Judge Don Cosby
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Communication
Phone
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Proposed jury charges or findings of fact and conclusions of law must be emailed to the Court Coordinator in Word format no later than the start of trial.
The proposed jury charge and/or findings of fact and conclusions of law, all in Word format, must be emailed to the Court Coordinator by no later than start of the trial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The documents must be in .pdf format.
Summary: Exhibits must be submitted in PDF format.
Document Filing Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
Every motion must be accompanied by a proposed order.
All motions must be accompanied with a proposed Order.
Document Type
Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
These disputes can be set for hearing before the Court after filing a motion; a Certificate of Conference must be attached to each filed motion.
Summary: A motion raising a discovery dispute must include an attached Certificate of Conference and may then be set for a hearing before the Court.
Document Type
Discovery Dispute Motion
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing is required for attorneys, and the Court does not receive a hard copy of an electronically filed document.
With E-filing now required, attorneys should be aware that the Court no longer receives a “hard copy” of a filed document.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
All filings must be submitted electronically through the e-file system directly to the Tarrant County District Clerk.
All filings must be made directly to the Tarrant County District Clerk through the e-file system.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3
Case law must not be electronically filed together with pleadings.
Do not e-file case law with any pleadings.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS / HEARING DOCKET
Copies of case law must never be electronically filed; an attorney seeking judicial review should deliver the case copies to the Court’s Coordinator.
Copies of case law should never be e-filed. If an attorney desires to submit cases for the Court’s review, deliver case copies to the Court Coordinator.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Exhibits must be submitted to the Court Reporter by the 4:00 p.m. deadline on the day before the hearing.
If you intend to offer any exhibits during the hearing you need to email them to all parties and the Court Reporter (MABrantley@tarrantcountytx.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
Proposed jury charges or findings of fact and conclusions of law are due to the Court Coordinator by the start of trial.
The proposed jury charge and/or findings of fact and conclusions of law, all in Word format, must be emailed to the Court Coordinator by no later than start of the trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
A continuance motion must be filed by the Wednesday preceding trial and heard before 2:00 PM the preceding Thursday.
A continuance motion must be filed timely, per Tarrant County Local Rule 3.02, by no later than the Wednesday preceding the trial date and must be heard by the Court before 2:00 PM on the Thursday preceding the trial date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
A Robinson/Daubert motion must receive a hearing well before trial; failure to obtain a hearing date before trial waives the challenge.
It is important to note that a Robinson/Daubert motion must be heard well in advance of trial since the Court does not consider such motion during trial. Failure to obtain a hearing date on a Robinson/Daubert challenge before the start of trial is considered a waiver of such challenge
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 6 | TRIAL MOTIONS
Related responsive documents should be filed sufficiently early for the Court’s stated goal of reviewing them at least 24 to 48 hours before the hearing.
The Court makes every effort to review all responsive documents at least 24 - 48 hours prior to the scheduled hearing so related documents should be filed timely for the Court’s consideration.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
A request to use juror questionnaires, accompanied by a proposed questionnaire and submitted to the Court and all counsel, must be made at least 30 days before trial to receive consideration.
The Court will entertain a reasonable request to use such questionnaires if the request and a copy of the proposed questionnaire is submitted to the Court and all counsel at least 30 days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 6 | VOIR DIRE
The Court will not consider exhibits that the Court Reporter does not receive by the applicable deadline.
The Court cannot consider any exhibits not emailed to the Court Reporter in a timely manner.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Exhibits offered at a hearing must be emailed to all parties by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding day.
If you intend to offer any exhibits during the hearing you need to email them to all parties and the Court Reporter (MABrantley@tarrantcountytx.gov) no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies for the Court may be submitted to the Court Coordinator.
Courtesy copies for the Court’s review and accommodation can be made by submitting such to the Court Coordinator.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3
Filing Bundling Requirements
When a Scheduling Order exists, a continuance motion must include a proposed Amended Scheduling Order or the Court will not consider it.
If a Scheduling Order has been entered in a case, the Court will not consider any continuance motion without a proposed Amended Scheduling Order submitted with the continuance motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
Case law binders are accepted, and attorneys may highlight portions to focus the Court’s attention.
The Court routinely accepts case law binders and has no problem with an attorney’s efforts to focus the Court’s attention to highlighted portions of the submitted case law.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 4 | PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS / HEARING DOCKET
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A first continuance motion is rarely denied, but every continuance requires the Court's approval.
A first continuance motion is rarely denied. However, any continuance must be granted the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
An agreed continuance motion is not automatically granted and may require a hearing.
Agreed motions for continuance are not automatically granted and may require a hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
The Court will most likely grant a reasonable request to respond to a responsive pleading filed shortly before the hearing.
A reasonable request to respond to a last minute filed responsive pleading will most likely be granted.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | PLEADINGS & MOTIONS
Failure to obtain a continuance hearing does not automatically result in granting the motion.
The failure to obtain a hearing, for any reason, is not grounds for an automatic granting of the motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 5 | TRIALS
Chambers Communication Rules
A party must request all oral hearings by email or telephone to the Court Coordinator; the Court does not set motions for hearing automatically.
The Court does not automatically set a motion for hearing; all oral hearings must be requested by email or telephone to the Court Coordinator.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 3 | PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS / HEARING DOCKET
The Court permits practical and cost-efficient telephone conferences to resolve simple motions, requires arrangements through the Court Coordinator, and will not hold a telephone hearing if a record is desired.
The Court allows telephone conferences to resolve many simple motions when such conferences are practical and cost efficient to do so. If a record of the hearing is desired, the Court will not conduct a hearing by telephone. Arrangements for such telephonic conferences must be with the Court Coordinator.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS / HEARING DOCKET
Litigants must provide their email address to the Court Coordinator at least 72 hours before a hearing.
Ensure the Court Coordinator (EMLangford@tarrantcountytx.gov) has your email address at least 72 hours before any hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
A litigant participating only by telephone must coordinate that arrangement with the Court Reporter the day before the hearing.
IF YOU CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONE YOU MUST COORDINATE IT THE DAY BEFORE WITH THE COURT REPORTER (MABrantley@tarrantcountytx.gov).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
Attorneys should contact the Court’s Coordinator for assistance with true emergencies, and the Court will make every reasonable effort to accommodate them.
With all true emergencies, do not hesitate to contact the Court’s Coordinator for assistance. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate attorneys with true emergencies.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | EMERGENCY RELIEF NEEDED
The Court has established no policy for after-hours emergencies, but potential after-hours emergencies known during regular court hours should be discussed with the Court’s Coordinator.
As for “after hour” emergencies, the Court has not set policies. However, if such possibility for an emergency is known during regular court hours, contact the Court’s Coordinator to discuss potential solutions.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | EMERGENCY RELIEF NEEDED
The Court Reporter or Coordinator will provide the hearing link by email.
The Court Reporter or Coordinator will email you a link to the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | PROCEDURES FOR LITIGANTS
Trial dates may be obtained by contacting the Court’s Coordinator.
Trial dates can be obtained by contacting the Court’s Coordinator.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | SCHEDULING ORDERS/COURT SETTINGS
All court communications should be directed to the Court’s Coordinator using the contact information provided on the court’s webpage.
All court communication should be directed to the Court’s Coordinator using the information given on court page.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | EMERGENCY RELIEF NEEDED
The Court Coordinator must be contacted by telephone or email when inquiring about the status of motions.
Always contact the Court Coordinator by telephone or email.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
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