Juan R. Alvarez

For a Hidalgo County district-court civil trial, the joint pretrial order must list expected exhibits and make them available to opposing counsel. Exhibits must be premarked with inadmissible material redacted, and page-and-line designations for videotaped deposition excerpts must be exchanged before trial.

All Exhibits are to be premarked with inadmissible matters redacted prior to trial.

In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement.

Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2).

The parties must file a joint pretrial order at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference. It must include witness and exhibit lists, and each party must attach a proposed jury charge with instructions, definitions, and questions.

A Joint Pretrial Order shall be filed by the parties at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference scheduled by the court.

Summary-judgment motions in Hidalgo County district courts are decided by submission unless the court orders an oral hearing.

Summary Judgment Motions shall be heard by submission only unless an oral hearing is ordered by the Court.

Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings.

A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances: