Northern District of Texas Exhibit Requirements
The Northern District of Texas is one of the largest federal districts, covering 100 counties including the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The court handles substantial commercial litigation, patent cases, and federal criminal prosecutions. With seven divisions, the district has developed comprehensive local rules while allowing significant judge-specific variations.
- The Northern District of Texas's primary exhibit rule is Civil L.R. 16.2, 26.1.
- Plaintiffs in the Northern District of Texas mark exhibits P-1, P-2, P-3....
- Defendants in the Northern District of Texas mark exhibits D-1, D-2, D-3....
- The Northern District of Texas accepts e-filings through CM/ECF (PACER), with a limit of 50 MB per document.
- Exhibits in the Northern District of Texas are exchanged per scheduling order.
- The Northern District of Texas (N.D. Tex.) sits within the Fifth Circuit.
- ExhibitPrep applies N.D. Tex. exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so case files never leave the attorney's computer.
Quick Reference
| E-Filing System | CM/ECF (PACER) |
| File Size Limit | 50 MB per document |
| Plaintiff Marking | P-1, P-2, P-3... |
| Defendant Marking | D-1, D-2, D-3... |
| Exchange Deadline | Per scheduling order |
| Primary Rule | Civil L.R. 16.2, 26.1 |
What This Guide Covers
Divisions & Courthouses
Dallas
- •Earle Cabell Federal Building
- •Largest division - most commercial cases
- •Patent litigation hub
- •Major criminal prosecutions
Fort Worth
- •Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse
- •Tarrant County and surrounding areas
- •Growing commercial caseload
Lubbock/Amarillo/Abilene/Wichita Falls/San Angelo
- •West Texas divisions
- •Varied caseloads
- •Same local rules apply
Judge-Specific Practices
N.D. Tex. judges maintain individual standing orders that may significantly modify general local rules. Dallas division judges in particular often have detailed case management procedures. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders on the court website before filing. Patent cases have specialized rules that apply in addition to general local rules.
Pro Tips for N.D. Tex.
- 1Texas federal courts strongly prefer numbered exhibits (P-1, D-1) over lettered
- 2Check assigned division and judge-specific orders carefully
- 3Patent cases follow specialized Patent Local Rules
- 4ADR (mediation) is required in most civil cases - budget accordingly
- 5File large document sets in multiple parts if necessary
- 6Dallas judges often have detailed individual case procedures
Common Mistakes to Avoid
N.D. Tex. Exhibit FAQ
Does N.D. Tex. use letters or numbers for exhibit marking?
N.D. Tex. courts strongly prefer numbered exhibits: "P-1, P-2, P-3" for plaintiff exhibits and "D-1, D-2, D-3" for defendant exhibits under Civil L.R. 16.2 and 26.1. Using lettered exhibits when numbers are expected is a listed common mistake in the district.
How many divisions does the Northern District of Texas have?
N.D. Tex. has seven divisions covering 100 counties: Dallas (Earle Cabell Federal Building, the largest by volume and a patent litigation hub), Fort Worth (Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse), and five West Texas divisions (Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, Wichita Falls, San Angelo).
What is the CM/ECF file size limit for N.D. Tex.?
N.D. Tex. accepts documents up to 50 MB per file through CM/ECF (PACER).
Is mediation required before trial in N.D. Tex.?
Yes. ADR, typically mediation, is required in most civil cases in the Northern District of Texas, so exhibit preparation timelines should account for that step before trial exhibit exchange.
Is Bates numbering required on N.D. Tex. exhibits?
Bates numbering is strongly encouraged, though not universally mandated by local rule, and individual judges frequently set their own trial exhibit procedures on top of the general Civil L.R. 26.1 disclosure requirements.
Related Court Guides
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