Court Rules
Judge

Judge Andrew B. Davis

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Western District of Texas
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingTOC/TOAMemorandaExhibitsTRO/InjunctionCertificatesSettlementConferences

Document Format Requirements12 rules

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Assemble the appendix as a single, self-contained document, separate from the pleading, motion, response, reply, or brief.

Summary: Appendix must be a single, self-contained document separate from the main filing.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Assemble the appendix in the following order: (1) cover page; (2) table of contents; and (3) each item, preceded by a slip sheet.

Summary: Appendix must be assembled in order: cover page, table of contents, then each item with a slip sheet.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Do not number the cover page or the table of contents. Number the first slip sheet "App.1" and number each following page sequentially, legibly, and in the lower right-hand corner, through the last page of the appendix. The numbering must not restart at any item. Place the number so it does not obscure the underlying document's text or existing pagination.

Summary: Appendix pagination: cover and TOC unnumbered; first slip sheet numbered App.1; sequential numbering in lower right corner; no restarting; numbers must not obscure underlying text.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

All pages in the appendix must be text-searchable. Apply optical character recognition (OCR) to any scanned material, then review the output to confirm that the recognized text accurately matches the document's actual wording. Do not assume OCR alone is sufficient, as faulty OCR can produce a text layer that appears searchable but returns inaccurate or incomplete results. Where OCR is inaccurate or incomplete, parties must make a good-faith effort to remedy the errors—for example, by re-scanning the document to produce a cleaner copy for OCR—recognizing that perfect results are not always attainable.

Summary: All appendix pages must be text-searchable; scanned material must have OCR applied and reviewed for accuracy; good-faith effort to remedy OCR errors required.

Required Format

PDF

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Assemble each volume like a single appendix—a cover page, then a table of contents, then the volume's items, each preceded by its slip sheet—except that the table of contents in every volume must cover the entire appendix, not only that volume.

Summary: Each volume of a multi-volume appendix must have a cover page, a table of contents covering the entire appendix, and items preceded by slip sheets.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

On the cover page of each volume, identify the range of appendix pages the volume contains, using the App.__ numbering.

Summary: Each volume's cover page must show the range of appendix pages it contains.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

An appendix must be divided into consecutively numbered volumes if it (1) exceeds the size limit for an electronically filed document, or (2) contains materials filed or sought to be filed under seal.

Summary: Appendix must be divided into multiple volumes if it exceeds e-filing size limit or contains sealed materials.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Place each document, in its entirety, within a single volume. Do not divide a document across volumes.

Summary: Each document must be placed entirely within one volume; documents cannot be split across volumes.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The App.__ pagination runs continuously across all volumes and does not restart. In each volume, do not number the cover page or table of contents. The first slip sheet of a later volume continues the numbering from the last page of the preceding volume.

Summary: Appendix pagination must be continuous across volumes; cover pages and tables of contents are not numbered.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Place a slip sheet before each item that identifies the item by the content of the document using the same description that appears in the table of contents.

Summary: Each appendix item must be preceded by a slip sheet identifying the item using the same description as in the table of contents.

Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

If a party intends to include non-documentary materials (e.g., videotapes and other physical materials) or oversized materials (e.g., maps and schematic drawings) in the appendix, it must contact the Court at least 7 days before filing the appendix (absent good cause) to determine the appropriate method to submit those materials. The appendix should include a separate slip sheet for each non-documentary item and identify on the slip sheet that the item was or will be separately filed with the Court.

Summary: Appendices with non-documentary or oversized materials must include a separate slip sheet for each item noting it was or will be separately filed.

2026 07 27-ABD-Appendix-Standing-Order 1 · Jul 2026 · p. 4
|Secl. Non-documentary or oversized materials
Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Create bookmarks, one for each item, that together form a navigable index corresponding to the table of contents. Each bookmark must be labeled with the content of the item using the same description as the table of contents and slip sheet, and must link to the page on which that item's slip sheet appears.

