Texas Supreme Court advisory

Contact: Osler McCarthy, staff attorney for public information
512.463.1441 or click for email

Thursday, May 6, 2010
AMENDED ELECTRONIC FILING REQUIREMENT
LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR COMING ‘E-FILING’

In a new order the Texas Supreme Court has revised electronic document-filing requirements, mandating that attorneys by May 31 include e-mail addresses on briefs and submit electronic courtesy copies to opposing lead counsel and requiring lead counsel in cases to register for Casemail.

The order amends one requiring that electronic copies of petitions and all other pleadings, as well as all briefing, be filed with the Court in addition to required paper copies.

 “We hope this order further helps attorneys and the Court adjust to electronic filing, which should be available for the Supreme Court and the Houston courts of appeals in August,” said Blake A. Hawthorne, clerk of the Court. “There currently are no plans to eliminate paper notices, but the Court is moving in that direction in order to reduce expenses.”

Hawthorne said the registration requirement for Casemail, which provides electronic notifications of filings and decisions in cases, will help reduce the paper notices the Clerk’s Office sends each year. Casemail is available for all Texas appellate courts through each court’s web site.

To help attorneys reduce their costs, the order also provides that only an original and one copy of all motions need be filed with the Court. The Court previously required an original and 11 copies of all motions, except for motions for extension of time, which required an original and two copies.

Order