Diana Maria McGinnis

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Court's Standing Criminal Pre-Trial Order, effective January 5, 2023 — TOPICs reg. doc 947 (registered by Aransas County 01/06/2023 as "Standing Orders").

To promote informal discovery, the prosecutor discloses without written request, at least seven days before trial, mitigating and impeachment evidence, the defendant's statements, witness and expert lists, test and examination results, prior convictions, extraneous acts, plea agreements with co-defendants or informants, physical evidence and a plea recommendation (an open-file policy satisfies the order; boilerplate motions are disregarded); defense counsel must interview the client, review the Penal Code, seek informal discovery, file fact-specific suppression motions, reimburse copying costs, convey the plea offer, interview witnesses, obtain pre-trial hearings, subpoena witnesses, dress the defendant in street clothes for a jury and stay in the case until permitted to withdraw; the court reporter records all hearings and pre-marks the State's exhibits.

Letter re Interpreters to Spanish speaking attorneys, 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts, May 8, 2018, signed by Janna Whatley, District Judge, with the two interpreters' cancellation policies attached — posted by the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts (www.36-156-343districtcourts.org; custody URL on the www.co.zapata.tx.us host, Criminal Cases page, file "Intrepreter Information").

Under the courts' policy Spanish interpreters are scheduled only for announcement and trial dates; counsel who needs an interpreter for a pre-trial setting must notify the District Judge's office immediately on receiving the setting notice so the court administrator can schedule one; counsel are directed to the attached cancellation policies of the two interpreters the courts use (two-hour minimums for cancellations on less than 24 hours' notice).

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 10 — Driving Safety Course, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 976 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Driving Safety Course").

Clerks may process a driving-safety-course request at the window when it is made by the citation's appearance date (mailbox rule for mail), with a signed Art. 45.0511(c)(3) eligibility affidavit, proof of insurance conforming to Standing Order No. 6, a valid Texas license or permit and the fee paid instanter; a late request adds $75 under Art. 45.0511(d). Dismissal follows on a signed "court copy" certificate of timely completion with a certified DPS driving record showing no course dismissal in the preceding twelve months; non-completion brings a show-cause summons and, on non-appearance, a final judgment (no time-payment fee before the 31st day), and a certificate earned after the citation but before the grant is accepted.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 19 — Fail to Display Driver's License, revised January 9, 2023 and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 978 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Fail to Display Drivers License").

Under the State's standing motion to dismiss, a fail-to-display-driver's-license charge (Transportation Code § 521.025) is dismissed when the defendant shows a clerk a valid Texas license issued before the offense and appropriate for the vehicle; the clerk keeps a copy in the file and no dismissal fee is charged.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 2 — Docket Settings and Continuances, revised January 5, 2023 and ordered January 9, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 969 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Docket Settings and Continuances").

A defendant or attorney who appears at the clerk's window before pending-warrant status gets a court setting without an appearance bond unless there was a prior bond default; a defendant who misses a properly noticed setting must post an appearance bond (cash after a judgment nisi) to be reset. Motions for continuance must be written and filed three calendar days before the setting; one timely, noticed continuance is available without the other side's agreement or a bond, window requests must carry a proposed order, and further continuances need the court's approval.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 23 — Rules of Attire and Conduct, revised January 6, 2023 and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 970 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Rules of Attire and Conduct").

Courtroom attire and conduct rules for every proceeding of the Precinct 1 justice court: no shorts, tank tops, offensive clothing, dirty or immodest dress or hats (medical and religious exceptions), business attire for attorneys; self-represented litigants must be prepared because the court cannot assist them; be on time (the courtroom opens 15 minutes before docket call), address the court as Judge or Your Honor, no first names, reading, talking over others, offensive language, wandering, approaching the bench or clerk without permission, food, drink or phone use; rise for the judge. Violations may be punished as contempt by a $100 fine or up to three days in jail.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 25 — Issuance of "Time Served" Orders, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 971 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Issuance of Time Served Orders").

Jail-time credit is considered only on a written Motion for Time Served from the defendant or counsel with proof of incarceration attached, and is granted only for custody under a valid warrant or capias issued by the Precinct 1 justice court before the incarceration; every time-served motion and order a judge considers or signs is retained and transmitted to the justice of the peace for the case file.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 26 — Juror's Excuses, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 979 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Juror's Excuses").

