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The probate courts' omnibus order (Jan. 3, 2023) confirming Edward J. Nolter as full-time Associate Probate Judge (appointed Jan. 6, 2022) and referring to him any aspect of any case at the probate judges' discretion, without a specific order of referral, as reflected on the weekly printed docket; his powers under Gov't Code § 54A.209(a) including signing agreed, default, temporary, waiver-based and letters-issuing final orders and mental-health orders; the referring judge signs § 54A.209(a)(16) orders within 30 days; a party may object to the associate judge trying a matter on the merits by written objection, and where a trial has been set on his docket the objection must be filed within 10 days of notice (§ 54A.207); de novo hearings are requested within 7 working days of notice of the associate judge's order or report (§ 54A.216); supersedes all former standing and omnibus orders.
Texas > Denton County > Probate Court No. 1 and Probate Court No. 2 — every case referred to Associate Judge Edward J. Nolter; counsel and parties objecting to referral or seeking de novo review.
No. SO-2023-00001 IN RE: STANDING ORDER APPOINTMENT AND REFERRAL TO ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE IN THE STATUTORY PROBATE COURTS OF DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS [Filed for record: Denton County Clerk, JAN 17 2023, Juli Luke, By: ______ Deputy] ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER ADMINISTRATIVE STANDING OMNIBUS ORDER OF REFERRAL-ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE On this the 3rd day of January, 2023, came on for administrative consideration the appointment and reallocation of the assignment of certain cases to the Associate Judge for the Probate Courts of Denton County and related orders. A. Edward J. Nolter has been appointed to serve as the full time Associate Judge for the Probate Courts of Denton County ("Associate Probate Judge") pursuant to §54A.203 of the Texas Government Code and is qualified to serve having been a licensed attorney and member of The State Bar of Texas in good standing for a period in excess required by law and meeting all statutory requirements applicable to serve as a Judicial Officer of the Probate Courts. Judge Nolter's original effective date of appointment was January 6th, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Judge Nolter's appointment has been continuous since his original appointment. B. Order of Referral. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 54A.208 and by this January 3rd, 2023 Omnibus Order of Referral any Probate Judge may refer to the Associate Probate Judge any aspect of a case of any type or any class over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction. In order to efficiently and effectively manage the Probate Court docket and staff resources, cases are reassigned between the Probate Judges and the Associate Probate Judge at the discretion of the Probate Judges. Also, cases may be referred to the Associate Probate Judge by oral or written instruction to the Court Administrators by the Presiding Judges of the Denton County Probate Courts. The cases referred to the Associate Probate Judges are evidenced by the printed docket prepared and published weekly by the Court Administrator under the direction of the court, and are subject to changes made daily at the discretion of the Probate Judges. C. Powers of the Associate Probate Judge are as set out in Texas Government Code § 54A.209 (a), except as limited by a written order of referral. Accordingly, Associate Judge Nolter may: 1. conduct a hearing; 2. hear evidence; 3. compel production of relevant evidence; 4. rule on the admissibility of evidence; 5. issue a summons for the appearance of witnesses; 6. examine a witness; 7. swear a witness for a hearing; 8. make findings of fact on evidence; 9. formulate conclusions of law; 10. rule on pretrial motions; 11. recommend the rulings, orders, or judgment to be made in a case; 12. regulate all proceedings in a hearing before the Associate Judge; 13. take action as necessary and proper for the efficient performance of the duties required by order of referral; 14. order the attachment of a witness or party who fails to obey a subpoena; 15. order the detention of a witness or party found guilty of contempt, pending approval by the referring court as provided by Section 54A.214; 16. without prejudice to the right to a de novo hearing under section 54A.216, render and sign: A. a final order agreed to in writing as to both form and substance by all parties; B. a final default order; C. a temporary order; D. a final order in a case in which a party files an unrevoked waiver made in accordance with Rule 119, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, that waives notice to the party of the final hearing or waives the party's appearance at the final hearing; E. an order specifying that the court clerk shall issue: (i) letters testamentary or of administration; or (ii) letters of