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

Hon. Kenneth M. Hoyt

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 Hoyt — standing order
Motion

Without leave of Court, all briefs or memoranda are limited to 25 pages. A moving party may file a brief or memorandum of law in reply to a respondent's brief. Without leave of the court, a reply brief is limited to 15 pages. However, without leave of the Court, no further briefs, including a sur-reply, may be filed.

Opposition

Without leave of Court, all briefs or memoranda are limited to 25 pages.

Reply

A moving party may file a brief or memorandum of law in reply to a respondent's brief. Without leave of the court, a reply brief is limited to 15 pages. However, without leave of the Court, no further briefs, including a sur-reply, may be filed.

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 Hoyt — standing order

All motions, except those filed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56, must be accompanied by a separate proposed order granting or denying the relief requested.

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 ↗

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