The chief clerk reviews requests for exemption from jury service and claims of ineligibility or disqualification, and the court's designee discharges or postpones a prospective juror when the court considers the excuse sufficient and the juror submits a statement of the ground.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 27 — Payment of Fines at Window, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 980 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Payment of Fines at Window").

Clerks may accept fine and fee payments at the window under Art. 27.14; in an unadjudicated case a fine or a driving-safety-course or deferred fee is accepted only from the defendant or counsel after a signed written plea and waiver of rights, which goes to the judge for acceptance; the payer's identity is verified and recorded and, where practicable, imaged.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 28 — Withdrawal of Counsel, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 981 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Withdrawal of Counsel").

No attorney of record withdraws without a motion and an order granting leave; a withdrawal at the defendant's request or by agreement carries the defendant's written consent or a substituting lawyer's certificate, otherwise the motion is mailed certified and first-class to the defendant with notice of a presentation date at least ten days out and of the right to object in writing; no motion within twenty days of trial or so as to delay it, and after leave the attorney notifies the defendant by mail of settings and the right to other counsel, with notice to the State and the clerk.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 29 — Discovery Pursuant to Art. 39.14, C.C.P., ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 982 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Discovery Pursuant to Art. 39.14 C.C.P.").

All parties are bound by Article 39.14: on a timely written request from represented defendants the State produces offense reports, statements and material tangible evidence at least 30 days before trial (or as soon as practicable), may withhold internal communications and partial items subject to a hearing, self-represented defendants may inspect but not duplicate and must request video review 30 days before trial, discoverable items stay within the defense's entrusted and expanded circles with identifiers redacted, exculpatory material is disclosed, disclosures are recorded and acknowledged before a plea or trial, the duty to disclose continues, and discovery costs may be assessed under Government Code Chapter 552.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 31 — Failure to Appear at Initial Court Setting, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 983 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Failure to Appear at Initial Court Setting").

Before a failure-to-appear warrant issues, the clerk mails the defendant, the day after the missed initial setting, a notice of a new date within 30 days with the court's name and location and the required paragraphs on payment options and on the consequences of a further non-appearance (warrant, DPS notice affecting license and registration renewal, added costs). A defendant who then appears to resolve the warrant is set on the FTA docket, a written request earns an alternative date within 21 days, and a voluntary appearance with a good-faith effort (a plea with a bond, a financial questionnaire, a payment date or plan, or a promise to appear) recalls the warrant.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 32 — Capias Pro Fine Procedures, ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 984 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Capias Pro Fine Procedures").

Before a capias pro fine issues for an unsatisfied judgment, the clerk mails a notice of a date within 21 days with the court's name and location and the required paragraphs on payment options and on the consequences of non-appearance; a defendant who appears before execution and resolves the amount (payment in full now or by a date, an installment plan under Standing Order No. 20, a long-form financial questionnaire with a promise to appear at the indigency hearing docket) completes the questionnaire, and once the contact information is verified the capias is recalled; refusal to complete it means the capias is executed.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 4 — Deferred Disposition, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 972 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Deferred Disposition").

Clerks may process deferred-disposition requests at the window when the standard conditions are met (full payment of costs and the special expense fee, no deferred dismissal within twelve months, no probation elsewhere), with added conditions for moving violations (valid license; drivers under 25 take a driving safety course) and exclusions (commercial licenses, work zones with workers present, accidents, school buses, crossing guards, speeding 25 mph over or above 80 mph, outstanding warrants) and for alcohol, tobacco, assault and theft complaints; deferral periods are 90 days (180 days for no-insurance cases, with proof maintained throughout), driving-while-license-invalid needs a valid or eligible license, and a request made after the appearance date adds $75 or the balance of the fine to the special expense fee.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 5 — Compliance Dismissals, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 973 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Compliance Dismissals").

Clerks may process for dismissal, on proof of compliance, expired registration, expired driver's license, failure to change the address or name on a license, and license-restriction violations: a $20 fee ($10 for a medically corrected restriction) plus the tax assessor's stamped renewal receipt and penalty-fee proof, the DPS temporary license, or the corrected license, with compliance within 20 working days of the offense or first appearance; non-conforming proof goes on the No Contest docket at the defendant's request.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 6 — Dismissal of Financial Responsibility Violations, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 974 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Dismissal Of Financial Responsibility").

Before the first appearance on a no-insurance citation a clerk may accept, for dismissal, a copy of the motor-vehicle liability policy or an insurance binder meeting Chapter 601 (an authorized insurer's owner's or operator's policy written for the named insured at the statutory minimums); premium notices, receipts and handwritten documents are not proof; fleet policies need indicia of authorization; proof is verified before dismissal, disputes go to hearing, unverifiable proof on a warrant case requires a personal appearance bond equal to the window fine and fees, and license status is not considered.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1, Aransas County, Judicial Standing Order No. 8 — Warrants and Capias Pro Fines, revised and ordered January 5, 2023, signed by Judge Diane Dupnik — TOPICs reg. doc 975 (registered by Aransas County 01/09/2023 as "Warrants and Capias Pro Fines").

A defendant with an outstanding warrant who appears voluntarily is arrested unless they make a good-faith effort to resolve it under Standing Order No. 31; cash bonds may be posted by cash, cashier's check, money order or card (no personal checks), a personal bond is accepted after a financial questionnaire, warrants are recalled on bond or payment, appearance bonds must be signed by the principal (attorney bonds with bar number after a notice of appearance), no bond is required before the court signs a warrant, and a cash bond is required after a judgment nisi. A defendant with a capias pro fine is arrested unless they resolve the amount under Standing Order No. 32; after a verified questionnaire the capias is recalled and a show-cause hearing set, and refusal to complete it means the capias is executed.

Local Rules of Procedure and Rules of Decorum for the Justice of the Peace Courts, Aransas County, Texas, effective January 1, 2023, approved by Justices of the Peace Diane Dupnik and Diana McGinnis — TOPICs reg. doc 946 (registered by Aransas County 01/06/2023 as "Local Rules").

The Aransas County justice courts' local rules under Government Code § 27.061: jurisdiction and precinct organization, dockets and bench exchange, electronic jury selection; justice civil cases (TRCP Part V filing, no e-filing, settings, copies at $1 and $0.25, return envelopes, written continuance requests three business days out, conflicting engagements with a stated priority order, withdrawal by written motion, no recording without permission, transfer and bench-exchange procedure, dismissal for want of prosecution after 120 days without answer or 12 months without activity, drafts of orders, holiday closures); criminal cases (filing precinct, transfers, first appearance, no appointed counsel in fine-only cases, resets 24 hours out, monthly pretrials, jury waivers, standard fines, magistration); administrative jurisdiction (DPS license hearings, tow hearings, mental-health, seized property, animal and handgun-license hearings); inquests and weddings; and rules of decorum for the courtroom and for attorneys.

Minute Order Relating to Electronic Audio and/or Video Evidence, 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts, dated August 19, 2022, signed by Judges Starr Boldrick Bauer (36th), Patrick L. Flanigan (156th) and Janna K. Whatley (343rd), with Judge Whatley's cover letter of September 14, 2022 — posted by the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts (www.36-156-343districtcourts.org; custody URL on the www.co.zapata.tx.us host, District Court home, Civil/Family and Criminal pages).

Audio or video evidence offered at pre-trial or trial must be in admissible form and format when offered (a flash drive is preferred over a DVD); questions of form and format go to the trial judge before the offer and, in jury cases, before jury selection; all objections to redaction of a recording are ruled on before a jury trial begins; every exhibit must be in English or offered with an English translation, and any translation must be disclosed to opposing parties at least 3 days before the offer; admission of non-conforming evidence is in the presiding judge's sole discretion. The judges' September 14, 2022 cover letter paraphrases the order and asks prosecutors to share it with law enforcement.

Policies and Procedures for the Judge of Aransas County Court at Law's Actions on Cases Pending in District Court in Aransas County, Texas, agreed by Judges Starr Boldrick Bauer (36th), Patrick L. Flanigan (156th), Janna Whatley (343rd) and Richard Bianchi (County Court at Law) February 6–9, 2015 — Exhibit D (pages 30–32) to the Rules of Court, Aransas County Court at Law, TOPICs reg. doc 1459 (registered by Aransas County 06/29/2023).

