judge console · S.D. Tex.
S.D. Tex. · Judge Hanks · Practice Guide

Hon. George C. Hanks, Jr

All local rules for S.D. Tex., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Before You File
Ex parte applications
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule

All motions must be served on all parties. S.D. Tex. L.R. 5.5 ↗

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule
Motion

Silent on district-wide page limits for motions. The local rules do not set a page cap on motion papers. Individual judge procedures control; consult the assigned judge's standing orders. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7 ↗

Opposition

Silent on district-wide page limits for opposition briefs. Individual judge procedures control. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7 ↗

Reply

Silent on district-wide page limits for reply briefs. Reply permitted within 7 days of response per L.R. 7.4(E); page limit set by individual judge procedures. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7.4 ↗

👤 Judge Hanks — standing order
Motion

Without leave of Court, any motion, brief, or memorandum shall be limited to 25 pages, 13-point type-font, double-spaced, with 1" margins.

Opposition

Without leave of Court, any motion, brief, or memorandum shall be limited to 25 pages, 13-point type-font, double-spaced, with 1" margins.

Reply

Movant may file a reply within seven calendar days after the non-movant's response. No further briefing, including supplements and sur-replies, should be filed without leave of Court.

Font & formatting
👤 Judge Hanks — standing order

Without leave of Court, any motion, brief, or memorandum shall be limited to 25 pages, 13-point type-font, double-spaced, with 1" margins.

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule
Notice period

Opposed motions submitted 21 days from filing; no appearance required. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7.3 ↗

Hearing days

No fixed motion days; oral argument by request or court order. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7.5 ↗

Proposed orders
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule

Required with all opposed motions. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7.1(C) ↗

👤 Judge Hanks — standing order

All motions except motions pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 56 must be accompanied by a separate proposed order. Do not submit a proposed order that contains a bare signature block. Instead, include a few lines of substantive text above the page containing the signature block.

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule

Court may decide on papers; oral argument by party request or court order. S.D. Tex. L.R. 7.5 ↗

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 S.D. Tex. local rule

Magistrate judges authorized per 28 U.S.C. § 636. S.D. Tex. L.R. 72 ↗

Discovery dispute procedure
👤 Judge Hanks — standing order

Discovery and Scheduling Disputes: Most discovery and scheduling disputes can and should be resolved by counsel without the intervention of the Court. Compromise is encouraged. 1. Counsel are responsible for conferring in good faith to resolve discovery and scheduling disputes. If counsel for the parties are unable to reach an agreement, a conference with the Court must be sought by a joint letter filed with the Court. The parties should file a joint letter that does not exceed 2 pages, outlining the issues. The letter MUST specify the date, time and place of the parties' prior out-of-court discovery or scheduling discussion(s), the results of the discussions, and the names of all counsel or pro se parties participating therein. If counsel has been unable to confer because of the unavailability or unwillingness of certain counsel or pro se parties to do so, the statement shall recite the facts concerning attempts to confer.

content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment
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