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

Hon. Sim Lake

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 Lake — standing order
Motion

The court requires concise, pertinent, and well organized motions, memoranda of law, and briefs. Without leave of court no motion, memorandum of law, or brief may exceed 25 total pages. This 25-page limitation includes all statements of fact and all factual and legal arguments. Motions, memoranda of law, and briefs that are 10 pages or less must contain items (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) listed below. Any motion, memorandum of law, or brief of more than 10 pages must contain all items listed below.

Opposition

Without leave of court no motion, memorandum of law, or brief may exceed 25 total pages. This 25-page limitation includes all statements of fact and all factual and legal arguments.

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) ↗

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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