First Court of Appeals
Parties and counsel may communicate with the Court about a case only through the Office of the Clerk of the Court. Tex. R. App. P. 9.6; see also Tex. Code Jud. Conduct Canon 3(B) (ex parte communications); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 36.04 (Vernon 2003) (prohibiting improper influence on adjudicatory proceeding). The Clerk's Office cannot accept fax or e-mail filing of briefs, motions, or other documents related to a case.
The Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., except for certain holidays. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 658.005(a), 662.003, 662.004, 662.021, 662.022 (Vernon 2004).
Original proceedings should be first presented to the Clerk of the First Court for assignment to either the First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals. For more information on the assignment of original proceedings, see Local Rule 1.
If a party believes an emergency may arise which would require it to file a document when the Clerk's Office is closed, then the Clerk's Office should be notified in advance during regular business hours. If the emergency involves an appeal in which the notice of appeal has not yet been filed, then arrangements must also be made with the trial-court clerk to file the notice of appeal and to make an assignment to either the First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals. See Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 22.202(h) (Vernon 2004), Local Rule 1. If the emergency involves the filing of an original proceeding, then arrangements must also be made to present the original proceeding for assignment to either the First or Fourteenth Court of Appeals as described in the previous paragraph and in Local Rule 1. If the appeal or original proceeding is assigned to this Court, then the Clerk's Office will notify the Court concerning the emergency filing. See also Tex. P. App. P. 17.
Physical Location
First Court of Appeals
301 Fannin Street,
Houston, Texas 77002-2066
Mailing Address
Deborah M. Young
Clerk, First Court of Appeals
First Court of Appeals
301 Fannin Street, Room 245
Houston, Texas 77002-2066
Court Personnel
Clerk of the Court: Deborah M. Young
Chief Staff Attorney: Anne Greenwood