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DeWitt County

Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (Region 4) · official region site ✓ · County seat: Cuero

Rules that apply here (county → region → statewide)

Preview of 25 instruments. All 12 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.

Standing OrdersDeWitt County

Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties; DeWitt County edition)

Every self-represented litigant and attorney who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting or analysis in a case before the district courts of the six counties must, before using AI-generated information in a submission or proceeding, sign and file the attached certification that all AI-created or AI-contributed language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis were verified as accurate by a human being through traditional non-AI legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for any failure to comply.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria County District Courts, signed May 1, 2026 by Judges Williams, Bauknight, Harvey-Moore and Garza; filed June 3, 2026 (Esther Ruiz, District Clerk, DeWitt County) — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page) as "Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence – eff. June 3 2026".
Standing OrdersDeWitt County

Standing Order Regarding Cell Phones, Electronic Devices and Electronic Recording Devices (District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties; DeWitt County edition)

Cell phones and electronic devices may be brought into district courtrooms subject to courthouse security policies but must be turned off inside any courtroom; photographing, recording, posting, broadcasting or televising any person, object, document or proceeding in a courtroom (in person, on Zoom or YouTube, or by any other means) is prohibited unless the Court authorizes it, on pain of removal, temporary forfeiture of the device, and fines up to $500 or up to six months' jail for contempt; the device-use restrictions do not apply to attorneys and their staff, but the recording prohibition does.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Standing Order Regarding Cell Phones, Electronic Devices and Electronic Recording Devices, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria County District Courts, signed May 1, 2026 by Judges Williams, Bauknight, Harvey-Moore and Garza; filed June 3, 2026 (District Court, DeWitt County) — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page) as "Standing Order Regarding Cell Phones Electronic Devices and Electronic Recording Devices – eff. June 3 2026".
Standing OrdersDeWitt County

Certification Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence — the required form under the six-county AI Standing Order (DeWitt County)

The certification that the six-county Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence requires every attorney or self-represented litigant to sign and submit before using AI-generated information in a submission or proceeding: that the signer has reviewed and will comply with the order, that all AI-created or AI-contributed content was independently verified through traditional non-AI legal sources by a human being, and that the signer remains personally responsible and subject to sanctions or contempt for non-compliance.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Certification Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (form required by the Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence of the Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria County District Courts, signed May 1, 2026) — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page) as "Certification Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence Form".
Standing OrdersDeWitt County

Standing Order Regarding Public Access to DFPS Court Records (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; DeWitt County)

Public access to pleadings, orders and documents filed in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services under Chapters 261, 262 and 264 of the Texas Family Code is restricted; the District Clerks of the six counties may release them only to DFPS, the parties, their attorneys, the attorney ad litem and the guardian ad litem unless the Court specifically permits access for good cause shown.

High confidence· verified September 8, 2026Standing Order Regarding Public Access to DFPS Court Records, District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties (24th, 135th, 267th, 377th Judicial Districts), signed May 24, 2024 by the Local Administrative Judge; filed June 3, 2024 (Calhoun County District Clerk) — TOPICs reg. doc 1971 (registered 06/11/2024).
Standing OrdersDeWitt County · Judge Kemper Stephen Williams

Joint Standing Order Exempting Tax Suits from Mandatory Disclosures under Rule 194 (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; DeWitt County)

Parties in tax lawsuits filed under Texas Tax Code Chapters 31-34 in the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts are exempt from the mandatory initial-disclosure requirements of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194, but must still timely respond to party-initiated discovery requests.

High confidence· verified September 8, 202624th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts' Joint Standing Order Regarding Mandatory Disclosures in Tax Cases, signed and entered March 5, 2021 by Hon. Kemper Stephen Williams, Local Administrative Judge; filed March 5, 2021 (Calhoun County District Clerk) — TOPICs reg. doc 867 (registered 01/04/2023).
Self-Represented LitigantsDeWitt County

Instructions to Pro Se Litigants in Divorce Cases (District Courts of DeWitt County)

Ten court rules that a self-represented party must satisfy before the district courts will grant a divorce in DeWitt County: clean and fully completed pleadings and decrees on letter-size paper, vehicle and real-property descriptions, mandatory child provisions (custody, possession schedule, health insurance, guideline child support that cannot be waived without court approval, paternity and prior orders by certified copy), the Bureau of Vital Statistics form, decree submission to the judge on the final-hearing date, and settings obtained through the DeWitt County District Clerk.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Instructions to Pro Se Litigants in Divorce Cases, signed and ordered May 31, 2017 by the Judges of the 135th, 24th, 267th and 377th Judicial Districts; file-marked June 2017 (District Court, DeWitt County) — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page; document served from newtools.cira.state.tx.us).
Standing OrdersDeWitt County

