United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

5th Circuit Dallas, Texas

About This Court

Established in 1879, this federal district court serves the northern portion of Texas and is one of four federal judicial districts in the state. Its jurisdiction covers a broad geographic area spanning from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex westward to Lubbock and Amarillo, encompassing both densely populated urban centers and rural West Texas counties.

The court is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the busier federal trial courts in the Fifth Circuit. It hears the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including securities litigation, bankruptcy-related adversary proceedings, and immigration cases.

The Northern District of Texas has gained particular prominence in recent years as a venue for high-profile commercial disputes, patent litigation, and administrative law challenges to federal agency actions. Its docket reflects the economic diversity of the region, with significant caseloads in both the Dallas and Fort Worth divisions.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas.

Divisions

Dallas Division (Dallas), Fort Worth Division (Fort Worth), Abilene Division (Abilene), Amarillo Division (Amarillo), Lubbock Division (Lubbock), San Angelo Division (San Angelo), Wichita Falls Division (Wichita Falls)

Caseload

The Northern District of Texas carries a substantial civil docket that includes a high volume of securities fraud, commercial litigation, and challenges to federal administrative agency rules and regulations. Criminal cases involving drug trafficking, immigration offenses, and financial crimes are also prominent.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Northern District of Texas by applying to the clerk's office and meeting the court's local admission requirements, which include active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Texas or another state bar. Attorneys not licensed in Texas may seek admission pro hac vice for individual cases.

Clerk's Office

1100 Commerce Street, Room 1452, Dallas, TX 75242

(214) 753-2200

Active Judges 17

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Jane Boyle	George W. Bush	2004	Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law)
Ada Brown	Donald J. Trump	2019	Emory University School of Law
Samuel Cummings	Ronald Reagan	1987	Baylor University School of Law
A[llen] Fish	Ronald Reagan	1983	Yale Law School
Sidney Fitzwater	Ronald Reagan	1986	Baylor University School of Law
David Godbey	George W. Bush	2002	Harvard Law School
James Hendrix	Donald J. Trump	2019	University of Texas School of Law
Matthew Kacsmaryk	Donald J. Trump	2019	University of Texas School of Law
James Kinkeade	George W. Bush	2002	Baylor University School of Law
Sam Lindsay	William J. Clinton	1998	University of Texas School of Law
Barbara Lynn	William J. Clinton	1999	Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law)
Robert Maloney	Ronald Reagan	1985	Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law)
Terry Means	George H.W. Bush	1991	Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law)
Reed O'Connor	George W. Bush	2007	South Texas College of Law
Mark Pittman	Donald J. Trump	2019	University of Texas School of Law
Karen Scholer	Donald J. Trump	2018	Cornell Law School
Brantley Starr	Donald J. Trump	2019	University of Texas School of Law

Local Rules

82 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 74

Rule	Title
LR 10.1	Required Form
LR 1.1	Definitions
LR 11.1	Electronic Signature
LR 12.1	Motion for More Definite Statement [Repealed 9-1-06]
LR 15.1	Motions to Amend
LR 16.1	Exemptions from Pretrial Scheduling and Management
LR 16.2	Authority of Magistrate Judges as to Scheduling Orders
LR 16.3	Settlement
LR 16.4	Pretrial Order
LR 23.1	Complaint
LR 23.2	Motion for Certification; Briefs
LR 23.3	Class Notice Responses
LR 26.1	Initial Disclosures Not Required [Repealed 12-1-00]
LR 26.2	Exchanging Exhibits, Exhibit Lists, and Witness Lists; Designating Deposition Excerpts
LR 3.1	Filing Complaint by Electronic Means
LR 3.2	Filing Complaint on Paper
LR 3.3	Filing Complaint in Related Case; Notice of Related Case
LR 40.1	Motions for Continuance
LR 4.1	Proof of Service or of Waiver of Service
LR 41.1	Order of Dismissal [Repealed 9-1-07]
LR 4.2	Marshal's Fees [Repealed 9-1-04]
LR 42.1	Motions to Consolidate
LR 47.1	Contact with Jurors
LR 5.1	Filing and Serving Pleadings, Motions, or Other Papers
LR 51.1	Requested Jury Charge [Repealed 12-1-03]
LR 5.2	Filing Discovery Materials
LR 52.1	Proposed Findings in Nonjury Cases
LR 5.3	Prisoner's Civil Rights Complaints
LR 53.1	Briefing Practice for Objections and Motions Concerning Orders, Reports, and Recommendations of Masters
LR 5.4	Post-Conviction Relief
LR 54.1	Time for Filing Bill of Costs
LR 55.1	Failure to Obtain Default Judgment
LR 55.2	Default Judgments by the United States [Repealed 9-1-11]
LR 55.3	Request for Entry of Default by Clerk
LR 56.1	Motion Practice Not Modified Generally
LR 56.2	Limits on Time for Filing and Number of Motions
LR 56.3	Content of Motion
LR 56.4	Content of Response
LR 56.5	Requirement of Brief; Briefing Requirements
LR 56.6	Requirement of Appendix; Appendix Requirements
LR 56.7	Limit on Supplemental Materials
LR 58.1	Proposed Judgments
LR 6.1	Time Deemed Filed
LR 62.1	Supersedeas Bond [Repealed 9-1-19]
LR 62.2	Stay of Inter-District Transfer Order
LR 67.1	Deposit of Money in Court Registry [Repealed 9-2-14]
LR 7.1	Motion Practice
LR 71A.1	Condemnation of Property
LR 7.2	Briefs
LR 72.1	Briefing Practice Concerning Objections to Magistrate Judge Orders in Nondispositive Matters
LR 72.2	Briefing Practice Concerning Objections to Magistrate Judge Recommendations on Dispositive Motions and Prisoner Petitions
LR 7.3	Confirmation of Informal Leave of Court
LR 7.4	Certificate of Interested Persons
LR 7.5	Page Limits in Death Penalty Habeas Cases
LR 77.1	Notice of Orders and Judgments
LR 79.1	Case Files
LR 79.2	Disposition of Exhibits
LR 79.3	Sealed Documents
LR 79.4	Disposition of Sealed Documents
LR 80.1	Court Reporter's Fees [Repealed 9-1-04]
LR 81.1	Required Form of Documents to be Filed Upon Removal
LR 81.2	Certificate of Interested Persons
LR 83.1	Application of Rules by a Presiding Judge
LR 83.14	Parties Proceeding Pro Se
LR 83.16	Dress and Conduct
LR 83.17	Weapons Forbidden
LR 83.18	Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden
LR 83.2	Miscellaneous and Special Orders
LR 83.3	Assignment of Cases
LR 83.4	Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing
LR 83.4.1	Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct
LR 83.5	Clerk's Fees [Repealed 9-1-04]
LR 83.6	Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
LR 9.1	Social Security and Black Lung Cases [Repealed 2-8-23]

Attorney Rules 8

Rule	Title
LR 83.10	Requirement of Local Counsel
LR 83.11	Exemption from Admission to Practice, and from Requirement of Local Counsel, for Attorneys Appearing on Behalf of the United States Justice Department or the Attorney General of the State of Texas
LR 83.12	Withdrawal or Substitution of Attorney
LR 83.13	Change of Contact Information or Name
LR 83.15	Attorney as a Witness [Repealed 9-1-04]
LR 83.7	Admission of Attorneys
LR 83.8	Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys
LR 83.9	Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 5th Circuit

Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Eastern District of Texas Tyler, Texas Middle District of Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana Northern District of Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi Southern District of Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi Southern District of Texas Houston, Texas Western District of Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana Western District of Texas San Antonio, Texas