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, 2nd Floor, Room 20714, Richmond, Texas 77469, Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00. For more information, please contact Andrew Bennett, Law Librarian, at 281-341-3718.
Additional help may be found at www.Texaslawhelp.org or at https://selfhelp.efiletexas.gov/srl.
Bench Trials, Oral Hearings & Submission Docket
Bench Trials and select Motions are heard on designated Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Watson. All parties must be present for Bench Trials and Motions.
It is the responsibility of the party filing the motion to contact the Court Coordinator 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. The Submission Docket is on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. with proper notice to all parties. E-Mail the Coordinator with the information so it can be placed on the Docket.
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 1 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 proposed 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.
Jury Trials
Jury Trial (2024)
Jury Trials are heard by Judge Watson on select Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Defendant and Counsel must be present for the 10:00 a.m. Docket Call the day of Trial. A Pre-Trial Conference will also be set on select Tuesdays or Fridays at 10:00 a.m., a week prior.
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.
♦ Associate Judge Lewis White ♦
JP Eviction Appeal and Forcible Detainers
Eviction Appeals or Forcible Detainers are heard by Associate Judge White on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.; or Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. These are in-person. Failure to attend may result in a Judgment against the non-appearing party.
To schedule a Hearing or Appeal Trial, please contact his Court Coordinator, Eralyn Fisher at Eralyn.Fisher@fbctx.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 off of Golfview.
Motions for Default Judgment
Motions for Default Judgment are heard by Associate Judge White on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. All parties must attend or a Judgment may be granted against the non-appearing party.
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 Eralyn Fisher at Eralyn.Fisher@fbctx.gov. The deadline to schedule a hearing is (without exception) 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 off of Golfview.