Attorney/Litigant Conduct
All counsel and parties, including self-represented (pro se) parties, must read and comply with the following applicable rules and authorities. By litigating before Judge Reno, attorneys and pro se parties represent that they have read, and will abide by, the following:
- Dondi Properties Corp. v. Commerce Savings & Loan Assoc., 121 F.R.D. 284 (N.D. Tex. 1988);
- The Local Civil Rules of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, in a civil case, or the Local Criminal Rules, in a criminal case;
- The Texas Lawyer’s Creed; and
- The Texas Rules of Professional Conduct.
Standard of Dress Pursuant to LR 83.16 and LCrR 53.2
The following attire is prohibited in the courtroom: shorts, flip flops, tank tops, halter tops, T-shirts with graphic writing, hats, sunglasses, and tights/athletic wear.
CRIMINAL CASES
All questions regarding criminal matters should be directed to Judge Reno’s Courtroom Deputy, Danny Aguilera, at (806) 468-3821 (direct) or (806) 468-3800 (main).
Unless chambers contacts the filing attorney to request a proposed order, proposed orders are NOT required for any criminal filing requesting the extension of a hearing that is to be held before Judge Reno, nor for any criminal filing made prior to indictment.
CIVIL CASES
Procedural Information
Non-substantive procedural questions that cannot be answered by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Civil Rules of this Court, or the Court’s orders may be directed to chambers at (806) 468-3832.
Motions for “Emergency” or “Expedited” Relief
When a party files a motion that requests “emergency,” “expedited,” or similar relief or provides for agreed relief concerning a fast-approaching deadline, the party should assume the Court is unaware of the filing. When such relief is sought, counsel should contact chambers at (806) 468-3832 to notify the Court of the filing. Counsel should be prepared to have a judge’s copy promptly delivered to the United States District Clerk’s office if directed to do so by chambers.
Paper Copies Required Per Scheduling Order and Upon Request by Chambers
Generally, paper copies of electronically-filed documents are not required.
Scheduling Orders entered by Judge Reno set out her paper copy requirements. However, Judge Reno may also request paper copies of a specific motion, brief, and/or appendix. In that event, chambers will contact counsel to coordinate to ensure paper copies are received timely.
Proposed Orders
When required, proposed orders should be attached as exhibits to the accompanying motion in PACER/ECF AND sent as email attachments in editable Microsoft Word format to [email protected]. The subject line of the email should include the (1) lead Plaintiff's name, (2) case number, and (3) document number of the accompanying motion.
Proposed orders ARE required in the following instances:
- Proposed amended scheduling orders;
- Proposed protective orders (a separate proposed order granting the motion does NOT need to be included);
- For non-dispositive motions in all prisoner Section 1983 cases, regardless of whether they are consent or non-consent cases; and.
- For non-dispositive motions in all prisoner Habeas Corpus cases, regardless of whether they are consent or non-consent cases.
Proposed orders are NOT required in the following types of cases UNLESS they fall into one of the above four categories OR chambers contacts the filing attorney to request a proposed order:
- Consent cases in which Judge Reno is the presiding Judge.
- All social security cases, regardless of whether they are consent or non-consent cases.
- For dispositive motions in all prisoner Section 1983 cases, regardless of whether they are consent or non-consent cases.
- For dispositive motions in all prisoner Habeas Corpus cases, regardless of whether they are consent or non-consent cases; and
- All criminal cases prior to indictment and any criminal case requesting the extension of a hearing that is to be held before Judge Reno.
Standard of Dress Pursuant to LR 83.16 and LCrR 53.2
The following attire is prohibited in the courtroom: shorts, flip flops, tank tops, halter tops, T-shirts with graphic writing, hats, sunglasses, and tights/athletic wear.
Law Clerk/Extern/Intern Application Procedures
Law clerk applicants must use the OSCAR system (available at https://oscar.uscourts.gov) and follow the application requirements, including strict observation of any deadlines.
Extern applicants (seeking credit hours during law school) may send (1) a cover letter, with current resume and law school transcript, (2) a minimum of two letters of recommendation and (3) a writing sample to Judge Reno’s Courtroom Deputy, Danny Aguilera, at [email protected]. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Intern applicants may send (1) a cover letter, with current resume that shows GPA and/or Class Rank, and (2) a minimum of one letter of recommendation to Judge Reno’s Courtroom Deputy, Danny Aguilera, at [email protected]. Intern applicants are also strongly encouraged to submit a writing sample and may be asked to provide one after an application is received.
Applications for the summer must be submitted by February 20. Applications for other semesters are accepted on a rolling basis.