The County Court at Law acts in district-court cases only as these policies allow: no criminal arraignments, pre-trials or guilty pleas without written concurrence of two-thirds of the district judges presiding in Aransas County; family matters may be filed in either court (the District Clerk informs filers), the County Court at Law judge may sign status-quo TROs in original petitions but respondents', modification, protective-order, habeas and other non-status-quo TROs go to the district judges unless that judge approves, Rule 103 service authorizations are permitted and Rule 106 substituted service needs the district judge's approval; district judges may assign family cases temporarily or permanently with the County Court at Law judge's consent (the clerk carries permanently assigned cases on a special docket); CPS removal cases are filed in the court whose judge authorized the removal; IV-D master appeals go to the County Court at Law judge on the special docket; and incoming transferred family cases are docketed in the County Court at Law.

Pro-se Divorce Procedures in the District Courts of Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties, 36th, 156th & 343rd Judicial District Courts, 2nd Multicounty Court at Law, District Judges Starr Boldrick Bauer, Boyd W. Bauer and Janna K. Whatley, 2026 edition — posted by the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts (www.36-156-343districtcourts.org; custody URL on the www.co.zapata.tx.us host, Civil/Family Case and Attorneys/Pro Se pages, file "2026 Pro se Divorce Procedures").

A self-represented petitioner must serve the respondent under the Rules of Civil Procedure or file a waiver of citation dated and signed after the petition was filed; before requesting a setting must serve the Attorney General and consolidate any child-support case into the divorce, attend the family counseling program if children are involved (as must the spouse, with limited out-of-area exceptions), know the service or waiver date and whether the respondent answered or has counsel, and place a fully completed divorce decree and vital statistics form in the clerk's file; then requests a court date from the court administrator of the court where the case is filed, giving the case number — no date is set without service, waiver or answer and a decree on file, and every blank must be filled in before seeing the judge; the petitioner must keep a current address with the District Clerk or risk dismissal and loss of the filing fee.

Rules of Court, 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts (Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties), signed and ordered promulgated June 16, 2026 by Judges Starr Boldrick Bauer (36th), Boyd W. Bauer (156th) and Janna K. Whatley (343rd) — TOPICs reg. doc 2999 (registered by San Patricio County 06/22/2026 as "Rules of Court").

The 2026 local rules of the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts: bench exchange and emergency matters, judicial vacation, the Local Administrative Judge's duties, time standards, where juvenile and CPS cases are filed (county courts at law, except Bee County's CPS cases in the district courts), court calendars apportioned by county population, rotating assignment of cases and felony styling, transfers by consent, settings through the Court Administrators with docket control orders, preferential settings, ex parte relief with the applicant present, pre-trial and pre-trial motions, severance, continuances (presented at pre-trial or ten days before trial), summary-judgment courtesy copies by mail or delivery only, ADR referrals and objections, settlements, conflicting engagements, interpreters, a minute order on audio/video evidence and English translations, jury charges seven days before trial, the family standing order and parent-education course, sworn inventories and proposed property divisions, pro se divorce and adoption procedures (Exhibits C and D), criminal appearance, retention notices and interpreters, attorney vacation letters, courtroom decorum, entry of orders within seven days, and no photography or recording in the courtroom.

Rules of Court, Aransas County Court at Law, effective June 21, 2023, signed by Judge Richard P. Bianchi, with the Certificate of Approval of Presiding Judge Sid Harle of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region signed June 22, 2023 — TOPICs reg. doc 1459 (registered by Aransas County 06/29/2023 as "Rules of Court Aransas County Court at Law"), pages 1–15.

The County Court at Law's local rules: judicial vacation and a published calendar; civil time standards, settings through the Court Manager, telephone docket-control conferences and the consequences of missing one, ex parte relief, six-month dismissal and suspense dockets, pre-trial exchange of motions, witness and exhibit lists seven days out, submission or hearing of preliminary matters, severance, default judgments, summary judgments by submission with courtesy copies, ADR referrals, discovery motions with a certificate of conference, settlements and interpreters; the lost-will administrative order (Exhibit A); the five-county family standing order and parent-education course (Exhibits B and C), pre-trial conferral, income withholding, the VS-165 form, sworn inventories and proposed property divisions five days before trial, and district-court cases (Exhibit D); criminal arraignment within 20 days with a waiver form, the pre-trial hearing and plea deadline four weeks later, indigent appointments, personal appearance, interpreter requests 48 hours out, and no felony matters without two-thirds concurrence of the district judges; preferential settings, continuances ten days out with a reset in the order, conflicting engagements, readiness, juries at 9:00 a.m. Monday, agreed charges five days out; bailiff duties; attorney vacations (30 days a year) and withdrawal; decorum, dress code, electronics and security; ad litem appointments and orders within seven days; no recording without approval.

