78th District Court — Docket Control Order (Civil Jury Trial)

High confidence· verified September 6, 2026Case Management78th District Court Docket Control Order — Jury Trial, Civil (wichitacountytx.com/download/dco-jury-civil-trial; custody 2026-09-06).

Summary

The 78th District Court's docket control order for civil jury trials: deadlines the parties may modify by agreement unless the trial date changes, expert designations, ADR/mediation, challenges to experts and pretrial materials.

Applies to

Applies to civil cases set for jury trial in the 78th District Court of Wichita County.

Source of truth

The 78th District Court's Docket Control Order governs the disposition of a case; deadlines not affecting the trial date may be modified by the parties by agreement without court approval, but any modification that requires a new trial date must have court approval, and the parties must comply with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the Wichita County Local Rules. It fixes dates for joinder of

Official source: Wichita County Courts — wichitacountytx.com (court website)
Source health: Healthy · checked September 6, 2026
Effective date: —
Last verified: September 6, 2026benchpath-tx-ajr8-wichita-ownsite-2026-09-06

Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-06 from the county-site document (read in full). Court-specific 78th case-management standing order; judge-joined to Kennedy.

Pretrial Motions Not Heard by the Transferring Judge Are WAIVED — Trial Division 3

Judge Wolfe enforces AO S-2024-062(28)(A) with teeth: every pretrial motion in a case transferred to TD-3 must be scheduled and heard by the original transferring judge — failure to do so timely is deemed a waiver.

High confidence· verified August 3, 202613th Jud. Cir., Judge Wolfe Practices & Procedures (Trial Division 3), citing AO S-2024-062(28)(A)

Case ManagementHillsborough County · Circuit Criminal Division I · Judge Elizabeth G. Rice

Motions (Except Limine) Waived If Not Heard Before the PTC — Criminal I

Judge Rice mirrors the F-division waiver with an exception: all motions other than motions in limine must be filed AND heard before the Pretrial Conference or they are waived; limine motions must at least be filed by then.

High confidence

· verified August 4, 2026

13th Jud. Cir., Judge Rice Judicial Practices & Procedures (Crim. I)

Case ManagementHillsborough County · Civil Traffic M / Non-Crim Non-Traffic T / Family IV-D Y · Judge Mary Lou Cuellar-Stilo

Traffic Is In Person; Motions Idle 60 Days Are Presumed Denied — Civil Traffic M

Judge Cuellar-Stilo's Civil Traffic division takes no Zoom absent a court order, presumes motions pending 60+ days without a hearing denied without prejudice, and treats unwarranted "emergency" labels as sanctionable — with counsel expected available nights and weekends for real ones.

High confidence· verified August 4, 202613th Jud. Cir., Judge Cuellar-Stilo Procedures (Traffic M / NCNT T / IV-D Y)

Case ManagementHillsborough County · Probate Division B & Risk Protection Orders N · Judge Caroline Tesche Arkin

Emergency Guardianship and Vulnerable-Adult Petitions Are In Person — Probate B / RPO N

Judge Tesche Arkin defaults to Zoom but pulls emergencies back into the courtroom: Emergency Temporary Guardianship and Vulnerable Adult petitions are heard in person with counsel and parties present; 1-hour-plus hearings are JA-set and in-person only.

High confidence· verified August 4, 202613th Jud. Cir., Judge Tesche Arkin Procedures & Preferences (Probate B / RPO N)

Members only

Verbatim requirement text, cited to source
0 action checklist items

Verified requirements for Judge Meredith Kennedy unlocks with a Single Report ($29) or Professional ($99/month) — create a free account to preview the dossier first.

Unlock free →