Judge Maya Guerra Gamble
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Demonstrative Aid
- 2 copies • Hand Delivery
Exhibits
- 1 copy • Hand Delivery
- 1 copy • Hand Delivery • At Hearing
- 3 copies
- 3 copies • Hand Delivery • At Hearing
Powerpoint Presentation, Demonstrative Aid
- 2 copies • At Hearing
All filings
Court-wide- 1 copy • After Filing
- Civil:2 copies
- Civil:After Filing
Adjournments
Court-wideRequest must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Duty Judge
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Duty Judge
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Proposed jury questions and instructions must be submitted in Word format.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
DOCX
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Lawyers must use the Court's jury charge and Exhibit List templates which will be provided once your case has been assigned to the 459th District Court.
Summary: Lawyers must use the Court's jury charge and Exhibit List templates, which are provided once a case is assigned to the 459th District Court.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Pre-marked with party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-1, D-2, R-3)
Summary: Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with a party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-1, D-2, R-3).
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders (with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel)
Summary: Documents provided to the Court must be indexed, uploaded to Box, and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel.
Document Filing Requirements17 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that they completed the Court IT staff’s Technology Training.
All attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Document Type
Jury Trial
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Submit proposed jury questions and instructions in Word, with supporting citations, at the pretrial conference or by the first day of trial through both Box upload and email to the Briefing Attorney.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Questions And Instructions
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
For each hearing, upload a proposed order in Word to Box and/or bring the proposed order, stating the relief sought.
Upload to Box in Word and/or bring a proposed order with the relief being sought to each hearing.
Document Type
Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Lawyers must use the Court-provided jury charge and Exhibit List templates.
Lawyers must use the Court’s jury charge and Exhibit List templates which will be provided once your case has been assigned to the 459th District Court.
Document Type
Jury Charge And Exhibit List
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Do not include matters covered by the Standing Order in Limine in the parties’ Motions in Limine.
Do not include items that are in the Standing Order in Limine in the parties’ Motions in Limine.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
All attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Summary: All attorneys must certify to the Court, before a jury trial, that they have completed the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Document Type
Technology Training Certification
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
Summary: Proposed jury questions and instructions must be submitted in Word with supporting citations to cases, statutes, and the PJC by uploading to Box and emailing the Briefing Attorney.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Questions And Instructions
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Do not include items that are in the Standing Order in Limine in the parties' Motions in Limine.
Summary: Motions in Limine must not include items already covered by the Standing Order in Limine.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
All attorneys must certify to the Court before trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Summary: All attorneys must certify to the Court before trial that they have completed the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff.
Document Type
Technology Training Certification
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?
Upload to Box in Word and/or bring a proposed order with the relief being sought to each hearing.
Summary: A proposed order stating the relief sought must be uploaded to Box in Word and/or brought to each hearing.
Document Type
Proposed Order
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
and should include: Operative pleadings, if pertinent to the hearing; Motions, responses, and replies, together with their exhibits, if any; Controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted
Summary: Documents provided to the Court should include operative pleadings (if pertinent to the hearing), motions, responses, and replies with their exhibits, and controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted.
Document Type
Court Review Documents
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
An index of exhibits should be provided to the Court and court reporter, using the 459th District Court's preferred format
Summary: An exhibit index must be provided to the Court and court reporter using the 459th District Court's preferred format.
Document Type
Trial Exhibits
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
Unopposed exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission
Summary: Unopposed trial exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission.
Document Type
Unopposed Trial Exhibits
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?
If the Court announces its ruling and an appropriate order has not been prepared in advance, the prevailing party's counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and promptly forward it to the Briefing Attorney approved as to form. The Court prefers to sign these within a week.
Summary: After a ruling without a pre-prepared order, prevailing counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and forward it approved as to form to the Briefing Attorney; the Court prefers to sign within a week.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Trial exhibits should be: o Pre-marked with party abbreviation and number (e.g., P-1, D-2, R-3) o Exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial o Unopposed exhibits should be offered at pretrial for pre-admission o An index of exhibits should be provided to the Court and court reporter, using the 459th District Court’s preferred format
Summary: Trial exhibits should be pre-marked, exchanged before trial, unopposed exhibits offered at pretrial for pre-admission, and an index provided to the Court and court reporter in the Court’s preferred format.
Document Type
Trial Exhibits
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box and, if paper copies are used, placed in binders (with a copy of the index provided to opposing counsel), and should include: o Operative pleadings, if pertinent to the hearing o Motions, responses, and replies, together with their exhibits, if any o Controlling case law with pertinent passages highlighted
Summary: Documents provided to the Court should be indexed and uploaded to Box; paper copies should be placed in binders, with the index shared with opposing counsel, and the listed relevant materials included.
Document Type
Documents Provided To Court
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
If the Court announces its ruling and an appropriate order has not been prepared in advance, the prevailing party’s counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for approval as to form by opposing counsel and promptly forward it to the Briefing Attorney approved as to form.
Summary: If no order was prepared before the ruling, prevailing counsel should promptly circulate a proposed order for opposing counsel’s approval as to form and promptly send the approved order to the Briefing Attorney.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits uploaded to Box, which will serve as the official exhibits.
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits, uploaded to Box. The electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Proposed jury questions and instructions are due at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial.
