Jennifer Calfee, Courtroom Deputy
(817) 333-6016
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.
Judge Mullin's self-calendaring procedure is as follows:
Types of proceedings that may be set in accordance with the self-calendar procedure:
The self-calendaring procedure will not be available for the following:
Procedure:
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.
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: All hearings should be noticed Room 128, U. S. Courthouse, 501 W. 10th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102.
Preliminary hearings on Motions for Relief from Stay (all chapters) will be heard at 9:30 a.m. as follows:
Motions to Extend Stay/Impose Stay will be heard along with the preliminary lift stay docket at 9:30 a.m. - see preliminary lift stay dates below.
Motions Filed Between
Preliminary Hearing Dates
August 6, 2018 – August 10, 2018
August 30, 2018
August 11, 2018 – August 20, 2018
September 5, 2018 (Wed)
August 21, 2018 – August 28, 2018
September 13, 2018
August 29, 2018 – September 3, 2018
September 27, 2018
September 4, 2018 – September 15, 2018
October 3, 2018 (Wed)
September 16, 2018 – September 24, 2018
October 11, 2018
September 25, 2018 – October 2, 2018
October 25, 2018
October 3, 2018 – October 20, 2018
November 8, 2018
October 21, 2018 – October 29, 2018
November 20, 2018 (Tues)
October 30, 2018 – November 6, 2018
November 29, 2018
November 7, 2018 – November 16, 2018
December 5, 2018 (Wed)
November 17, 2018 – November 27, 2018
December 13, 2018
November 28, 2018 – December 10, 2018
December 27, 2018
December 11, 2018 – December 24, 2018
January 10, 2019
December 25, 2018 – January 1, 2019
January 24, 2019
January 2, 2019 – January 9, 2019
January 31, 2019
January 10, 2019 – January 16, 2019
February 6, 2019 (Wed)
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 Trustee, Tim Truman and Pam Bassel.
NOTE: 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. Pam Bassel, all matters shall be noticed for a pre-hearing conference at 7001 Blvd 26, Suite 150, North Richland Hills, TX. 76180. Please obtain pre-hearing conference dates from the Chapter 13 Trustee's website at: www.13network.com
General matters with a time estimate of 30 minutes or less (such as motions to sell property, motions to dismiss case, objections to claims, fee applications, etc.) will be heard at 1:30 p.m. on the dates listed below, unless otherwise scheduled by Court.
September 13, 2018 September 27, 2018 October 3, 2018 October 11, 2018 October 25, 2018 November 8, 2018 November 20, 2018
Non-discovery motions in adversary proceedings and trial docket call will be heard at 9:00 a.m. on the dates listed below, unless otherwise scheduled by Court.
October 25, 2018 November 20, 2018 December 27, 2018 January 24, 2019 February 28, 2019 March 28, 2019 April 25, 2019 May 23, 2019 June 27, 2019
Judge Mullin’s chambers is located at Room 122, United States Courthouse, 501 West 10th Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
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Telephone inquiries to Judge Mullin’s chambers should be directed to the following:
Orders submitted for the court’s consideration should be uploaded in ECF and must be in compliance with the Proposed Order Specifications included in the ECF Manual. Orders requiring immediate attention should be uploaded in ECF and counsel should alert the courtroom deputy by email. It is not necessary to notify the courtroom deputy when submitting routine orders that are not time sensitive.
Disagreements over the form of orders should be submitted in writing by email directed to the courtroom deputy with copy to opposing counsel. Proposed versions of the order in pdf and Microsoft Word should be attached to the email.
Orders concerning motions that can be considered without a hearing or notice of opportunity for hearing (such as motions to extend time to file schedules and statements, motions to extend deadline to object to discharge, and motions to dismiss case by debtor in Chapter 13 cases) should be uploaded in ECF when the motion is filed.
Orders concerning motions that include negative notice language should be uploaded after the objection period expires, provided no objections have been filed.
Orders concerning motions that require a hearing should be uploaded after the court has conducted the hearing and issued a ruling.
Please allow 7-10 business days for the entry of routine orders. Inquiries regarding the status of an order should be directed to the courtroom deputy.
Hearings may be conducted by teleconference when deemed appropriate by the court. In approving a hearing by teleconference, consideration will be given to the nature and scope of the matter before the court, associated time and cost of travel, and equity to all parties. Counsel may request a telephonic hearing by emailing the courtroom deputy at mxm_settings@txnb.uscourts.gov at least one business day prior to the hearing. Parties participating in a hearing by telephone may not present evidence or question any witness.
