Divisions
S.D. Tex. — SDTX is seven divisions spanning from Houston to Brownsville, covering 48 counties.
SDTX is seven divisions spanning from Houston to Brownsville, covering 48 counties. Division assignment determined by venue (which county). Houston has 12+ district judges and handles the most civil cases. Galveston is the only division with its own published Rules of Practice. 28 U.S.C. § 124(b).
Division Map
| Division | Counties | Courthouse |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazos + 9 others | Bob Casey Courthouse, 515 Rusk Ave |
| Galveston | Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Matagorda | 601 Rosenberg |
| Corpus Christi | Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, San Patricio | 1133 N. Shoreline Blvd |
| Victoria | Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio, Victoria | 312 S. Main |
| Brownsville | Cameron, Willacy | 600 E. Harrison St |
| McAllen | Hidalgo, Starr | 1701 W. Business Hwy 83 |
| Laredo | Jim Hogg, La Salle, McMullen, Webb, Zapata | 1300 Victoria St |
Galveston Division Critical Requirements
- Plaintiffs must SERVE copy of Galveston Rules on each defendant with summons/complaint
- Removing parties must serve on all others with removal papers
- Joint Discovery/Case Management Plan: 10 days before Rule 16 conference
- Discovery disputes: joint letter (2-page max) before any motion to compel
- No separate memoranda of law — motion includes argument
Galveston actively screens for cases with no factual nexus and may transfer sua sponte.