Judge Rhoades

United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Texas

Staff Information

Sandie Tyrone - Judicial Assistant

Leslie Masterson - Law Clerk

Kayla Colasont - Courtroom Deputy Clerk
CRD_Plano@txeb.uscourts.gov
Ashley Farisa - Relief Courtroom Deputy Clerk

Judge Tabs

Communication

Communication:

Contacting the Court:

Case-related telephone inquiries should be made to the courtroom deputies or the appropriate case manager, not to the law clerk or to the Judge.
Information about the electronic filing of documents, exemptions to the electronic filing of documents, the entry of orders, or docket entries should be obtained from the United States Bankruptcy Court, Plano at 972-509-1240. In addition, such information is available through the Case Management /Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) database, which provides attorneys with docketing information, printable images of documents, 24-hour filing capability, and e-mail (rather than fax) notification of the entry of court orders and judgments. This database can be accessed from the Eastern District’s web site at www.txeb.uscourts.gov and requires registration.
Substantive issues should not be raised in letter form because letters are not docketed or included in the appellate record. A copy of urgent documents, including letters, should be sent directly to chambers to ensure that they quickly come to the court’s attention.
Any questions concerning electronic filing procedures, requirements, or attorney registration should be directed to the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office.

Dress Code

Dress Code:

All persons present in the courtroom must dress and conduct themselves in a manner demonstrating respect for the Court.
COURTROOM DECORUM
     All persons entering the Courtroom shall refrain from chewing gum, drinking, eating, smoking, wearing hats, or reading newspapers, books, etc. in the courtroom.
     Counsel shall turn off his/her cell phone and instruct all parties and witnesses to do the same.
     All counsel and parties are expected to stand at the lectern when addressing the court or examining a witness.

COURTROOM ATTIRE
     Attorneys and their staff are required to wear standard business attire.
     Parties, witnesses and spectators shall dress appropriately and respectfully for the courtroom. No shorts, tank tops, midriff-baring or other revealing low-cut clothing, extremely short skirts, sunglasses, flip-flops, or hats shall be permitted in the courtroom.
    Counsel are responsible for ensuring compliance with these rules by their clients, party representatives, and witnesses. Counsel should contact the Court in advance if special accommodation is desired for a client, party representative, or witness.

Docket Day Procedures

Docket Day Procedures:

Dockets for each week are typically posted on the Court’s website for review on the Friday that precedes such week. Because the dockets are subject to change periodically, the docket may be periodically updated and posted on the website. A final updated docket will be available in the Courtroom but will not be posted on the website.
    The Court generally schedules trials throughout each month but sets aside 2 days per month for motions and other matters in Chapter 7 and 11 cases, 2 days per month for motions and other matters in Chapter 13 cases, and 2 days per month for motions and other matters in adversary proceedings. These are called Docket Days.
    Parties may appear on Docket Days and announce agreements that settle matters that are scheduled for hearing.
    If the parties upload an agreed order signed by all parties on the day before a trial or hearing, the Court will take the matter off of the docket. If the parties have reached an agreement but have not uploaded an agreed order, the parties may appear on the date of the hearing to announce their agreement on the record.
    Parties must advise the Courtroom Deputy Clerk in advance if the hearing scheduled on a Docket Day is estimated to last more than one hour.
    Parties are reminded to bring in the required number of copies of exhibits, properly marked, that they wish to introduce into the record. See Local Bankruptcy Rule 7016(d).

Transcripts

Transcripts:

To order a transcript

Transcript requests for hearings should be made by contacting the service provider below:

National Court Reporters
1-214-802-7196
www.NCRDallas.com

Requests to Redact Personal Identifiers in a Transcript

Counsel seeking redaction of personal identifiers contained in a transcript must complete and file form Statement of Redaction of Personal Identifiers in Transcript with the court within 7 days of the court receiving the transcript. The notice must include the page(s), line number(s), and information to be redacted. If filing electronically, use the event selection Notice of Intent to Redact Transcript Information located under Notices. After filing the notice with the court, a copy must be provided to the transcriber.

Pursuant to FRBP 9037, personal identifiers to be redacted include:

individual's social-security number
taxpayer-identification number
birth date
the name of an individual, other than the debtor, known to be and identified as a minor
financial-account number (that identifies property not subject to forfeiture in a forfeiture proceeding)

Counsel seeking to redact or restrict information contained in a transcript that does not meet the criteria above must obtain a court order by filing a motion to seal prior to hearing.

Audio Recording

Audio Recording:

To order an audio recording

Send your request via email to: CRD_Plano@txeb.uscourts.gov

All requests should contain the following information:

Case Number or Adversary Proceeding Number
Hearing Date and Time
Note if the transcript is for the entire hearing and/or a portion of the hearing.