guardianship; or F. an order for inpatient or outpatient mental health, mental retardation, or chemical dependency services or an order authorizing psychoactive medications; and 17. Sign a final order that includes a waiver of the right to a de novo hearing in accordance with Section 54A.216. D. In accordance with Texas Government Code § 54A.209 (b) an Associate Judge may, in the interest of justice, refer a case back to the referring court regardless of whether a timely objection to the Associate Judge hearing the trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial has been made by any party. E. In accordance with Texas Government Code § 54A.209 (c) an order described by Texas government Code § 54A.209 (a) (16) that is rendered and signed by an Associate Probate Judge constitutes an order of the referring court. The judge of the referring court shall sign the order not later than the 30th day after the date the Associate Probate Judge signs the order. F. In accordance with Texas Government Code § 54A.209 (d) an answer filed by or on behalf of a party who previously filed a waiver described in Texas government code § 54A.209(a) (16) (D) revokes that waiver. G. Cases may also be referred by the presiding Judge of the Denton County Probate court orally or by written order on an individual basis from time to time as necessary or convenient in the administration of the docket of the Probate Court. H. Referral of a matter does not require a specific order of referral and may be deemed as referred by virtue of the execution of this Order. I. Matter Not Set to be Heard by the Associate Probate Judge. With respect to any matter that has not already been set for trial on the merits or a jury trial any Counsel or party may object to the referral of a trial on the merits to the Associate Probate Judge by filing a written objection with the Court and requesting the matter be heard by the Presiding Probate Judge (TX. Govt. Code §54A.207(b)). J. Objections to Matters Set to be Heard by the Associate Probate Judge. With respect to any matter that has been set for trial on the merits or jury trial by the Probate Court on the Associate Probate Judge's docket and specifically referred to the Associate Probate Judge's docket in advance with notice to Counsel and/or parties; any objections to referral or to proceeding before the Associate Probate Judge or requests for hearing of a matter to be set on the Presiding Probate Judge's docket must be in writing, and filed not later than the tenth day after the Counsel or party receives notice that the Associate Probate Judge will hear the trial. (Tx. Govt. Code §54A.207(c)). K. De Novo Hearing before Referring Judge. Pursuant to Government Code 54A.216 (a) a party may request a de novo hearing before the referring court by filing with the clerk of the referring court a written request not later than the seventh working day after the date the party receives notice of the substance of the Associate Probate Judge's Order and/or Report as provided by Texas Government Code § 54A.212. L. This January 3rd, 2023 Standing Omnibus Order of Referral - Associate Probate Judge supersedes all former Standing and/or Omnibus Orders of the Denton County Probate Court, Denton County, Texas. Signed this 3rd day of January, 2023 [signature] Hon. David W. Jahn, Judge, Probate Court of Denton County No. 1 [signature] Hon. Christopher J. Everett, Judge, Probate Court of Denton County No. 2
No. SO-2023-00001 IN RE: STANDING ORDER APPOINTMENT AND REFERRAL TO ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE IN THE STATUTORY PROBATE COURTS OF DENTON COUNTY, TEXAS [Filed for record: Denton County Clerk, JAN 17 2023, Juli Luke, By: ______ Deputy] ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER ADMINISTRATIVE STANDING OMNIBUS ORDER OF REFERRAL-ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE On this the 3rd day of January, 2023, came on for administrative consider
Reviewer note: Text-layer registration (5 pp, 6,182 chars) read in full 2026-09-06; the party-facing provisions (objection and de novo deadlines, referral mechanics, 30-day signing) quoted verbatim, the § 54A.209 power list summarized. Composed as a rule because it fixes party deadlines (unlike the Tarrant referral chain, held as records). Composed benchpath-ajr8-denton. County-site receipt(s) in custody 2026-09-06: https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2616/Administrative-Standing-Omnibus-Order-of-Referral-Associate-Probate-Judge-PDF (identical edition). [TRANSCRIBED BY EYE 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P12): every page of the registered file (sha256 f4e763f2f6cd..., 5 page(s), digital layer that failed the machine checks; text taken from the layer and corrected word by word from the page) read against the rendered file; verbatim, source typos kept, stamps/signatures bracketed; the earlier abstract replaced by the full instrument; confidence high. benchpath-tx-corpus0920-p12-2026-09-21]
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.