Submit in Word proposed jury questions and instructions, with supporting cites to cases, statutes, and the PJC, at the pretrial conference or on or before the first day of trial, by uploading them to Box and by email to the Briefing Attorney.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Special instructions for jury trials (in addition to the relevant ones above)
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Trial exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial.
Exchanged with opposing counsel prior to trial
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Courtesy Copy Requirements
If paper exhibits are used alongside electronic upload, at least one courtesy paper copy of any documents the party wants the Court to review must be brought.
Documents should be uploaded electronically to the Court's Box account, but if you also want to use paper exhibits, you must bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents you want the Court to review.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
If unable to upload electronic exhibits, parties must bring no fewer than three indexed, binder-bound paper copies of each exhibit offered into evidence (for the Court, the witness who receives the original, and opposing counsel).
However, if you are unable to upload electronic exhibits, you must bring no fewer than three paper copies of each exhibit to be offered into evidence (one each for the Court, witness [who gets the original], and opposing counsel), and they must be indexed and placed in binders.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
PowerPoint presentations or demonstrative aids must be uploaded to Box or brought as at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Upload documents for the Court to Box; if using paper exhibits, bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents for the Court to review.
Documents should be uploaded electronically to the Court’s Box account, but if you also want to use paper exhibits, you must bring at least one courtesy paper copy of documents you want the Court to review.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Electronic exhibits uploaded to Box are preferred and official; if uploading is not possible, bring at least three indexed paper copies of each offered exhibit in binders.
The Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits, uploaded to Box. The electronic exhibits will be the official exhibits. However, if you are unable to upload electronic exhibits, you must bring no fewer than three paper copies of each exhibit to be offered into evidence (one each for the Court, witness [who gets the original], and opposing counsel), and they must be indexed and placed in binders.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Upload any PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid to Box, or bring at least two paper copies for the Court and opposing counsel.
If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies (for the Court and opposing counsel).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 1 | Documents and exhibits to be used in hearings and trials
Chambers Communication Rules
Emergency matters for the Civil District Courts, except specially assigned cases, should be directed to the designated Duty Judge through the Judge’s staff.
The designated Duty Judge handles all emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) and should be contacted through their staff.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court
For specially assigned matters, contact the listed court staff to set hearings or trials or follow up on a matter heard by the Court.
To set hearings or trials on matters specially assigned to this Court pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, or to follow up on a matter that was heard in this Court, you may contact: Shannon Matusek-Steele, JEA: shannon.matusek-steele@traviscountytx.gov Keri Ward, Briefing Attorney: keri.ward@traviscountytx.gov Alicia Dubois, Ct Reporter: alicia.dubois@traviscountytx.gov
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court
Court staff must not be copied on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; only the redlined order with comments should be forwarded.
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Court staff may not be contacted to set hearings or trials or to make docket announcements for Central Docket matters; the Local Rules govern those procedures.
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials, or to make docket announcements for matters on the Central Docket. See the Local Rules for instructions on setting hearings and trials and handling announcements on the Central Docket.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders
Emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) go to the designated Duty Judge, who is contacted through their staff and listed on the county website.
The designated Duty Judge handles all emergency matters for the Travis County Civil District Courts (other than specially assigned cases) and should be contacted through their staff. The Duty Judge is listed at www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/files/dockets/civil-district.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders
If counsel cannot agree on the form of an order within a week, a redlined version with comments on the disagreement must be emailed to the Briefing Attorney within a week unless the Court sets a different deadline.
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Court orders and matters under advisement
When in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, counsel may check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney.
If in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, please feel free to check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney.
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | If in doubt about the Court's specific expectations or preferences, please feel free to check with the JEA or Briefing Attorney
To set hearings or trials on specially assigned matters or to follow up on a matter heard in this Court, counsel may email the JEA, Briefing Attorney, or Court Reporter.
To set hearings or trials on matters specially assigned to this Court pursuant to Local Rule 2.6 or 10.2, or to follow up on a matter that was heard in this Court, you may contact: Shannon Matusek-Steele, JEA: shannon.matusek-steele@traviscountytx.gov Keri Ward, Briefing Attorney: keri.ward@traviscountytx.gov Alicia Dubois, Ct Reporter: alicia.dubois@traviscountytx.gov
The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases
Page 3 | Travis County Local Rules and Standing Orders
If counsel cannot agree on an order’s form within a week, email the Briefing Attorney a redlined version with comments explaining the disagreement within a week, unless the Court sets another deadline.
If counsel cannot agree on the form of the order within a week, a redlined version of the order, with comments about the basis of the disagreement, should be forwarded by email to the Briefing Attorney within a week, unless the Court has specified a different deadline.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about an order’s form; instead, forward a redlined order with comments explaining the disagreement.
Do not copy Court staff on disputes about the form of orders or related matters; simply forward a redlined version of the order with comments about the disagreement.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | Court orders and matters under advisement
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials or make docket announcements for Central Docket matters; follow the Local Rules instead.
Do not contact Court staff to set hearings or trials, or to make docket announcements for matters on the Central Docket. See the Local Rules for instructions on setting hearings and trials and handling announcements on the Central Docket.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Civil cases
Page 2 | Contacting the Court