Civil

Docket Control Orders are entered after a Status Conference held by the Court Coordinator.  Those conferences are scheduled for this Court on Thursdays at 9:00 am. The date is assigned by the District Clerk at the time the case is filed, usually about 90 days after filing.  

At the Status Conference, the attorneys are given a Docket Control Order with the trial date and Pre-Trial Conference date. Attorneys are then expected to agree on the remaining dates. The Court will not normally get involved in the preparation of the Docket Control Order, unless there is an irreconcilable disagreement between counsel on terms or dates.  

Counsel can avoid attending the Status Conference by submitting an agreed Docket Control Order by 4:00 pm on the date preceding the Pre-Trial Conference. Prior to negotiating the Order, counsel should contact the Court Coordinator for the Pre-Trial Conference and trial dates. Those dates are selected exclusively by the Court and Court Coordinator, not parties or counsel.   

Note: Counsel are advised not to procrastinate once the Docket Control Order has been signed and entered. 

CV Discovery and Docket Control Order

Mediation  

Mediation is strongly encouraged. Court approval is required before mediation is excused.  

The Docket Control Order will include a mediation deadline. The Court encourages parties to agree on a mediator. However, the Court will appoint a mediator when the parties cannot agree at the time of the Status Conference.  

Motions and hearings

Contested motions should be filed with the Galveston County District Clerk, and should include a Certificate of Conference, except for dispositive motions such as motions for summary judgment. Motions should include a proposed order. It should also include a hearing request, if one is necessary. The Court Coordinator schedules hearings and advises Movant’s counsel of hearing date and time. Movant’s counsel is then responsible for advising all other counsel of the date and time in a timely manner, and to provide proof of notice to the Court. 

Counsel may submit motions to the Court on the Submission Docket, without a hearing. The Submission Docket is on Thursday at 4:00 pm after notice has been given. The party submitting a motion on the Submission Docket must file a Notice of Submission and serve the notice on all other parties. If the respondent or any other party requests an oral hearing, the Court will review the motion and any response and determine if a hearing is warranted. 

Criminal

A Docket Control Order will be signed by the Court when counsel for the State or defendant ask to have the case placed on trial docket. At that time, an Agreed Discovery Order will also be signed.

Documents and Forms

Local Rules

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