Summary: Appendix must include bookmarks for each item, labeled with the same description as the TOC and slip sheet, linking to the slip sheet page.

Document Filing Requirements12 rules

Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

A party who relies on evidence or other factual material to support or oppose a filing must place that material in an appendix that complies with this order.

Summary: Parties must place relied-upon evidence in a compliant appendix.

Document Type

Appendix

Content & Formatting
Exhibit List
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

Parties must cite the App.__ pagination in their briefing, to the specific page(s) supporting each assertion. Do not cite an entire item when a specific page will do.

Summary: Briefs must cite the appendix's App.__ pagination to specific pages, not entire items.

Document Type

Brief

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The filing that an appendix accompanies and supports must contain a certificate of compliance stating that the appendix complies with this order. The Court may strike or require the correction of a non-compliant appendix.

Summary: The filing accompanying an appendix must include a certificate of compliance; non-compliant appendices may be stricken.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

the parties must jointly prepare and file a written report, which must be signed by counsel for each party, detailing the date on which the mediation or settlement conference was held, the persons present (including the capacity of any representative), a statement regarding whether meaningful progress toward settlement was made, and a statement regarding the prospects of settlement.

Summary: Parties must file a joint written report after mediation/settlement conference detailing date, attendees, progress, and prospects.

Document Type

Settlement Report

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2026 07 27-ABD-Scheduling-Order 1 · p. 4
|SecMediation or settlement conference.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

If no party files a dispositive motion, the parties must jointly file a notice informing the Court that no such motions will be filed, so that the Court may schedule the matter for trial.

Summary: Parties must jointly file a notice if no dispositive motion is filed.

Document Type

Notice

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
2026 07 27-ABD-Scheduling-Order 1 · p. 4
|SecDispositive and nondispositive motions.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

A party must include such material in its appendix even if the material is already in the record—for example, as an exhibit to an earlier filing or in an earlier appendix.

Summary: Appendix must include relied-upon material even if already in the record.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

A party need not, and should not, place in an appendix the pleadings, motions, briefs, orders, or other filings that already appear on the Court's docket in this case.

Summary: Do not include docketed pleadings, motions, briefs, or orders in the appendix.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Include all materials the party relies on, except materials already included in an appendix filed to support or oppose the same pleading or motion, or a cross-motion, such as a cross-motion for summary judgment. Do not duplicate those materials. Cite the existing appendix instead.

Summary: Include all relied-on materials except those already in an appendix for the same motion; cite existing appendix instead of duplicating.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

The table of contents must identify each item by the content of the document (e.g., "Em-

Summary: Table of contents must identify each item by document content.

Document Type

Appendix

Content & Formatting
Table Of Contents
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

If a party cites a page in the appendix that is from a deposition and refers to an exhibit from the deposition, the party should make clear whether that exhibit is included in the appendix and, if so, identify it.

Summary: When citing a deposition page that refers to an exhibit, the party must clarify whether the exhibit is included in the appendix and identify it if so.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?

A party relying on such a filing should cite it directly by its docket entry.

Summary: Cite docketed filings by docket entry number.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing Requirements

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Note?

Parties are encouraged to include a complete copy of a document in the appendix to avoid fragmenting a document between different appendices. Where including a complete copy is infeasible, would unduly burden the appendix with the inclusion of irrelevant material, or is otherwise inappropriate, include at minimum the first page of the document and at least one page before and after the pages of material the party relies upon in order to provide context for the cited material.

Summary: Parties are encouraged to include complete copies of documents in the appendix; if infeasible, include at least the first page and one page before and after the relied-upon pages for context.

Document Type

Appendix

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Pro se litigants not authorized to e-file are exempt from this standing order.

Pro se litigants not authorized to file electronically through the Court's CM/ECF system are exempt from this order.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 1 | Preamble

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

No motions may be filed after the deadline except motions in limine, unless good cause is shown.

No party may file any motion, except for a motion in limine, after this date without a showing of good cause.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 4 | Dispositive and nondispositive motions.

Sealing & Redaction Procedures

When moving to seal appendix materials, divide into public and sealed volumes with separate pagination and table of contents requirements.

If a party moves to seal any materials in the appendix, it must divide the appendix into a public volume and a sealed volume. i. The public volume, which must contain all materials that the party is not authorized to file under seal and does not move to file under seal, must be paginated using App.___ pagination, and must otherwise comply with this order in full. ii. The sealed volume, labeled as such, must contain all materials that the party is authorized to file under seal or seeks to file under seal, and must otherwise comply with this order except that each page must be numbered sequentially beginning "Sealed.App.1" and each citation must be to "Sealed.App.__." iii. Table of contents in each volume. The table of contents in each volume must list every item in the entire appendix, identifying public items by their App.__ page and sealed items by their Sealed.App.__ page. In the public volume's table of contents, if identifying a sealed item by the content of the document would itself reveal information that should be sealed, the party may describe the item generically or, if necessary, note that the description is omitted.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 5 | 3.e

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Non-discovery extensions and continuances require a showing of actual diligence and extraordinary cause; joint motion is insufficient.

Extensions of non-discovery deadlines and continuances of proceedings will not be granted, even upon joint motion, absent a showing of actual diligence and extraordinary cause.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | SCHEDULING ORDER

Parties may agree to extend discovery deadlines if they notify the court in writing and the extension does not affect subsequent deadlines; the court may reject the extension.

The parties generally may agree to extend discovery deadlines, including the close of discovery, provided that the extension does not affect any subsequent deadlines and the parties notify the Court in writing. The Court retains the right to reject an agreed extension of a discovery deadline.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 1 | SCHEDULING ORDER

Parties are encouraged to submit an agreed briefing schedule instead of separate extension requests.

To the extent that parties anticipate seeking extensions of time to file a response or reply brief to a motion, the Court encourages the parties to submit an agreed briefing schedule rather than separate or seriatim extension requests.

Machine summary. Not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 4 | Dispositive and nondispositive motions.

Chambers Communication Rules

Parties must contact the Court at least 7 days before filing an appendix containing non-documentary or oversized materials to determine submission method; include a separate slip sheet for each such item noting it was or will be separately filed.

If a party intends to include non-documentary materials (e.g., videotapes and other physical materials) or oversized materials (e.g., maps and schematic drawings) in the appendix, it must contact the Court at least 7 days before filing the appendix (absent good cause) to determine the appropriate method to submit those materials. The appendix should include a separate slip sheet for each non-documentary item and identify on the slip sheet that the item was or will be separately filed with the Court.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 4 | l. Non-documentary or oversized materials

About United States District Judge Andrew B. Davis

Andrew B. Davis is a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas. The district covers a vast geographic area including Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and other divisions, and its border-division caseload is dominated by drug-trafficking and immigration matters.

The published procedures include a standing referral order, a joint discovery case management plan, a scheduling order, and an appendix to the standing order.

Common questions about Judge Andrew B. Davis's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Andrew B. Davis?

Judge Andrew B. Davis' formatting rule includes file format PDF, all pages in the appendix must be text-searchable., apply optical character recognition (ocr) to any scanned material, then review the output to confirm that the recognized text accurately matches the document's actual wording., do not assume ocr alone is sufficient., and where ocr is inaccurate or incomplete, parties must make a good-faith effort to remedy the errors—for example, by re-scanning the document to produce a cleaner copy for ocr..

View ruleSource: page 3, section h. Text-searchable

What must be included with appendix filings before Judge Andrew B. Davis?

The rule requires exhibit list and exhibit list. Parties must place relied-upon evidence in a compliant appendix.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. When an appendix is required.

What must be included with brief filings before Judge Andrew B. Davis?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Briefs must cite the appendix's App.__ pagination to specific pages, not entire items.

View ruleSource: page 3, section g. Citing the appendix

How may parties contact Judge Andrew B. Davis' chambers?