Second Amended Administrative Order Regarding Notice Requirements for an Application to Probate a Copy of a Lost Will or a Lost Will Without a Copy, County Court at Law of Aransas County, signed June 21, 2023 by Judge Richard P. Bianchi, with the attached Notice of Application and sample Affidavit Waiving Citation — Exhibit A (pages 16–21) to the Rules of Court, Aransas County Court at Law, TOPICs reg. doc 1459 (registered by Aransas County 06/29/2023).

When a lost will or codicil is offered for probate, the court appoints an attorney ad litem for unknown or disabled heirs whenever a full or partial intestacy would otherwise result (not when a valid original codicil republished the lost will), the applicant deposits ad litem funds and supplies copies for the ad litem, the clerk attaches the court's Notice of Application to every § 258.002 citation, every devisee and every heir (or, for a lost codicil, the original will's beneficiaries) is personally served or signs an affidavit waiving citation, and a waiver affidavit must itself recite all the points of the notice; the court's sample affidavit is preferred but not mandatory.

San Patricio, Aransas, Bee, Live Oak and McMullen County Family Law Courts Standing Order Regarding Children, Property, and Conduct of the Parties (36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts, San Patricio County Court at Law No. 1 and No. 2 and Aransas County Court at Law), effective June 15, 2026, signed by Judges Starr B. Bauer, Boyd W. Bauer, Janna K. Whatley, Elizabeth Welborn, Viki Hesseltine Martino, Richard P. Bianchi and Harvey Hardwick — TOPICs reg. doc 3001 (registered by San Patricio County 06/23/2026 as "Standing Orders - Family").

The automatic standing order attached to every divorce, SAPCR and modification petition filed in the five counties: no disruption, removal, hiding, disparagement or overnight dating guests concerning the children, no substance use before possession, no violence; no harassment, mail or account intrusion, interception, social-media posting or exclusion from the residence; in a divorce no dissipation of property, records, insurance or accounts beyond the specifically authorized business, living and legal expenses; served with the petition, effective on filing until final order or dismissal, subordinate to protective orders, bond waived.

San Patricio, Aransas, Bee, Live Oak and McMullen County Family Law Courts Standing Order Regarding Persons Seeking Conservatorship in Family Law Cases (Tex. Fam. Code § 105.009), effective June 15, 2026, signed by Judges Starr B. Bauer, Boyd W. Bauer, Janna K. Whatley, Elizabeth Welborn, Viki Hesseltine Martino, Richard P. Bianchi and Harvey Hardwick — TOPICs reg. doc 3000 (registered by San Patricio County 06/23/2026 as "Standing Orders Conservatorship").

Every party seeking conservatorship, possession or access in a SAPCR or modification must complete a four-to-twelve-hour parent education and family stabilization course meeting Texas Family Code § 105.009 (petitioner within 31 days of filing, respondent within 31 days of first appearance or answer), offered by a qualified mental-health professional or religious practitioner, with a certificate of completion; non-completion may be sanctioned by contempt, striking pleadings or Rule 215 sanctions but does not delay judgment, and the assigned judge may waive the course for good cause.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 99(b)–(c)

The citation directs the defendant to answer by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next after the expiration of twenty days after the date of service — the distinctive Texas answer date every deadline calculation starts from.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 4

How Texas procedural deadlines are computed: exclude the trigger day, include the last day unless it falls on a weekend or legal holiday, skip weekends and holidays entirely in periods of five days or less, and count them for the three-day mail-service extensions under Rules 21 and 21a.

