122nd District Court Procedures

CIVIL CASES

Status Conference dates are assigned by District Clerk at time of the filing of the Original Petition. Status Conferences are held by the Court on Thursdays at 9:30am. Appearances of counsel and Pro Se parties is required.  Failure to appear at the Status Conference may result in the Court placing the case on the Dismissal Docket.

At the Status Conference, a Docket Control Order will be entered by the Court with a Trial Date and Pre-Trial Date. The Parties are allowed to agree on the remaining discovery and disclosure deadlines. 

Mediation is 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.

CRIMINAL CASES

Docket Call is at 9:00am.  Defendants are required to appear in person.

A Docket Control Order will be assigned by the Court when criminal cases are set for Jury Trial.  

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. 

Counsel is required to file a Request for Hearing, if one is necessary. The Court Coordinator schedules hearings and advises Movant’s counsel of hearing date and time and whether the hearing is Oral or by Submission. 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.   

AGREED MOTIONS

Agreed Motions do not typically require a hearing and should be submitted directly to the District Clerk for consideration by the Court.