The rule addresses letter ecf communications with Judge Andrew B. Davis' court. Parties must contact the Court at least 7 days before filing an appendix containing non-documentary or oversized materials to determine submission method; include a separate slip sheet for each such item noting it was or will be separately filed.

View ruleSource: page 4, section l. Non-documentary or oversized materials

How does Judge Andrew B. Davis handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Andrew B. Davis. Process: file redacted on ecf. When moving to seal appendix materials, divide into public and sealed volumes with separate pagination and table of contents requirements.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 3.e

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Andrew B. Davis?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Non-discovery extensions and continuances require a showing of actual diligence and extraordinary cause; joint motion is insufficient.

View ruleSource: page 1, section SCHEDULING ORDER

Is electronic filing required before Judge Andrew B. Davis?

The rule addresses the filing channel for covered filings. Pro se litigants not authorized to e-file are exempt from this standing order.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Preamble

What filing deadlines does Judge Andrew B. Davis set?

No motions may be filed after the deadline except motions in limine, unless good cause is shown.

View ruleSource: page 4, section Dispositive and nondispositive motions.
Complete rules summary for Judge Andrew B. Davis

Parties must jointly file a notice if no dispositive motion is filed.

Parties may agree to extend discovery deadlines if they notify the court in writing and the extension does not affect subsequent deadlines; the court may reject the extension.

Non-discovery extensions and continuances require a showing of actual diligence and extraordinary cause; joint motion is insufficient.

No motions may be filed after the deadline except motions in limine, unless good cause is shown.

Parties are encouraged to submit an agreed briefing schedule instead of separate extension requests.

Parties must file a joint written report after mediation/settlement conference detailing date, attendees, progress, and prospects.

Table of contents must identify each item by document content.

Pro se litigants not authorized to e-file are exempt from this standing order.

Parties must place relied-upon evidence in a compliant appendix.

Appendix must include relied-upon material even if already in the record.

Do not include docketed pleadings, motions, briefs, or orders in the appendix.

Cite docketed filings by docket entry number.

Appendix must be a single, self-contained document separate from the main filing.

Include all relied-on materials except those already in an appendix for the same motion; cite existing appendix instead of duplicating.

Appendix must be assembled in order: cover page, table of contents, then each item with a slip sheet.

Each appendix item must be preceded by a slip sheet identifying the item using the same description as in the table of contents.

Appendix pagination: cover and TOC unnumbered; first slip sheet numbered App.1; sequential numbering in lower right corner; no restarting; numbers must not obscure underlying text.

Briefs must cite the appendix's App.__ pagination to specific pages, not entire items.

All appendix pages must be text-searchable; scanned material must have OCR applied and reviewed for accuracy; good-faith effort to remedy OCR errors required.

Appendix must include bookmarks for each item, labeled with the same description as the TOC and slip sheet, linking to the slip sheet page.

Parties are encouraged to include complete copies of documents in the appendix; if infeasible, include at least the first page and one page before and after the relied-upon pages for context.

When citing a deposition page that refers to an exhibit, the party must clarify whether the exhibit is included in the appendix and identify it if so.

Parties must contact the Court at least 7 days before filing an appendix containing non-documentary or oversized materials to determine submission method; include a separate slip sheet for each such item noting it was or will be separately filed.

Appendices with non-documentary or oversized materials must include a separate slip sheet for each item noting it was or will be separately filed.

Appendix must be divided into multiple volumes if it exceeds e-filing size limit or contains sealed materials.

Each volume of a multi-volume appendix must have a cover page, a table of contents covering the entire appendix, and items preceded by slip sheets.

Appendix pagination must be continuous across volumes; cover pages and tables of contents are not numbered.

Each document must be placed entirely within one volume; documents cannot be split across volumes.

Each volume's cover page must show the range of appendix pages it contains.

When moving to seal appendix materials, divide into public and sealed volumes with separate pagination and table of contents requirements.

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