary: If an otherwise qualifying motion is not opposed, it must be accompanied by a proposed order signed by all attorneys indicating approval.
Document Type
Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The following certificate shall be attached to the motion for all other motions and signed by the attorney in charge.
Summary: For all motions not covered by the specific pre-hearing communication rule, the court-provided certificate of conference must be attached to the motion and signed by the attorney in charge.
Document Type
Motion
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Ex parte motions and orders must initially be submitted to the Court by e-filing, but a time-sensitive request may be presented to the Court Coordinator when the Court cannot promptly review it.
Ex Parte Motions and Orders shall first be presented to the Court for determination by e-filing. If the Court is unavailable to promptly review the request, and the request is time sensitive, then the request may be presented to the Court Coordinator.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 5 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A waiver of appearance for the second announcement must be filed at least two business days before that setting.
All Defendants and attorneys are required to attend every setting in person, except for the second announcement if a waiver has been filed at least two (2) business days before the setting.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 1 | ANNOUNCEMENT SETTINGS
A written waiver may permit nonattendance at the second announcement and should be e-filed no later than two business days beforehand.
Appearances at second announcement may be waived in accordance with the written waiver. The written waiver should be e-filed no later than two (2) business days before the announcement date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | ANNOUNCEMENT SETTINGS
All evidentiary motions other than motions in limine must be filed ten business days before the pretrial conference, with notice to opposing counsel.
Attorneys or pro se parties will be expected at pretrial conference to have all evidentiary motions (with exclusion of Motion in Limine) filed ten (10) business days prior to the pretrial conference and notice given to opposing counsel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | ANNOUNCEMENT SETTINGS
A motion for a suggested name change should be e-filed no later than two business days before the second announcement.
Motions for suggested name change should be e-filed no later than two (2) business days before second announcement.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | ANNOUNCEMENT SETTINGS
A motion to suppress must be filed before the pretrial conference to be timely.
Motions to Suppress that are not filed before pretrial conference are not timely filed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 5 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS
Defense may waive the Second Announcement docket only by filing a waiver of setting, together with discovery and any plea recommendation, at least two business days before the setting.
This setting can be waived if Defense has discovery, a plea recommendation (if one is given) and a waiver of setting is filed two (2) business days before this setting.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Announcement Docket Scheduling Order
A motion to suppress will ordinarily be heard within 30 days after filing, subject to the Court's schedule and an existing pretrial conference setting.
Motions to Suppress evidence will be heard within 30 days of the motion’s filing if the Court’s schedule allows, unless the case is already set for pretrial conference.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 5 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Notice of the evidentiary motions must be given to opposing counsel in connection with motions filed for the pretrial conference.
Attorneys or pro se parties will be expected at pretrial conference to have all evidentiary motions (with exclusion of Motion in Limine) filed ten (10) business days prior to the pretrial conference and notice given to opposing counsel.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | ANNOUNCEMENT SETTINGS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Before a hearing is set on a motion for early termination from community supervision, bond reduction, a 17.151 application, or habeas corpus, the moving party must communicate with opposing counsel to determine whether the motion will be opposed.
No motion for early termination from community supervision, bond reduction, 17.151 application or writ of habeas corpus will be set for hearing until the moving party has communicated with opposing attorney to determine whether the contemplated motion will be opposed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 4 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS — CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE
An attorney must confer with opposing counsel before filing a discovery motion, and the motion will not be considered or set for hearing without a certificate of conference.
However, no attorney shall file a discovery motion without first conferring with opposing counsel, and no motion will be considered by the Court or set for a hearing unless it is accompanied by a certificate of conference, in accordance with the Court's Instructions, Rules and Procedures.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 5 | ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY MOTIONS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A unilateral continuance motion will not be considered unless the filer first obtains a contingent appearance date from the Court Coordinator.
Motions for Continuance which are filed unilaterally will not be considered without first obtaining a contingent appearance date from the Court Coordinator in the event the motion is granted.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 5 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS
An agreed continuance requires Court approval and an appearance date promptly after the matter is continued.
Agreed Motions for Continuance are subject to Court approval and must contain an appearance date as soon as reasonably possible for matters continued.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 5 | MOTIONS AND SETTING HEARINGS