Eighth (8th) Court of Appeals, Eighth Court of Appeals Anders Requirements (TOPICs reg. doc. 747)

Eighth Court of Appeals Anders Requirements, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Eighth (8th) Court of Appeals, Eighth Court of Appeals Local Rules (TOPICs reg. doc. 740)

Eighth Court of Appeals Local Rules, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Eighth (8th) Court of Appeals, Eighth Court of Appeals Oral Argument Requests (TOPICs reg. doc. 746)

Eighth Court of Appeals Oral Argument Requests, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 21a(a)

A document filed electronically must be served electronically through the electronic filing manager whenever the recipient's email address is on file with it; otherwise service may be made in person, by mail, by commercial delivery, by fax, by email, or as directed by the court.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.8, 510.11, 510.15, 510.19

In justice-court eviction cases: the citation sets a personal-appearance trial day not less than 10 nor more than 21 days after the petition is filed; a written answer is permitted but NOT required (appearing on the trial day is what matters); no trial may be held until 4 days after service; and an appeal must be perfected within 5 days after the judgment is signed.

First (1st) Court of Appeals, 1st COA Local Rule (TOPICs reg. doc. 767)

First (1st) Court of Appeals — 1st COA Local Rule, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

First (1st) Court of Appeals, 1st COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment in Appeals (TOPICs reg. doc. 768)

First (1st) Court of Appeals — 1st COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment in Appeals, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

First (1st) Court of Appeals, 1st COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment in Original Proceedings (TOPICs reg. doc. 769)

First (1st) Court of Appeals — 1st COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment in Original Proceedings, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

First (1st) Court of Appeals, 3. Form of Motions for En Banc Reconsideration (TOPICs reg. doc. 2910)

First (1st) Court of Appeals — 3. Form of Motions for En Banc Reconsideration, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 04/01/2026). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 245

Contested cases may be set for trial on any party's written request or the court's own motion with reasonable notice of not less than forty-five days for a FIRST setting; resets need only reasonable notice. A request for a setting is a good-faith representation of expected readiness.

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals, 14th COA Local Rule (TOPICs reg. doc. 751)

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals — 14th COA Local Rule, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals, 14th COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment of Related Case in Appeals (TOPICs reg. doc. 752)

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals — 14th COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment of Related Case in Appeals, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals, 14th COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment of Related Case in Original Proceedings (TOPICs reg. doc. 753)

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals — 14th COA Local Rule Notice of Assignment of Related Case in Original Proceedings, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/02/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Fourth (4th) Court of Appeals, 4th COA Local Rules (TOPICs reg. doc. 2749)

Fourth (4th) Court of Appeals — 4th COA Local Rules, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/07/2026). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Fourth (4th) Court of Appeals, Fee Schedule (TOPICs reg. doc. 1108)

Fourth (4th) Court of Appeals — Fee Schedule, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/27/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 216

A written jury request must be filed a reasonable time before the non-jury trial setting and not less than thirty days in advance, with the jury fee deposited within the same window.

Tex. R. Jud. Admin. 10

Local rules, forms, and standing orders must be published on the Office of Court Administration's website (TOPICs) — with regional presiding judges and the Supreme Court empowered to order amendment or withdrawal — and no court may require a party to use a local form or reject a properly completed Supreme Court–approved form.

Local Rules of Administration for the Texas Business Court (eff. July 1, 2026)

The Business Court's administrative rules (eff. July 1, 2026, adopted by all ten judges under Gov't Code §§ 25A.005, 25A.020(b) and TRJA 7 and 10): a three-month ruling standard for matters under advisement; reassignment and consolidation mechanics (severed cases stay with the severing judge; substantially related cases may be consolidated before the first-filed judge by the administrative presiding judge or by consent; relief premised on a prior Business Court judgment returns to its rendering judge; APJ docket-equalization reassignments); quarterly docket-equalization orders assigning a confidential, randomly sequenced number of next-filed cases (TRO cases excluded) to judges of other divisions who sit as judges of the originating division; the court calendar (state/national holidays, county closures per division, no settings during the Texas Center for the Judiciary annual conference week); visiting judges (§ 25A.014, TRJA 8) including APJ-requested coverage for absences beyond ten consecutive court business days; the emergency-matter referral chain (same-division judge first, then an APJ-designated judge); budget submissions through the APJ; the administrative-presiding-judge structure (majority election at the annual meeting by September 15 of even-numbered years for two-year terms, a pro tempore, § 25A.017(b) duties, delegation and committees, annual meeting the first Tuesday after Labor Day with monthly meetings); and rule-adoption mechanics (majority vote or 30-day no-objection circulation for these administrative rules; judge- and division-level local rules and guidelines under § 25A.020(b) and TRJA 7.2(f)(5) with division-uniform options; TRJA 10(a) publication on the OCA and clerk websites; a TRJA 7.1 confidentiality policy binding all court staff).

Second (2nd) Court of Appeals, Local Rules of the 2nd Court of Appeals (including amendments received through June 21, 2025) (TOPICs reg. doc. 2512)

Local Rules of the 2nd Court of Appeals (including amendments received through June 21, 2025), as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 08/15/2025). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Local Rules of the Texas Business Court (eff. July 1, 2026) (TOPICs reg. doc 3023)

The court-wide local rules adopted by all ten Business Court judges (eff. July 1, 2026), supplementing the TRCP in the statewide Business Court: bench exchange and administrative-presiding-judge docket re-assignment (trials stay in the division absent agreement; the assigned judge's forms and division practices govern); deemed consent to supplemental jurisdiction absent a severance motion or objection within 30 days; consolidation motions in the first-filed case; the mandatory Case Information Sheet and counsel-of-record mechanics with eFileTexas e-service subscription; scheduling orders proposed jointly within 30 days of first appearance or removal/transfer, accompanied by corporate-disclosure statements (14 days for later-joined parties; governmental entities exempt); the discovery-dispute prerequisite (good-faith resolution attempt, then a summary letter capped at 700 words with a 300-word conference certificate, a 7-day 700-word response, no replies without leave, and court-directed next steps) with cost-shifting statements; motion word limits (discovery 3,000 / replies 1,250; all others 7,500 / replies 3,000, with compliance certificates), 10-day responses and 7-day replies, pinpoint citations, unopposed labeling, conference certificates for all but dispositive motions, 10-day written-opinion requests, and summary-judgment written submission on the last business day before the 60th day after filing; mediation referral and immediate settlement notice; emergency-relief mechanics (clerk notification, proposed order, and a 2-hour pre-hearing certificate of grounds or notice); removal practice (TRCP deadlines unchanged, certified copies, re-filing of pending motions, filing in the operating division containing the removal county); sealing practice (redaction-first, in-camera delivery by secure link or Case Center, TRCP 76a, sensitive-data indicator does not seal); and miscellaneous rules — pro hac vice continuity after removal, vacation letters up to four weeks, the ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE accountability clause (use not prohibited; the filing attorney or party is independently responsible for accuracy and must comply with TRCP 13 and CPRC chs. 9–10), deemed consent to remote proceedings absent a 3-business-day objection, and amicus-brief leave with required disclosures.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 21(f)

Attorneys must electronically file documents in courts where e-filing has been mandated (statewide for civil cases in district, county, and appellate courts); unrepresented parties may e-file but are not required to. Filing runs through the certified electronic filing manager (eFileTexas).

Ninth (9th) Court of Appeals, Fee Schedule (TOPICs reg. doc. 643)

Ninth (9th) Court of Appeals — Fee Schedule, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Ninth (9th) Court of Appeals, Statewide E-Filing Rules (TOPICs reg. doc. 641)

Ninth (9th) Court of Appeals — Statewide E-Filing Rules, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Tex. R. App. P. 26.1

A civil notice of appeal is due 30 days after the judgment is signed — extended to 90 days by a timely motion for new trial, motion to modify, motion to reinstate, or proper findings request; accelerated appeals allow only 20 days; restricted appeals six months; and any other party may appeal within 14 days after the first notice.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 194.1–194.2(a)

In suits not governed by the Family Code, every party must serve initial disclosures — without awaiting a discovery request — within 30 days after the first answer or general appearance (later-joined parties: within 30 days of being served or joined), unless the parties agree or the court orders otherwise.

Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(d), (e), (g)

Under the restructured Rule 166a, the deadlines anchor to the MOTION'S FILING, not a noticed hearing: the response is due within 21 days after the motion is filed, any reply within 7 days after the response, the hearing or submission may not be set within 35 days of filing and must be set within 60 days (or 90 for docket need, good cause, or movant agreement), and each side must submit a proposed order before the hearing or submission date.

Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals, Standing Order No. 1 (TOPICs reg. doc. 104)

Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals — Standing Order No. 1, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals, Standing Order No. 2 (TOPICs reg. doc. 105)

Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals — Standing Order No. 2, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Third (3rd) Court of Appeals, Local Rules (TOPICs reg. doc. 190)

Third (3rd) Court of Appeals — Local Rules, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.