Judge Godbey requires all attorneys in cases before him, whether admitted to the bar of this Court or admitted pro hac vice, to comply with Dondi Properties Corp. v. Commerce Savings & Loan Assoc., 121 F.R.D. 284 (N.D. Tex. 1988) (en banc).

Expedited Discovery Docket

To facilitate orderly preparation for trial, the Court conducts an expedited discovery hearing docket on Monday afternoons.  Any party may request expedited hearing of a discovery dispute.  Requests must  be made by separate letter to the Court’s Judicial Assistant, Donna Hocker Beyer and must be received at least ten (10) days prior to the requested docket; requests may be made concurrently with filing the motion.  If the matter is set on the expedited  docket, the Court will advise the parties of applicable procedures by separate order.   Seeking relief from the Court on discovery disputes prior to conducting a meaningful, substantive conference with the opposing party is STRONGLY discouraged.  A motion or objection to the taking of a deposition that is filed within three business days of the notice has the effect of staying the deposition pending court order on the motion or objection; otherwise the deposition will not be stayed except by court order.

Protective Order

Parties desiring entry of a protective order under Rule 26(c), except in patent cases, must either (a) request entry of an order in Judge Godbey's standard form (found below, which is derived from this Court's Miscellaneous Order 62) or (b) if entry of a protective order in a different form is requested, the motion must (1) explain why Judge Godbey's standard form is inadequate in the particular circumstances of the case, and (2) include a redlined version of the requested form showing where it differs from Judge Godbey's standard form.

Standard Protective Order in Word format

Standard Protective Order in PDF format