Harris County District Courts Courtesy Copy Requirements

27 rules from official source documents

6 of 27 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.

When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting. This page is scoped to Harris County 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

Civil cases

A courtesy copy of any pleading filed within 24 hours of a hearing or submission date must be submitted.

The Court requires a courtesy copy of any pleadings that are filed within 24 hours of the hearing or submission date.

Judge Michael Gomez

Checked against the court's document on Sep 20, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

When filing a motion for an emergency hearing, a courtesy copy must be sent directly to the Clerk.

If only one side thinks it is an emergency, please file a motion for emergency hearing. Please send a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk who will then give it to the judge to review and set an expedited hearing time or provide further guidance to the parties, as appropriate.

Judge Michael Gomez

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026WARNING

When only one side deems a matter an emergency, e-file the emergency motion and email a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk.

If only one side feels that it is an emergency, they should e-file a motion for emergency/expedited hearing and email a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk who will then give it to the Court for review and to set an expedited hearing or provide further guidance.

Judge Christine Weems

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 20, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

A courtesy copy of a special setting request letter must be sent to the Clerk.

that you are unable to secure a hearing date as soon as necessary on the Court's regular oral hearing docket, or if you require a special setting, please file a letter with the Court, and serve it on all parties, requesting a special setting with alternative dates that are convenient for all parties and the date by which you are requesting the matter be heard by the Court. Please send a courtesy copy of the letter to the Clerk who will then give it to the judge for review.

Judge Michael Gomez

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Motions with hyperlinks may have courtesy copy delivered on a USB thumb drive.

If you have hyperlinks on motions that have been filed, you can provide a courtesy copy of the motion in a USB thumb drive with your courtesy copies.

Judge Beau A. Miller

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026INFO

Civil cases

Courtesy copies should be provided three days before the scheduled hearing when possible.

Courtesy Copies should be provided 3 days before the scheduled hearing if possible.

Judge Tanya Garrison

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

A hard copy of the exhibit list and a hard copy of the exhibits should be delivered to Judge C. Elliott Thornton and the court reporter 2 business days prior to the court proceedings. Exhibits with multiple pages should be stapled, bound and/or assembled so that they may be accurately preserved.

Summary: Hard copies of the exhibit list and exhibits must be delivered to the Judge and court reporter 2 business days before proceedings, and multi-page exhibits must be stapled or bound.

Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

In an effort to reduce paper usage, please do not submit courtesy copies of any motion or response. Also, the Court does not need copies of exhibits.

Summary: Courtesy copies of motions, responses, or exhibits should not be submitted to the Court.

Judge Latosha Lewis Payne

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Please send a courtesy copy directly to the Clerk who will then give it to the judge to review and set an expedited hearing or provide further guidance to the parties, as appropriate.

Summary: Send a courtesy copy of the emergency motion directly to the Clerk for the judge's review.

Judge Latosha Lewis Payne

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

Civil cases

Parties filing pleadings more than twenty pages in length or with more than 50 pages of exhibits must provide a courtesy copy of those pleadings and accompanying exhibits to the Court, and give written notice to all parties stating the specific documents that were provided. If a party highlights or otherwise marks a document in a courtesy copy provided to the Court, that party shall provide all other parties to the litigation an exact copy of what was provided to the Court. Also include a copy of the proposed order, latest live pleading and answer, latest DCO, and any legal authority, with any courtesy copy provided to the court.

Summary: Courtesy copy required for pleadings over 20 pages or with over 50 pages of exhibits, with written notice to all parties and additional documents.

Judge Beau A. Miller

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

Civil cases

After parties e-file their pleadings and exhibits along with a cover letter, they must provide two (2) courtesy copies of those pleadings and accompanying exhibits to the Court (one for the Judge and one for the Court Reporter) and give written notice to all parties stating the specific documents that were provided.

Summary: After e-filing pleadings and exhibits for trial, parties must provide two courtesy copies to the Court and written notice to all parties.

Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton

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

Civil cases

If there will be any deposition excerpts, we will need a hard copy of the deposition(s) and during the trial the line and page should be quoted into the record in real time. Please deliver one hard copy for the judge and one hard copy for the court reporter, tabbed and in binders along with a USB thumb drive to:

Summary: For deposition excerpts, deliver two hard copies (judge and court reporter) tabbed and in binders along with a USB thumb drive.

Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton

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

The TRIAL courtesy copy Binders are to be delivered to the trial coordinator, NO LATER THAN 4pm on the Thursday before the two-week trial period.

Summary: Trial courtesy-copy binders must be delivered to the trial coordinator no later than 4pm on the Thursday before the two-week trial period.

Judge Dedra Davis

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

Civil cases

The Court no longer accepts paper courtesy copies or e-mails of courtesy copies.

Summary: The Court does not accept paper or emailed courtesy copies.

Judge Erica R. Hughes

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

Civil cases

Parties filing pleadings exceeding 20 pages or containing more than 50 pages of exhibits must provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the filing and exhibits.

Summary: A courtesy copy of the filing and exhibits is required if the pleading exceeds 20 pages or contains more than 50 exhibit pages.

Judge Nicole V. Perdue

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

Civil cases

The courtesy copy must also include a copy of the proposed order, the latest live pleading and answer, the current Docket Control Order, and any unpublished legal authority cited in the filing—particularly if the authority is available only through Lexis.

Summary: A courtesy copy must include the proposed order, latest live pleading and answer, current Docket Control Order, and cited unpublished authority.

Judge Nicole V. Perdue