Judge Mullin’s court uses CourtCall for all telephonic appearances. Instructions and CourtCall contact information will be provided by a member of Judge Mullin’s staff upon Court approval of the request to appear by telephone.
As a courtesy, please notify the courtroom deputy by email when filing an emergency motion or motion for expedited hearing. Please DO NOT upload the proposed order until the motion is either approved and you receive a hearing date and time or if the motion to expedite is denied. The request for expedited hearing should specifically state why the relief sought is urgent and cannot wait the required notice period along with the latest date you need it heard by. Certificate of Conference is important to the court in evaluating what parties-in-interest have been contacted and do or do not oppose the request.
Typically, Judge Mullin schedules preliminary hearings on motions to lift stay on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Please see Judge Mullin’s self-calendaring procedures online at http://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/content/judge-mark-x-mullin for a list of preliminary hearing dates and for information regarding final hearing settings.
Preliminary hearings are conducted in accordance with the L.B.R. 4001-1(e). Announcements may be made regarding default, agreed, and unopposed orders by docketing the Notice of Announcement event by 11:59 p.m. the day prior to the hearing. In rem relief will be granted only if the relief is specifically requested by motion, and circumstances justifying in rem relief are shown. L.B.R. 4001-1(e) governs hearings on preliminary stay motions. Accordingly, absent compelling circumstances, evidence at preliminary hearings may be presented by affidavit only.
Judge Mullin will not approve waiver of the 14 days required by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4001(a)(3) in a default order.
Please see Clerk’s Notice 06-06 dated April 12, 2006, for requirements for motions to continue/extend the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362 (c)(3)(B). Motions to continue or impose the automatic stay will ordinarily be set on a preliminary lift stay docket unless a special setting is needed to provide adequate notice. A list of extend stay dockets may be found at: http://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/content/judge-mark-x-mullin
Counsel should file a motion to shorten notice and upload a proposed order if allowing less than 24 days’ notice of the hearing.
Motions to reopen case for financial management course certificate may be considered without a hearing or notice of opportunity for hearing. An order may be uploaded at the time of filing. Please use form BTXN196 located on our website. If the certificate or motion is not filed by the deadline, the case will be reclosed
The Chapter 13 Trustee’s office prepares the Chapter 13 docket and submits a copy to the court prior to the hearings. General dockets are always scheduled through the Chapter 13 Trustee’s office or by self-calendaring. The courtroom deputy sets matters on this docket only when instructed by the judge. In any Chapter 13 matter set by the judge, the debtor must be present for hearing.
If all parties agree to continue a hearing, counsel shall notify the courtroom deputy by phone or email and another setting will be provided at that time.
The courtroom deputy will advise if an appearance at the originally scheduled setting is necessary.
If the continuance is contested, the court will review the motion for continuance before making a ruling. The courtroom deputy will contact parties if a hearing is necessary.
For settlements and agreed orders obviating the need for a hearing, counsel need not appear at the scheduled hearing if, prior to the hearing, counsel has notified the courtroom deputy by email or phone that parties have settled, or will upload an agreed order. Otherwise, the parties shall appear at the scheduled hearing to place the agreement on the record.
No hearing is required for fee applications served with 24 day negative notice language, unless the court orders a hearing. After the response time has expired, if there have been no objections, pursuant to L.B.R. 9007-1, a certificate of no objections must be filed, accompanied by the proposed order being uploaded. If an objection is filed, counsel shall set a hearing on the application using this court’s self-calendaring procedures or contact the courtroom deputy.
Notice is mailed by the bankruptcy clerk’s office. No hearing is required for the trustee’s final report unless an objection is filed or the court orders a hearing. If an objection is filed, it will be set for hearing.
Typically, Judge Mullin’s trial docket is scheduled on the last Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. The judge will schedule trials at the docket call.
The courtroom deputy schedules the trial docket call and issues the Standing Scheduling Order and summons when a complaint is filed. The plaintiff’s attorney shall serve all parties the Standing Scheduling Order with the summons and complaint. Compromise, settlement, and stipulations are expected to have occurred prior to the docket call. Documents are also to be exchanged and marked before the docket call. Pursuant to the Standing Scheduling Order regarding adversary proceedings:
Motions for default judgment always require a hearing.
Motions for summary judgment must be submitted with a brief and an appendix. Such motions always require a hearing.
Any matter counsel anticipates will require significant time for the court to review should include briefs provided at least two business days in advance of the hearing. Counsel should provide the court with the documents and supporting briefs.
For all hearings and trials, please provide the court with 2 copies of all exhibits (one for the court and one for the law clerk) in addition to any copies to be provided to opposing counsel or for use by witnesses.
