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

Hon. Ada Brown

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

Before You File
Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Brown — standing order

Do not make any inquiries to Judge Brown or her law clerks. Inquiries about motions and the case status should be in writing. Please do not call the Court to ask for an extension or continuance. The parties must file requests for extensions of time as motions, rather than as stipulations. Please do not call to inquire about the status of a pending motion.

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) ↗

👤 Judge Brown — standing order
Motion

Limit any motion, response, brief, or memorandum to 6,250 words; limit any reply to 2,500 words. Use 14-point font in the body of the briefing and 11-point font for footnotes. Do not file a sur-reply absent alternate permission from the Court. PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE OF WORD COUNT FOLLOWING THE SIGNATURE BLOCK. Word limits shall not include the case caption, table of contents, table of authorities, signature block, and certificates. However, word counts shall include footnotes.

Opposition

Limit any motion, response, brief, or memorandum to 6,250 words; limit any reply to 2,500 words. Use 14-point font in the body of the briefing and 11-point font for footnotes.

Reply

Limit any reply to 2,500 words. For summary judgment: Limit any summary judgment principal brief to 12,500 words; limit any reply to 6,250 words.

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 Brown — standing order
Required?

Yes

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 Brown — standing order

Proposed orders are required to be submitted with EVERY non-dispositive motion. A proposed order must be submitted via e-mail in a Word compatible format as instructed in the CM/ECF system's "Proposed Orders" event. The proposed orders must be e-mailed to: brown_orders@txnd.uscourts.gov and must include the case number and the document number of the referenced motion in the subject line. Copy opposing counsel on the email when submitting the proposed order.

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 Brown — standing order
Default practice

In most circumstances, Judge Brown 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 Brown — 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. 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 ↗

Discovery dispute procedure
👤 Judge Brown — standing order

Discovery disputes are often, but not always, referred to a magistrate judge. Other motions are occasionally referred for recommendation.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Brown — deviations that burn people
  • Motions to Dismiss: A Certificate of Conference shall accompany the Motion expressly stating the movant complied with this Standing Order by informing the Plaintiff of the basis of any anticipated motion, the date of this notice, and noting the non-movant did not timely amend its pleading or the amended pleading is still deficient. The Court will strike any Federal Rule 12(b) Motion to Dismiss if it does not contain the required Certificate of Conference, which may preclude its re-filing given the time limits prescribed in Federal Rule 12(a).
  • If the Court finds any Motion to Dismiss has merit, the Plaintiff shall not be allowed an additional opportunity to amend its Complaint following a properly filed Motion to Dismiss, except upon express leave of court.
  • Word counts shall include footnotes.
content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment