Judge Alia Moses
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A paper HSD must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “HIGHLY SENSITIVE DOCUMENT,” with an outside half sheet containing only the case or matter caption.
If the Clerk's office receives the HSD in paper format, the HSD shall be submitted to the Clerk's office in a sealed envelope marked "HIGHLY SENSITIVE DOCUMENT." The outside of the envelope shall be affixed with a half sheet containing only the caption of the case or matter.
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Requests for attorney’s fees must include an itemized listing of time spent and a reasonable description of services rendered on specified legal services.
At this time, and until modification by this Court, the total amount of payment of allowable and approved attorney's fees and reimbursable expenses under these provisions cannot exceed $5,000 for any one attorney in any one case, and said fees must be supported by an itemized listing of the time spent and reasonable description of services rendered on specified legal services.
Document Type
Attorney Fee Request
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Claims for computer-assisted legal research expenses must include usage statements, an explanation of the amount claimed, total research time, and the applicable database and rate.
Actual out-of-pocket expenses related to computer-assisted legal research must be accompanied by usage statements, along with an explanation of the amount claimed (e.g., proration of a monthly charge or charges identifiable to the specific research), and the total time spent using the computerized system for research, and the applicable database and rate, relating to the civil proceeding the subject of the court appointment.
Document Type
Expense Claim
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A claim must have the appropriate detailed hourly-fees or expenses worksheet attached, along with all required receipts.
I have attached to this Claim a detailed Hourly fees Worksheet (with a descript ion of services rendered) or a Report of Expenses Claimed Worksheet, as appropriate, along with all required receipts.
Document Type
Claim
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
Supporting documentation, such as receipts, must be attached to the expense reimbursement worksheet.
Supporting documentation, such as receipts, must be attached to this worksheet
Document Type
Expense Reimbursement Worksheet
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory
A party filing an authorized HSD must submit it to the Clerk's office together with any required certificate of service and, if necessary, the authorizing order.
A party filing an HSD pursuant to a Court Order granting a motion under Paragraph 2 shall submit to the Clerk's office the HSD, any required certificate of service, and, if necessary, a copy of the Court Order authorizing the filing of that document as an HSD.
Document Type
Authorized Hsd Filing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Expenses lacking proper documentation, such as receipts or other proof, may be disallowed.
Any expenses not properly documented with receipts or other proof may be disallowed by the Judge or the Non-Appropriated Fund Committee.
Document Type
Expense Claim
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
Separate worksheets must be prepared for different CJA hourly rates, and hours must be multiplied by the CJA rate effective on the service date.
Note: Prepare separate worksheets for different CJA hourly rates. Multiply hours by CJA rate effective on date of service.
Document Type
Reimbursement Worksheet
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
The attorney must provide a brief but appropriately detailed description of each service noted in the worksheet’s services-provided columns.
Attorney must provide: brief, but appropriately detailed description of services noted in "Services Provided" columns per following examples:
Document Type
Reimbursement Worksheet
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important
The worksheet must state the hours logged for each service on each date in the appropriate column.
Indicate hours logged on each dale, for each service provided, in appropriate column.
Document Type
Reimbursement Worksheet
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Note
The listed appendix documents should be used when submitting a claim under the plan.
The following documents, copies of which are attached hereto as Appendices "A" through "C", should be used when submitting a claim under the provisions of this plan.
Document Type
Claim
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
I certify the above attorney's fees and expenses were included in the preparation and presentation of this case; that these attorney's fees and expenses do not include any costs either waived or recoverable under the provisions of Title 18 or Title 28, United States Code, or which have been recovered under any other plan; and no attorney ' s fees or expenses were awarded pursuant to a judgment before this Court.
Summary: The reimbursement claim form includes an attorney certification concerning the fees and expenses claimed.
Document Type
Attorney Fee Reimbursement Claim
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The sealed motion shall explain why the proposed document constitutes an HSD under the criteria set out in paragraph 1 above, or why it should otherwise be subject to the heightened protection for HSDs.
Summary: A sealed motion seeking HSD designation must explain why the document meets the HSD criteria or otherwise warrants heightened HSD protection.
