Rules and Standards of Conduct

Attorneys and self-represented (pro se) parties must follow all applicable rules, available on the court’s website. Judge Stetson expects attorneys to demonstrate compliance with the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules, including Rules AT-3 (standards of practice to be observed by attorneys) and CV-7(h) (“meet and confer” requirement) through civility, professionalism, and candor. Rudeness to opposing counsel or a court employee will not be tolerated.

Certificate of Conferences that do not reflect the procedural and substantive requirements of Local Rule CV-7 shall result in an order to properly confer. Repeated failures to meet the requirements will result in motions being struck.

Paper Copies of Electronically Filed Documents

Eastern District of Texas Local Rule CV-5 mandates electronic filing of most documents via the court’s CM/ECF system. Any document that falls within an exception to that mandate but that may reasonably be filed electronically should be filed electronically.  The filing party should furnish a copy to the court of any electronically filed document that exceeds 50 pages. The copy should be mailed to 300 Willow, Suite 234, Beaumont, Texas, 77701.

PDF Bookmarking

Any document that would have tabs in hardcopy should have bookmarks in the PDF version filed via CM/ECF.

Searchability and Accessibility

All written parts of every filing should be text-searchable. Wherever possible, documents attached to a filing should be converted to PDF format from a word-processing program, rather than scanned. All text should be fully and easily viewable with Adobe Acrobat’s “High-Contrast colors” setting turned on in Preferences/Accessibility.

Requests for Oral Argument

Any attorney or pro se party who wishes to present oral argument on a motion should file a separate motion of no more than 500 words stating (a) why oral argument is warranted, (b) the amount of time required, and (c) whether the request for oral argument is opposed. Any motion requesting oral argument should be filed no later than the due date for the reply in support of the motion on which oral argument is requested.

If she decides that oral argument is warranted, Judge Stetson may, upon request, allow more than one attorney per side to present argument, especially when doing so will give a junior or less-experienced attorney an opportunity to speak in court.

Expectation of In-Person Attendance

Attorneys and pro se parties should expect to appear at hearings and pretrial conferences in person.  Telephonic or Virtual appearances will be permitted only for good cause.  Desire not to travel to court is not a good cause.

Communications with Chambers Staff

Many procedural and scheduling questions are answered by the rules available on the court’s website or an order in the case in question. Chambers staff will not discuss any substantive matter, disclose the status of a pending motion, give legal advice, state Judge Stetson’s preferences, or predict any outcome. If there are circumstances regarding a pending matter that should be brought to the court’s attention, they should typically be conveyed by letter or advisory (when providing information) or motion (when requesting judicial action) via CM/ECF.

An email or call to chambers (sherre_white@txed.uscourts.gov; 409-654-2845) is warranted when either:

(1) the parties have reached, or will likely soon reach, agreement on a contested matter pending before the court; or

(2) a true emergency requires quick judicial action.

Any email to chambers should copy opposing counsel. And when a call is placed to chambers, opposing counsel should be on the line or the attorney making the call should be prepared to explain why opposing counsel is not on the line.