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400th Judicial District Court — Court Rules and Procedures (final 8.1.2025) — Fort Bend County. The operative requirements are quoted verbatim from the governing document (registered/posted 09/15/2025); the document in custody is the controlling text.
Texas > Fort Bend County > 400th District Court
A specific Court instruction or order that contradicts these Court Rules and Procedures shall take priority. … 2 Cellphones, tablets and computers are permissible for use by counsel; however, they must be silenced. … GENERAL ATTIRE GUIDELINES Acceptable Attire for Men: dress shirt with a collar; long pants (slacks or dress trousers); closed-toe dress shoes; jackets and suits are required for attorneys. … Acceptable Attire for Women: blouse or conservative top; slacks, skirts (at or below knee length), or dresses/suits; closed-toe or conservative dress shoes; business suits or formal dress attire are required for attorneys. … Special Considerations: i) legitimate Religious or Cultural Dress may be worn, but must be respectful of courtroom decorum; ii) Children should be dressed neatly if present in court; iii) Law Enforcement and Security Personnel may be in uniform or professional attire; and iv) Witnesses should be advised to dress professionally, as appearance may impact credibility. … Emails must include defendant’s name and docket date and provide counsel’s electronic signature block with contact information. … If unable to timely email a reset request, you must contact the Court or otherwise appear to discuss the situation with the Judge presiding over the proceedings. … All resets (including those submitted via email) MUST include the defendant’s signature. … The presence of the defendant is required at all case settings, unless waived by the Court. … Unless otherwise indicated by the Court or by electronic appearance with Court approval, Attorneys and the defendant must appear in-person. … PLEAS The defendant must appear in person for all bond pleas. … Plea/disposition paperwork must be signed and reviewed/approved by all parties (and probation department, if necessary) before the Court will take up such pleas. … COURT SETTINGS For all retained attorneys, a written appearance or other letter of representation must be on file. … The defendant must appear in person for a bond violation hearing, unless prior approval is received from the Court. … If a defendant has multiple open cases which are disposed of at the same time, ALL CASES should be reported on a single Attorney Compensation/Expense Claim Form, (i.e. you may not bill twice for the same Court setting, jail visit, court proceeding, etc., even if the defendant has multiple cases). … On Jury Trial or Bench Trial settings, the Defendant and Attorney must appear and announce ready for trial by 9:00 AM on the day of trial. … Motions for continuance must be in writing and be presented in advance of the trial setting absent emergency circumstances. … Any requests for additional time for voir dire must be presented to Court prior to the day trial begins. … Once an exhibit is offered (even if not admitted), it must be tendered to the Court Reporter. … Once an exhibit number has been assigned, the same exhibit number may not be used for another exhibit, even if the original exhibit is withdrawn or not used in the hearing or trial. … The DCO will contain deadlines by which the designated events must occur. … TRIAL CONTINUANCES ALL requests for trial continuances (whether agreed, unopposed or opposed) MUST state what number continuance motion is being filed (i.e. “Plaintiff’s First” or “Defendant’s Second” or “Third Agreed” etc.) and provide the basis for why the continuance is being sought. … Any matter that has been set by the parties for an oral hearing on a date later than the deadline in the DOCKET CONTROL ORDER will not be considered by the Court without a motion for leave explaining sufficient cause for the late filing. … Responses that are filed after the response deadline provided for in the rules MUST be accompanied by a separate motion for leave to late file the response with a proposed order. …
Reviewer note: Operative mandatory-language provisions quoted verbatim from the registered document; the full document (sha256 3245afc193ee…) is the controlling text. Supersedes the Carter-era Local Rules and Court Procedures (TOPICs doc 305). The identical edition is posted on the court's page.
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