Jefferson County District Courts Filing Rules

A continuance must be requested through a verified motion accompanied by an email to the coordinator seeking a court proceeding.

A summary-judgment motion filed before discovery expires must be denied as prematurely filed.

Withdrawing counsel must immediately notify the party in writing of the withdrawal order and any known settings or deadlines not previously communicated, with notice mailed to the party's last known address by both certified and regular first-class mail.

Notice to an unrepresented person must be made in open court, by personal service, or by both certified and first-class mail to the current address on file with the District Clerk.

After receiving trial dates and conferring with the opposing party or counsel, the parties should electronically file the Court's Scheduling Order with the trial date and mediation details.

Media bearing an .mp3 or .mp4 extension need not be converted, but media without either extension must be converted to an acceptable format.

Failure to mediate cannot support a requested continuance.

After e-filing an ex parte motion and proposed order, counsel should alert the Court Coordinator by phone or email that action is desired; without notice, the request remains in the e-filing queue without action until reached.

Affidavits, court reports, and other documents filed in DFPS suits under Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code must be maintained as confidential by the District Clerk.

An attorney or self-represented litigant must first send the Court a letter or written request, copied to the opposing party, identifying the requested modifications, the reasons for them, and the anticipated proceeding duration.