Judge Dawn Rogers
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- First continuances require a showing of good cause and substantial need for delaying the trial setting.
- Agreed continuances may be submitted immediately for ruling without an oral hearing.
- Opposed continuance requests may be set for oral hearing or submission docket.
Request must include
Communication
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
All exhibits must be printed, indexed, and placed in a notebook for the Judge. The court reporter will accept exhibits from each party on flash drive.
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
The order of severance must include styling, case number, parties, documents (with exact titles and dates), disposition, and cost responsibility.
The order of severance must include the following information: How you want the case to be styled. Case number, i.e. 2006-32041-A. What parties are to be severed into the severed case. What documents are to be severed into the severed case, (need exact title of document, image number and exact date filed) . State if the severed order disposes of the severed case or will it remain an active case. State who will pay for the cost of the severance.
Document Type
Order Of Severance
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
Default judgments require an affidavit establishing that the defendant is not in active military service.
The federal Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 521, § 201) requires that before granting a default judgment, state courts first obtain an affidavit that sets forth facts (i.e., not hearsay, and not matters asserted “on information and belief,” etc.) sufficient to show that the defendant against whom a default judgment is sought is not currently active and serving in the United States Armed Forces
Document Type
Default Judgment
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
Zoom hearings are limited to 15-minute increments total; movants must include this statement in the Notice of Oral Hearing.
All zoom hearings will be heard in 15 minute increments--total. Movants are to include this in the Notice of Oral Hearing.
Document Type
Notice Of Oral Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
If agreeing to a summer Monday, the order must include vacation waiver language and be signed by all counsel and pro se parties.
You can agree to any Monday of your choice, if you choose a Monday in the summer months of June, July or August, you must include the language on the order, that everyone agrees to waive their vacation for that two week period, the order needs to be signed by all counsel and prose parties if any in your case.
Document Type
Order
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
Discovery motions must include a proposed order enumerating each disputed request/response with a Sustained/Overruled line.
With all discovery motions, parties MUST submit a proposed Order, enumerating each discovery request/response in dispute. Next to each discovery request/dispute should be the words: “_____Sustained _____ Overruled”.
Document Type
Discovery Motion
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
Motions for severance must state the basis for the severance.
The motion for severance must state the basis for the severance.
Document Type
Motion For Severance
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Mandatory
All motions must be accompanied by a proposed order filed at least 48 hours before submission or oral hearing.
You must file a proposed order with your motion at least 48 hours prior to your submission or oral hearing.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Note
Motions in limine should not duplicate the standing order and should be limited to case-specific issues.
Do not duplicate these items in your motions in limine. Rather, your motion should be limited to other items, and specifically to limine issues that are peculiar to the facts of your case.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Be prepare and exchange proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law with all counsel and provide them to the judge. In addition, prepare a proposed form of judgment.
Summary: For bench trials, parties must exchange proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law and provide a proposed judgment.
Document Type
Proposed Findings Conclusions
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The proposed order must be filed at least 48 hours before submission or oral hearing.
You must file a proposed order with your motion at least 48 hours prior to your submission or oral hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | PROPOSED ORDERS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL MOTIONS
Motions on the submission docket require 10-day notice; otherwise they will be automatically passed.
Motions placed on a submission docket without the requisite 10-day notice will be automatically passed by the Clerk of the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Submission docket
Objections to deposition excerpts should be made in writing more than 24 hours before the deposition is used at trial.
Excerpts should be reviewed and objections made in writing more than 24 hours before that deposition is to be used at trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial Procedures
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Deposition excerpts must be provided to opposing counsel the week before trial.
Deposition excerpts must be provided to opposing counsel the week before trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Trial Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
First continuances require a showing of good cause and substantial need for delaying the trial setting.
First continuances may be granted for good cause and must demonstrate substantial need for a delay of the trial setting.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Continuances
Opposed continuance requests may be set for oral hearing or submission docket.
Opposed continuance requests may be set for oral hearing or submission docket.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Continuances
Agreed continuances may be submitted immediately for ruling without an oral hearing.
Agreed continuances may be submitted immediately for ruling without oral hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
To request preferential trial setting, file a motion, set it for oral hearing, and contact the court clerk.
Preferential trial setting request, you must file a motion and set for an oral hearing, please contact the court clerks at (832) 927-1825 or you can email at simone.mills@hcdistrictclerk.com .
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Preferential Trial Setting
Parties must submit correspondence explaining why an emergency hearing is needed.
Parties must submit correspondence to the court as to why an emergency hearing is needed. Once the Court has reviewed the correspondence, a decision will be made as to (1) whether it is granted and (2) whether the hearing will be held in-person or via zoom.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | EMERGENCY HEARINGS
A non-movant who prefers an oral hearing must confer with the movant and, if no agreement, submit correspondence to the Court.
If a non-movant prefers an oral hearing (either via zoom or in person), the non-movant must confer with the movant on a date/time for an oral hearing that is agreeable to both of them. If no agreement can be made, the non-movant must submit correspondence to the Court explaining why an oral hearing is preferred and that parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Submission docket
Hearings requiring more than 15 minutes will be held in person; contact Simone Mills to schedule.
Any hearings that requires more than 15 minutes will be held in person. The 334th will hold in-person law day dockets for hearings requiring more than 15 minutes. Please contact Simone Mills at (832) 927-1825 or email her at simone.mills@hcdistrictclerk.com to schedule an in-person hearing.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | IN-PERSON HEARINGS
Contact the court clerk by phone to schedule an oral hearing.
Please call the court clerk for an oral hearing.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Motions
Emergency motions may be scheduled through the court clerk upon a showing of good cause.
Emergency Motions: May be scheduled through the court clerk with good cause shown.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | Emergency Motions
If an order is not signed within 21 days, call or email the clerk to gently remind the court.
If an order for a motion that has been heard or set on the submission docket has not been signed after twenty one (21) days, simply call or email the clerk of court with a gentle reminder. Please call Simone Mills at (832) 927-1825 or send her an email at simone.mills@hcdistrictclerk.com
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 1 | NOTICE: Following up on rulings