ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION: A lawyer applying for admission to the bar of this court must be licensed to practice law by the licensing authority of one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States, and if licensed by a licensing authority other than the State of Texas, then an attorney must also be a member in good standing of a United States district court. The attorney shall file an application on a form prescribed by the court, accompanied by payment of the fee set by order of the court. Local Rule 83.1.A,C, S.D. Texas. Download the Application Form.

Each application for admission filed with the clerk shall be accompanied by:

1. A check in the amount of $150.00 payable to: Clerk, U.S. District Court.
2. A xerox copy of your state bar card.
3. An ORIGINAL Certificate of Good Standing (not more than 90 days old) from another federal court, if applicable.
4. A self-addressed, stamped envelope for notification purposes.

WORKSHOP: An approved applicant must attend a workshop held by the court before being admitted. Applicants residing in the Houston and Galveston divisions must attend a workshop in Houston. Applicants residing in other divisions may attend a workshop in any division.

The following are exempt from attendance at a workshop:

1. Applicants who have reached the age of seventy.
2. Applicants who reside out of the district and are members of the bar of another United States district court who have provided an ORIGINAL Certificate of Good Standing from that court of membership.
3. Former circuit, district, bankruptcy and magistrate judges.

Should an applicant scheduled to take the oath, unreasonably fail to notify the clerk that he will not appear as scheduled, the applicant forfeits the fee.  The applicant must then reapply and advance an additional fee. Counsel are required to notify the clerk's office at (713) 250-5500 prior to the scheduled appearance date if unable to attend.

ACTION ON APPLICATION; FEE; OATH: After a review of the application, the court will admit or deny admissions. A person not admitted may request a hearing to show why the application should be granted. The hearing will be conducted under the procedures for disciplinary matters. Counsel will be notified by letter of the date on which appearance is required before a judicial officer for administering the oath (Local Rule 83.1).

NOTE: Care should be taken to furnish in detail ALL information requested on the form of the application. Incomplete applications will be returned to applicant without processing.

MAIL TO:

Attn.: Attorney Admissions
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
P.O. Box 61010
Houston, Texas 77208

MICHAEL N. MILBY
Clerk of Court
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Southern District of Texas

APPLICATION MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY $150.00 CHECK
OR APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED

Members of the bar must reapply every five years from the date of admission by filing a Renewal Questionnaire for Admission to Practice. If a member fails to reapply before the expiration of the term, a late application will be treated as an original application, requiring reapproval and attendance of a workshop.

A lawyer who is not admitted to practice before this court may appear as attorney-in-charge for a party in a case in this court with the permission of the judge before whom the case is pending. When a lawyer who is not a member of the bar of this court first appears in a case, the lawyer shall move for leave to appear as attorney-in-charge for the client using the Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice form.

Attorneys who fail to notify the clerk's office of a Change of Address may not receive notice of renewal dates, case hearings, trial dates or any other notice generated by the automated systems.

To receive orders and judgments within hours of their entry by fax you are required to complete an Authorization to Send Orders and Judgments by Facsimile Transmission.