judge console · N.D. Tex.
N.D. Tex. · Judge Boyle · Practice Guide

Hon. Jane J. Boyle

All local rules for N.D. Tex., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Before You File
Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Boyle — standing order

Except as provided in Judge Boyle's Scheduling orders in civil and criminal cases, DO NOT EMAIL THE COURT. Communications through e-mail, as opposed to electronic filing, do not contain the same safeguards, nor do they constitute official filings made as part of the record. Accordingly, under no circumstances may a party request relief or send other communications or notices to the Court via e-mail. Only proposed orders sent to the Boyle Orders email address, as outlined above in paragraph II. H., will be reviewed. All other emails sent to Court staff or the Boyle Orders or Boyle Clerk email addresses will be disregarded without notice. When leaving phone messages with chambers, always include your name, the cause number of the case you are calling about, the identity of the party you represent, and the specific reason for your call.

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 N.D. Tex. local rule
Motion

Unless another local civil rule provides otherwise, a brief must not exceed 25 pages (excluding the table of contents and table of authorities). A reply brief must not exceed 10 pages. Permission to file a brief in excess of these page limitations will be granted by the presiding judge only for extraordinary and compelling reasons. N.D. Tex. LR 7.2(c) ↗

Opposition

Unless another local civil rule provides otherwise, a brief must not exceed 25 pages (excluding the table of contents and table of authorities). Responses to motions follow the standard brief length — 25 pages maximum. N.D. Tex. LR 7.2(c) ↗

Reply

A reply brief must not exceed 10 pages. N.D. Tex. LR 7.2(c) ↗

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 N.D. Tex. local rule
Notice period

A response and brief to an opposed motion must be filed within 21 days from the date the motion is filed. Unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge, a party who has filed an opposed motion may file a reply brief within 14 days from the date the response is filed. N.D. Tex. LR 7.1(e)–(f) ↗

Hearing days

Submission model — no motion day scheduled. Unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge, oral argument on a motion will not be held. N.D. Tex. LR 7.1(g) ↗

Chambers / courtesy copies
👤 Judge Boyle — standing order
Required?

Yes

Details

Judge Boyle requires a paper copy of any motion or brief that spans 25 or more pages (excluding title page, table of contents, table of authorities, and signature block) and any appendix that spans 50 or more pages.

Proposed orders
🏛 N.D. Tex. local rule

Except for an opposed motion that is submitted on paper, each motion must be accompanied by a proposed order that is set forth separately. N.D. Tex. LR 7.1(c) ↗

👤 Judge Boyle — standing order

Proposed orders are required to be submitted with EVERY non-dispositive motion. Proposed orders must be submitted via email in a WordPerfect or Word-compatible format as instructed in the CM/ECF system's "Proposed Orders" Event. The proposed orders must be emailed to: boyle_orders@txnd.uscourts.gov and include the case number and the document number of the referenced motion in the subject line. Make sure to "cc" opposing counsel.

The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 N.D. Tex. local rule

Unless otherwise directed by the presiding judge, oral argument on a motion will not be held. N.D. Tex. LR 7.1(g) ↗

👤 Judge Boyle — standing order
Default practice

In most circumstances, Judge Boyle makes a ruling based upon briefs; however, the parties may make a written request for oral argument or the Judge may sua sponte schedule a hearing.

Continuances & calendar conflicts
👤 Judge Boyle — standing order

All requests for extensions of time and continuances must be submitted by written motion to the Court after a conference with opposing counsel. Please do not call the Court to ask for an extension or continuance unless it is a rare emergency and then only after conferring with opposing counsel. The parties must file requests for extensions of time as motions, rather than as stipulations.

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 N.D. Tex. local rule

Discovery disputes referred to assigned magistrate judge per FRCP 72 and 28 U.S.C. § 636. Objections to nondispositive magistrate orders must be accompanied by a brief complying with LR 7.2; response brief due within 21 days from the date objections are filed. N.D. Tex. LR 72.1–72.2 ↗

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Boyle — deviations that burn people
  • Except as provided in Judge Boyle's Scheduling orders in civil and criminal cases, DO NOT EMAIL THE COURT. Communications through e-mail, as opposed to electronic filing, do not contain the same safeguards, nor do they constitute official filings made as part of the record. Accordingly, under no circumstances may a party request relief or send other communications or notices to the Court via e-mail. Only proposed orders sent to the Boyle Orders email address, as outlined above in paragraph II. H., will be reviewed. All other emails sent to Court staff or the Boyle Orders or Boyle Clerk email addresses will be disregarded without notice.
  • Effective 4/23/26 - Judge Boyle requires a paper copy of any motion or brief that spans 25 or more pages (excluding title page, table of contents, table of authorities, and signature block) and any appendix that spans 50 or more pages. Judge Boyle does not require a paper copy of any other electronic filing.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment