Pro Se Litigants
The Court is prohibited from providing legal advice or assisting in the preparation of lawsuits. The Court will only offer general information regarding court settings. There is a Pro Se self-help manual located in the Fort Bend County Law Library that offers information to litigants that choose to represent themselves. The Law Library is located in the Fort Bend Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 30298, Richmond, Texas 77469. For more information, please contact Mr. Andrew Bennett, Law Librarian, at 281-341-3718. Additional help may be found at www.Texaslawhelp.org or at https://selfhelp.efiletexas.gov/srl.
Oral Hearings
Civil motions are heard on designated Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Watson. It is the responsibility of the party filing the motion to contact Ms. Jackie Kermode, Court Coordinator, at Jackie.Kermode@fortbendcountytx.gov to schedule a hearing date. All notices of hearing must be filed with the County Clerk’s Office prior to the hearing date and in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Scheduling Order
In accordance with Rules 166, 190, and 192 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court will enter a Uniform Scheduling Order in all cases filed in the Court, setting out mediation requirements, discovery deadlines, and scheduling the trial date.
Continuances
Requests for continuances, in regard to Jury or Bench Trial dates, must be by formal written motion and filed with the County Clerk’s Office at least one week prior to the trial date. Unless otherwise stated, all motions for continuance are heard by Judge Watson. All notices of hearing must be filed with the County Clerk’s Office prior to the hearing date and in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Dismissal Docket
Attorneys with cases set on the Dismissal Docket for Want of Prosecution (DWOP) dockets must appear at the docket call. If you are filing a Motion and Order to Retain, please make sure it is properly verified and e-filed within ten (10) days prior to the DWOP Docket. The e-filing of a motion to retain does not excuse your appearance at the DWOP Docket. The DWOP Docket is heard by Judge Watson.
JP Eviction Appeal and Forcible Detainers
Eviction appeals and forcible detainers are heard by Associate Judge White on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. To schedule a hearing, please contact Ms. Eralyn Fisher, Court Coordinator, at Eralyn.Fisher@fortbendcountytx.gov. All notices of hearing must be filed with the County Clerk’s Office prior to the hearing and in accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Associate Judge White’s courtroom is located at 117 Legion Drive, Richmond, Texas 77469, which is between the Jail and Juvenile Detention.
Occupational or Restricted Licenses
Applications for Occupational or Restricted Licenses are heard by Associate Judge White on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. To schedule a hearing, please contact the Coordinators by email at Eralyn.Fisher@fortbendcountytx.gov or Lisa.Wallingford@fortbendcountytx.gov. The deadline to schedule a hearing is, without exception, at 3:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding Friday’s docket. Associate Judge White’s courtroom is located at 117 Legion Drive, Richmond, Texas 77469, which is between the Jail and Juvenile Detention.