Document Type
Sealed Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Insert actual date of service. Dates must be in chronological order.
Summary: The date column must show the actual service date, with dates arranged chronologically.
Document Type
Reimbursement Worksheet
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A party seeking HSD designation must electronically file a sealed motion and proposed order using the specified event, but must not electronically file the proposed HSD.
Any party wishing to treat any document as an HSD must file a sealed motion to designate the document as an HSD and a proposed order electronically under existing procedures, using the "motion for leave to file a sealed document" event, except that the proposed HSD shall not be filed electronically.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | 2. Filing of Motions to Treat a Document as an HSD
An HSD received through the approved content-sharing platform must not be filed in CM/ECF and instead is maintained in a secure, separate repository.
If the Clerk's office receives the HSD by way of the Court's approved content-sharing platform, the HSD shall not be filed in the Court's CM/ECF system, but rather will be maintained in a secure, separate repository.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | 3. Filing of Authorized HSDs
Motions requiring service may be served using the Court's CM/ECF system.
Unless excused by the Court, any motion under paragraph 2(a) for which service would be required by statute or rule shall be served on all parties. Motions requiring service may be served using the Court's CM/ECF system.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | 2. Filing of Motions to Treat a Document as an HSD
Social Security cases are excluded from electronic public access except for judiciary employees, the United States Attorney or representative, and case litigants.
Social Security cases shall be excluded from electronic public access except to judiciary employees, the United States Attorney or his/her representative, and all litigants in said cases.
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Page 1 | I footnote 1
An authorized HSD must be submitted to the Clerk's office, with a copy of the authorizing order when necessary.
A party filing an HSD pursuant to a Court Order granting a motion under Paragraph 2 shall submit to the Clerk's office the HSD, any required certificate of service, and, if necessary, a copy of the Court Order authorizing the filing of that document as an HSD.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | 3. Filing of Authorized HSDs
Electronic public access to court documents effective November 1, 2004; electronically filed documents available to attorneys of record and PACER-registered users.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas will soon permit electronic public access to documents filed in matters before the court. The Judicial Conference of the United States adopted a policy regarding privacy and public access to electronic files, which becomes effective November 1, 2004, and is applicable to all parties doing business with this court as set out below. Documents that are electronically filed will be available to attorneys of record in a case and to registered users of the PACER service.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.
Page 1 | header
Western District of Texas will permit attorneys to electronically file documents starting in 2005.
The Western District of Texas is scheduled to become an electronic filing court permitting attorneys to file pleadings and documents electronically in 2005.
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Page 1 | I footnote 1
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
An appointed attorney who withdraws or is dismissed before judgment must file a payment or reimbursement request within 30 days of withdrawal or dismissal.
In cases in which an appointed attorney has withdrawn or has been dismissed prior to entry of judgment, that attorney shall file a request for payment of attorney's fees or reimbursement of expenses not later than 30 days of withdrawal or dismissal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | III. Procedure for Requesting Reimbursement
Requests for attorney’s fees or expense reimbursement must be filed within 30 days of entry of judgment.
All requests for payment of attorney's fees or reimbursement of expenses in civil cases must be filed not later than 30 days of the entry of the judgment.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases
Page 4 | III. Procedure for Requesting Reimbursement
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Unless excused by the Court, motions requiring service under statute or rule must be served on all parties and may be served through CM/ECF.
Unless excused by the Court, any motion under paragraph 2(a) for which service would be required by statute or rule shall be served on all parties. Motions requiring service may be served using the Court's CM/ECF system.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | 2. Filing of Motions to Treat a Document as an HSD
An Order containing highly sensitive information will be securely maintained by the Clerk's office, and paper copies will be served on the parties by regular mail.
If a Court's Order contains highly sensitive information, the Clerk's office will file and maintain the Order in a secure paper filing system or a secure standalone computer system that is not connected to any network and will serve paper copies of the Order on the parties via regular mail.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 2 | 4. Highly Sensitive Court Orders
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Parties must exclude or redact specified personal data identifiers from all pleadings (including exhibits, electronic or paper) unless ordered otherwise by the Court.
