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

Hon. Drew B. Tipton

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 Tipton — standing order
Motion

Limit any motion or response to twenty-five pages. Limit any reply to ten pages.

Opposition

Limit any motion or response to twenty-five pages. Limit any reply to ten pages.

Reply

There is no right to file a reply. The Court may consider a reply if it is filed prior to the Court ruling on the motion. Any reply must be filed no later than seven days after the response is filed.

Font & formatting
👤 Judge Tipton — standing order

Style. Use American letter-size paper, a minimum 12-point font, and a minimum of 1-inch margins with 1/2-inch margins for footnotes, page numbers and any headers or footers. Double space except for lengthy quotations, headings, and footnotes.

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 Tipton — standing order

Use Form 5 to prepare draft proposed orders. Include a proposed order granting or denying the requested relief with all nondispositive motions and oppositions.

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 Tipton — standing order

Initiating letter required. Do not bring a motion on discovery or scheduling disputes without permission. To obtain permission, the party seeking relief must submit a letter not exceeding approximately two single-spaced pages. Identify the nature of the dispute, outline the issues, and state the contested relief sought. Specify the conference between lead counsel and summarize the results.

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