Standing Order Requiring a Parent Education and Stabilization Course in Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (District Courts of DeWitt County)

In every suit affecting the parent-child relationship (original or modification) filed on or after September 1, 2003, the parties must complete a Parent Education and Stabilization Course meeting Texas Family Code § 105.009 and file proof before the final hearing, with six enumerated exceptions; contested SAPCR issues are heard only on written request for the Contested SAPCR Docket, set on 45 days' notice.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Standing Order of the Court (Parent Education and Stabilization Course in SAPCRs), Judicial District Courts (24th, 135th, 267th, 377th) of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties, signed March 15, 2017; file-marked March 2017 (Tabeth Gardner, District Clerk, DeWitt County) — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page) as "Standing Order of the Courts".
Standing OrdersDeWitt County · Judge Kemper Stephen Williams

Standing Order Referring Title IV-D Matters to the Associate Judge for Title IV-D Cases (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; DeWitt County)

Every aspect of a Title 5 or Chapter 45 Texas Family Code case, including ancillary matters, in which the Title IV-D agency is the moving party is referred to the Associate Judge for Title IV-D Cases appointed to serve the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region.

High confidence· verified September 8, 2026Standing Order of the Court(s) Regarding Referring Certain Matters to Associate Judge for Title IV-D Cases, 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th Judicial District Courts, signed June 15, 2016 by Hon. Stephen Williams, Administrative Judge; filed October 26, 2016 (Calhoun County District Clerk) — TOPICs reg. doc 865 (registered 01/04/2023).
Local RulesDeWitt County · Judge Kemper Stephen Williams

Order Amending Local Rules for the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts — Rules 1.14 and 1.15, Requests for Settings (DeWitt County edition; signed December 31, 2014)

Local Rules 1.14 and 1.15 of the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts are amended so that every request for a motion hearing, non-jury trial or jury trial goes to the Court Coordinator by e-mail or in writing with a copy to all counsel and a certification that the requesting attorney conferred with every party and that the date is agreed — or, if not agreed, that a good-faith effort to agree failed, in which case the Court sets a telephonic or in-chambers docket control conference to fix the date; the rules bind self-represented litigants directly. Effective immediately on signing, December 31, 2014.

High confidence· verified September 8, 2026Order Amending Local Rules for 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts (Rules 1.14 and 1.15), signed December 31, 2014 by Hon. Stephen Williams, Local Administrative Judge — Goliad County District Court page posting (newtools.cira.state.tx.us, "Order Amending Local Rules of Court", 3 pages), the only public posting of the signed order.
Motion CalendarDeWitt County · Judge Kemper Stephen Williams

Standing Order on Summary-Judgment Setting Notices: 15-Minute Argument Limit per Side (District Courts of DeWitt County)

By standing order of the Local Administrative Judge, every setting notice (or order setting hearing) on a motion for summary judgment must state that argument on the motion is limited to 15 minutes per side.

High confidence· verified September 8, 2026Standing order of the Local Administrative Judge on summary-judgment setting notices (e-mail of Judge K. Stephen Williams, May 17, 2013, to the district clerks and coordinators, copied to Judges Koetter, Marr and Cheshire) — TOPICs reg. doc 868 (registered 01/04/2023 as "Standing Order Regarding Setting Notices on Motions for Summary Judgment").
Local RulesDeWitt County

Rules of Court of the 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts (DeWitt County edition; promulgated June 11, 1990; Rules 1.14 and 1.15 as amended December 31, 2014)