The following personal data identifiers should be excluded from all pleadings filed with the court, including any exhibits thereto, whether filed electronically or in paper, unless otherwise ordered by the Court:2 a. Social Security numbers. If an individual's Social Security number must be included in a pleading, only the last four digits of that number should be used. b. Names of minor children. If the name of a minor child must be mentioned in a pleading, only the initials of that child should be used. c. Dates of birth. If an individual's date of birth must be included in a pleading, only the year should be used. d. Financial account numbers. If financial account numbers are required in any pleading, only the last four digits of these numbers should be used. e. Home Addresses (in criminal cases). If a home address must be included, only the city and state should be listed.
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Page 1 | I
Clerk's office shall not provide public access to Non-Public records or sealed documents absent a court order.
In order to further comply with the Judicial Conference Policy, in addition to items listed in paragraphs a. through e., the clerk's office shall not, absent an order of the court, provide public access (electronically or at the courthouse) to records determined by the Judicial Conference to be "Non-Public" (e.g., unexecuted criminal summonses and warrants of any kind; documents containing identifying information about jurors or potential jurors; juvenile records; financial affidavits; etc.), as well as sealed documents.
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Page 1 | I
Parties may file unredacted documents or a reference list under seal with specified heading if full personal data identifiers are required; reference lists may be amended as of right and apply to civil and criminal cases.
If a party needs to file a document containing the full and complete personal data identifiers listed above, that party may, a. file an un redacted version of the document under seal with the following heading "SEALED DOCUMENT PURSUANT TO E-GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2002"; or b. file a reference list under seal with the same heading as above. The reference list shall contain the complete personal data identifier(s) and the redacted identifier(s) used in its (their) place in the filing. All references in the case to the redacted identifiers included in the reference list will be construed to refer to the corresponding complete personal data identifier. The reference list must be filed under seal, and may be amended as of right. The unredacted version ofthe document or the reference list shall be retained by the court as part of the record. The reference list is intended to serve as a type of "key." For example, if an individual's full Social Security Number is 123-45-6789, the list would include the complete number with the corresponding partially redacted number of XXX-XX-6789, which would be used in future filings. This is beneficial to the court and the clerk's office because it eliminates the filing of two versions of a document--one unredacted (and automatically under seal) and one redacted. The listing can be filed in civil and criminal cases.
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Page 2 | II
The Clerk's office will make a sealed informational docket entry and maintain the HSD in a secure paper filing system or an unnetworked standalone computer system.
The Clerk's office will make a sealed informational docket entry in the Court's electronic filing system indicating that the HSD was filed with the Court and will maintain the HSD in a secure paper filing system or a secure standalone computer system that is not connected to any network.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | 3. Filing of Authorized HSDs
Clerk's office will not review filings for redaction compliance; counsel and parties are solely responsible for compliance.
The Office of the Clerk will not review filings for compliance with this rule requiring redaction of personal data identifiers. Counsel is strongly urged to share this notice and privacy policy with all clients so that an informed decision about the inclusion of certain materials may be made. If a redacted document is filed, it is the sole responsibility of counsel and the parties to ensure that all documents and pleadings comply with the rules of this court requiring redaction of personal data identifiers.
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Page 2 | III
Parties should exercise caution when filing documents containing sensitive information including driver's license numbers, medical records, trade secrets, and national security information.
In addition, parties should exercise caution when filing documents that contain the following: 1. any personal identifying number, such as driver's license number; 2. medical records, treatment and diagnosis; 3. employment history; 4. individual financial information; 5. proprietary or trade secret information; 6. information regarding an individual's cooperation with the government; 7. information regarding the victim of any criminal activity; 8. national security information; and 9. sensitive security information as described in 49 U.S.c. Sec. 114(s).
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Page 2 | III
Chambers Communication Rules
Questions about HSD filing procedures should be directed to the appropriate division of the Clerk's office.
Any questions about how an HSD should be filed with the Court pursuant to this General Order should be directed to the appropriate division of the Clerk's office.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026
Page 3 | 5. Questions about HSD Filing Procedures