151st Becomes First Mandatory E-File Court in Harris County

Today the 151^st Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas posted its “Standing Order” on its website’s Court Procedures page requiring all documents in new lawsuits to be electronically filed. A link to the court’s standing order is posted on the procedures page at this address: http://www.justex.net/Courts/Civil/CourtSection.aspx?crt=10&sid=40

Further, the Court Procedures page has links to the Harris County Local Rules of the District Courts Concerning the Electronic Filing of Documents, as well as a link to TEXASONLINE, the required e-filing portal for Texas Courts. At TEXASONLINE, litigants may find information about Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs) – companies that provide electronic document filing services that are in partnership with Texas Courts.

It is the Court’s hope that by instituting this new requirement for all new lawsuits in the 151^st, more courts will take the plunge and become mandatory e-filing courts, and that Harris County will thereby catch up with Travis County, certain courts in Montgomery and Jefferson Counties, and all federal courts, which require electronic filing of documents. Moreover, the Court hopes that electronic filing will reduce paper waste and increase energy efficiency by Harris County attorneys. The Standing Order allows exceptions for pro-se litigants, and allows for waivers to be granted by the Court in the case of substantial hardship.

Political advertising paid for by Mike Engelhart, 4402 Holt Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

New Harris County Democratic Judges Well Received

The Texas Lawyer newspaper had a lengthy article LINK in its April 6, 2009 issue about the early marks for the newly elected Democratic civil and criminal Judges in Harris County.

To quote the piece:

. . . in interviews with 17 Houston litigators — including plaintiffs lawyers, civil-defense lawyers, criminal-defense lawyers and prosecutors who have appeared before the new Harris County judges during their first 100 days on the bench — the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

Your favorite blogger was not mentioned in the story. One of the themes prevalent in the article, at least with respect to the civil judges, is that cases are finally moving to trial:

They're moving cases to trial. That's pretty unusual in Harris County," says Caddell, a partner in Houston's Caddell & Chapman. Caddell had all but given up on trying suits in his own hometown because of the time it took to get a case before a jury. He even went as far as taking the California bar exam two years ago so he could practice in that state. But it's a new day in the Harris County Civil Courthouse, Caddell says.

It's a great read. Thanks to everyone who helped get us elected. Send the article to your friends!



Political advertising paid for by Mike Engelhart, 4402 Holt Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.