The Travis County district court local rules span 63 pages, not including standing orders amending them, and they outline how to get a trial setting and how the central docket works. They are extensive, detailed, sometimes confusing and may intimidate any lawyer unfamiliar with them from venturing into Travis County district courts. Here are four things lawyers absolutely must know to succeed.
1. Failing to “announce ready” may mean the hearing will not go forward. Travis County has a central docket system. That means a judge likely will be available to hear a matter whenever a lawyer wants it heard. However, the judge who hears the matter will rotate, so counsel may not see the same judge for any other matters leading up to trial. Also, counsel won’t know which judge will hear the matter until moments before making his presentation. The central docket is efficient in that counsel can move the case forward regardless of one judge’s caseload, docket or availability. To take advantage of that efficiency, though, counsel must adhere to the local rules.
