The Northern District will permit counsel to utilize a self-calendaring procedure for the scheduling of matters requiring 30 minutes or less of court time. This procedure will allow counsel to self-select available dates and times on the appropriate judge's calendar and serve notice without contacting the courtroom deputy for a hearing setting. The court strongly encourages the use of this self-calendaring procedure when appropriate. Courtroom deputies are available, by email or telephone to schedule non-self calendared hearings as needed.

The self-calendaring procedure for Judge Nelms is as follows:

1. Types of proceedings that may be set in accordance with the self-calendar procedure:
   • Motions for Relief from Stay (preliminary hearings only)
   • All matters relating to Chapter 13 main cases (scheduled for pre-hearing before the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee)
   • Chapter 7 general matters 30 minutes or less
   • Non-discovery motions in adversary proceedings (such as motions for default judgment) which are 30 minutes or less
2. The self-calendaring procedure will not be available for the following:
   • Adversary trial docket call and trial dates
     The courtroom deputy will select the date and time of the trial docket call before issuing the summons and scheduling order.
   • Discovery motions in adversary cases
     Counsel for the movant shall contact the courtroom deputy by e-mail or telephone to schedule the hearing.
   • Chapter 11 hearings on disclosure statement or confirmation of plan
     Counsel for the movant shall contact the courtroom deputy by e-mail or telephone to schedule a hearing on a disclosure statement. Following the approval of the disclosure statement, the court will set the confirmation hearing.
   • Any matter requiring an order shortening time or requesting an expedited setting.
     An application for an order shortening time is required before a hearing will be set.Emergency motions will only be set after judicial review. Once Judge Nelms has reviewed the application, the courtroom deputy will contact the movant with the hearing date.
   • Motions to reconsider a previous court order except for orders regarding motions for relief from stay which may be self-calendared if 30 minutes or less
     Motions to Reconsider will be set only after judicial review, if the court deems a hearing is necessary.
3. Procedure
   1. o In order to utilize the self-calendaring procedure, counsel should select an available date and time as shown on the calendar of available hearing settings. The lists of available dates will be regularly updated and posted on the bulletin board outside the Clerk's office and on the court's website at www.txnb.uscourts.gov. The date(s) selected must be no earlier than the notice time set by applicable national and local rules, as this self-calendaring procedure does not alter notice requirements.

   2. After selecting an available date and time, counsel shall serve proper notice of the matter in accordance with applicable rules.

      NOTE: If a motion for relief from stay is set by a party in accordance with the self-calendaring procedure more than 30 days after the date the motion is filed, the court deems that the party has waived the 30-day limitation established by 11.U.S.C. Sec. 362(e) and will enter an order to that effect if requested by debtor.

   3. o No later than one day after service, counsel shall file all appropriate papers with the court. Counsel must file a notice of hearing, or the matter will not appear on the Court's calendar.
   4. Once a matter is set using the self-calendaring procedure and notice served on interested parties, continuances may only be granted by motion and court order.
   5. Counsel need not request confirmation callbacks from the courtroom deputy to confirm that matters have been placed on the calendar. Counsel desiring this confirmation should review the published calendar on the court's website seventy-two (72) hours after the filing of the pleading.
   6. Failure to comply with the foregoing procedures will result in the matter not being placed on the court's calendar.

NOTE: Occasionally there may be instances where self-calendared matters are rescheduled possibly due to docket congestion or unforeseen schedule changes. In these instances, the courtroom deputy will contact counsel for the movant, as soon as possible, so that a notice of rescheduled hearing may be issued and served.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all hearings should be noticed for Room 204, U.S. Courthouse 501 W. Tenth Street, Fort Worth, Texas

1. Preliminary hearings on Motions for Relief from Stay (all chapters) will generally be heard on designated Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.

   Motions Filed Between

   Preliminary Hearing Date

   March 27, 2013 – April 1, 2013	April 17, 2013 at 9:30 am
   April 2, 2013 – April 8, 2013	April 24, 2013 at 9:30 am
   April 9, 2013 – April 14, 2013	TUESDAY April 30, 2013 at 9:30 am
   April 15, 2013 – April 23, 2013	May 15, 2013 at 9:30 am
   April 24, 2013 – May 1, 2013	May 22, 2013 at 9:30 am
   May 2, 2013 – May 10, 2013	May 29, 2013 at 9:30 am
   May 11, 2013 – May 19, 2013	TUESDAY June 4, 2013 at 9:30 am
   May 20, 2013 – May 28, 2013	June 19, 2013 at 9:30 am
   May 29, 2013 – June 9, 2013	June 26, 2013 at 9:30 am
   June 10, 2013 – June 17, 2013	July 3, 2013 at 9:30 am
   June 18, 2013 – June 25, 2013	July 17, 2013 at 9:30 am
   June 26, 2013 – July 8, 2013	THURSDAY July 25, 2013 at 9:30 am

2. Motions to Extend/Impose Stay will be heard at 9:30 a.m. on the dates listed above unless otherwise scheduled by the Court.

3. All matters relating to Chapter 13 main cases (except motions for relief from stay and motions to extend) should be noticed for pre-hearing conference with the Chapter 13 Trustees, Tim Truman and Alice Whitten.

   NOTE: For Tim Truman, all matters shall be noticed for a pre-hearing conference at 6851 N.E. Loop 820, 2nd Floor, North Richland Hills, TX 76180. For Alice Whitten, all matters shall be noticed for a pre-hearing conference at 6100 Western Place Dr., Suite 550, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Please obtain pre-hearing conference dates from the Chapter 13 Trustee's website at:

   www.13network.com

          4. Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 general matters (such as motions to sell property, motions to dismiss case, objections to claims, etc.) will generally be heard at 9:30 a.m. on:

January 28, 2013        
February 25, 2013
March 25, 2013          
April 22, 2013
May 20, 2013
June 24, 2013           
August 26, 2013
September 23, 2013
October 28, 2013
November 25, 2013
December 16, 2013

2013 Trial Docket Call Dates