Courtroom Technology

Courtroom Technology:

A party may electronically present documents, exhibits or other materials (subject to the Court’s right to limit or disallow such presentations) from the counsel tables by using a laptop computer. The presentation will be visible from the bench, counsel tables, counsel podiums, and the witness stand. The party wishing to make such a presentation must supply the laptop computer and any necessary adapters for any such presentation. The Court will provide a standard HDMI connection to the Courtroom Technology system. The Court will not supply a laptop computer to any party for use in the Courtroom.

The party shall contact and notify the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at least 24 hours in advance of any hearing or trial in which that party desires to make an electronic presentation.

The Courtroom is equipped with the capability for telephonic conferencing. See Telephonic Appearances tab for more information about how to complete your request.

The Courtroom is also equipped with Video Conferencing equipment. Video Conferencing must be approved by the Court at least 3 days in advance of the hearing or trial. The party wishing to use Video Conferencing must contact the Courtroom Deputy 3 days prior to the hearing or trial to obtain this approval.

Other technology may be used in the Courtroom with prior Court approval. The party wishing to use any other technology in the Courtroom must contact the Courtroom Deputy Clerk at least 2 days in advance of the trial or hearing. The party must supply its own equipment.

Court Appearances and Hearing Methods

Court Appearances and Hearing Methods:

Plano Courtroom Hearings-Request For Telephonic Appearances

All requests for telephonic appearances should be made via email to: CRD_Plano@txeb.uscourts.gov
REQUEST MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING AND SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

    Case Number and/or Adversary Proceeding Number
    Hearing Date and Time
    Name of party or attorney requesting the telephonic appearance
    Direct telephone number where the party or its attorney can be reached.

YOU WILL RECEIVE CONFIRMATION FROM THE COURT IF YOUR REQUEST FOR TELEPHONIC APPEARANCE IS GRANTED. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE CONFIRMATION FROM THE COURT, YOU MUST PERSONALLY APPEAR.

IF THE COURT CANNOT REACH YOU WHEN YOUR CASE IS CALLED, THE COURT WILL CONDUCT THE HEARING WITHOUT YOU. THE FAILURE OF AN ATTORNEY TO BE AT THE NUMBER AND/OR ANSWER THE COURT’S CALL WILL CONSTITUTE A FAILURE TO APPEAR AND A WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO APPEAR.

Video hearings with Cisco Webex

Please review this document to understand how to participate in a video hearing with Cisco’s Webex.

Telephonic Hearing

When a hearing is scheduled to be conducted telephonically, the hearing notice will contain the dial-in information. The dial-in information can also be found on the Court Docket posted on this website.

TELEPHONIC PROCEEDINGS ARE CONDUCTED BY AUDIO ONLY. NO VIDEO WILL BE ALLOWED.

EXHIBITS FOR TELEPHONIC HEARING

All proposed exhibits shall be attached to, and filed with, the party’s Exhibit and Witness List. The proposed exhibits shall be marked for identification in accordance with the Court’s Local Bankruptcy Rules.

WITNESS TESTIMONY AT TELEPHONIC HEARING

Parties may present the direct testimony of a witness by affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury. Such affidavit or declaration shall be attached to, and filed with, the party’s Exhibit and Witness List. The affiant or declarant shall appear at the hearing for cross examination.

Exhibits

Pursuant to LBR 7016(d)

Exhibits which are to be introduced into evidence must be:
1. individually marked for identification on the first page of the exhibit as set forth below prior to the hearing;
2. tendered through digital (electronic) media, such as a USB flash drive or compact disc (CD), or otherwise bound in a booklet format, but a minimum of one copy of the exhibits must be tendered to the Court in a digital format;
3. if tendered in booklet format, separated by tabs or other appropriate dividers;
4. if tendered in digital format, indexed by bookmark or other appropriate dividing mechanism;
5. presented in numerical or alphabetical sequence and preceded by an exhibit list in the format prescribed by TXEB Local Form 7016; and
6. tendered in a minimum number of four (4) sets: two for the Court (one of which must be in a digital format); one for the witness box (which must be in a paper format); and one set for each opposing counsel who appears.
Exhibits for the Plaintiff shall be designated by number. In the event of multiple plaintiffs, then each exhibit shall be designated by a specific plaintiff's name, followed by a number [i.e. Smith, Inc.- 1].
Exhibits for the Defendant shall be designated by letter. In the event of multiple defendants, then each exhibit shall be designated by a specific defendant's name, followed by a letter [i.e. Smith, Inc.- A].
Copies of all exhibits must be provided to each party not less than 14 days prior to trial.
Failure to comply with the exhibit requirements in this Local Rule may result in the refusal of the Court to admit exhibits into evidence or other sanctions.

United States Bankruptcy Court

Eastern District of Texas

Honorable Brenda T. Rhoades, Chief Judge · Honorable Joshua P. Searcy · Jason McDonald, Clerk of Court

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