The local rules of the district courts serving DeWitt County (24th, 135th and 267th Judicial Districts, promulgated jointly with the 377th of Victoria County under Rule 3a): case assignment and bench exchange, settings (as amended in 2014 to require conferral and certification of agreed or non-agreed dates through the Court Coordinator), preferential settings, docket calls, dismissal and suspense dockets, pre-trial and scheduling conferences and sanctions for non-compliance, discovery, settlements, conflicting engagements, witnesses and exhibits, voir dire, jury charges and motions in limine, family-law preparation requirements, default and liquidated claims, a 1990 appointed-counsel fee schedule, jury management, attorney vacations, lead counsel, withdrawal, courtroom decorum and local administration.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Rules of Court, 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts (Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties) and 377th District Court (Victoria County), signed and ordered promulgated June 11, 1990 under Tex. R. Civ. P. 3a — posted by the DeWitt County District Clerk (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, District Clerk page) as "Rules of Court 24th 135th and 267th District Courts Local Rules"; Rules 1.14 and 1.15 as amended by the Order Amending Local Rules for 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts signed December 31, 2014 by Hon. Stephen Williams, Local Administrative Judge (registered by Calhoun County as TOPICs doc 457 and posted by the Goliad County Clerk).
Remote / Zoom HearingsDeWitt County

DeWitt County Court — Court Rules for Remote Hearings (public viewing on YouTube; recording prohibited)

The DeWitt County Court conducts hearings remotely where the parties have the technology and agree; courtroom-hearing requests are considered but likely postponed; proceedings are streamed for public viewing on YouTube under "DeWitt County Court", and video or audio recording by the public is strictly prohibited.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026DeWitt County Court, Court Rules for Remote Hearings ("Information for Public Viewing of Remote Hearings and Court Proceedings") — posted by the DeWitt County Judge's office (www.co.dewitt.tx.us, County Judge page) as "Zoom Rules - Probates".
AppealsFourth Administrative Judicial Region

Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas — Procedures for Attorney Fee Appeals (signed January 17, 2017; effective for decisions on or after January 20, 2017)

The Fourth Region's presiding-judge procedures for court-appointed attorneys' fee appeals under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.05, applying to the district and county courts of the region's twenty-two counties: an appeal lies from a trial court's attorney-fee decision or from its failure to decide within the 60-day period of article 26.05(c); the appeal packet (the written documentation sent to the trial court, a copy of the court's decision with the written findings and reasons article 26.05 requires, and a motion or letter explaining why the decision should be modified) must be sent to both the Presiding Judge and the trial court within fourteen days after the attorney receives notice of the decision, by e-mail with PDF attachments or by hard copy to the region's office at the Bexar County Courthouse; the trial court may modify its findings or decision in writing within five days of receiving the packet, sending the modification to the Presiding Judge and the attorney; and the Presiding Judge "determine[s] the appropriate amount of payment" under article 26.05(c) and notifies the attorney and the trial court. Signed January 17, 2017 by Presiding Judge David Peeples; effective for decisions made on or after January 20, 2017.

High confidence· verified September 8, 2026Procedures for Attorney Fee Appeals in the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region, paragraphs (1)–(8), signed January 17, 2017 by Presiding Judge David Peeples (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.05(c)); posted on the region page https://www.txcourts.gov/4ajr/ (media/1436965).
Local RulesFourth Administrative Judicial Region

Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas — Rules of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (adopted March 8, 1993)

The thirteen region-wide rules of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (the 22-county South Texas region), adopted by the Council of Presiding Judges at Austin on March 8, 1993: time standards for disposition (criminal trial within 180 days of indictment, civil jury 18 months and non-jury 12 months from appearance, contested family cases 6 months and uncontested 3 months, juvenile detention hearings the next business day with adjudication within 10 or 30 days and disposition within 15), complex-case allowance, continuances only as the rules permit and one agreed pass; monthly OCA reports to the regional presiding judge; county boards of judges must adopt uniform local rules for civil, family/juvenile and criminal cases, a jury plan, a judicial-absence plan and a rule for regular judges' meetings; local rules must follow the region's numbering and take effect only on approval by the presiding judge and the Supreme Court; conflicting-engagement priorities (criminal, statutory preference, preferential settings, earliest setting, earliest filing, multi-judge counties yield to rural counties); four weeks' attorney vacation on 90 days' written notice; pretrial motions three days before docket call and certified requests for settings; and courtroom decorum.

High confidence· verified September 7, 2026Rules of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, Rules 1–13, adopted by the Council of Presiding Judges meeting in Austin on March 8, 1993 (Supreme Court Misc. Docket No. 93-0247 per the TOPICs registration) — 365th District Court print posted by Maverick County (co.maverick.tx.us; file-stamped by the Maverick District Clerk September 29, 2021), with TOPICs registration doc 321 as the dual receipt.
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court

N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys

N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys

N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct

N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing

N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases

N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders

N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden

N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden

N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026
Local RulesStatewide

N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct

N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.

High confidence· verified September 26, 2026