Southern District of Texas ~ Judicial Support

Judicial Support - Files Management

1.	The Files Management section of the U.S. Clerk's Office, Southern District of Texas, Houston division, is located in Room 1217, Bob Casey Federal Courthouse, at 515 Rusk Avenue. Unless sealed by court order or by provision of Local Rules, all case files are open for public inspection during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
2.	Records maintained in the Files Management section include all active bankruptcy, adversary, civil and criminal case files for the Houston division as well as active bankruptcy and adversary files for the Victoria division. Records are also maintained for civil and criminal cases closed during approximately the preceding 24 months and bankruptcy cases closed during approximately the preceding 6 months. Additionally, there are microfilm records of persons naturalized in this court from 1923 to 1982. An index of the names and addresses of all attorneys currently admitted to practice in the Southern District of Texas is also maintained. Hard copies of civil and criminal docket books dating back to 1937 are available for research purposes. Bankruptcy docket books dating back to 1969 are also available.
3.	Fees are charged for copies of documents in the custody of the clerk are established by the Judicial Conference of the United States at $.50 cents a page. However, in the Houston division, files are pulled and copies by an independent on-site copy service that will make copies for you at a lesser rate. The copy service accepts cash, a firm check, money orders, personal checks and credit cards. Arrangements can also be made with them for obtaining copies by facsimile.
4.	Copies of signed orders are mailed to attorneys of record via facsimile or by mail at no charge at the time the order is entered. Court appointed attorneys are provided free copies of all documents in the case with which they are involved, but must claim this expense on the voucher provided upon appointment.
5.	If you simply want to review a file, complete a request card provided to you by the copy service. Indicate the case number, your name and phone number and the file will be retrieved for you to review in the waiting area. Do not attempt to obtain a file from the judges' chambers.
6.	Requests for copies of records which have been forwarded to the Federal Archives and Record Center may be made through the copy center. The retrieval fee of $25.00 is due at the time of request. All checks should be payable to: Clerk, U.S. District Court.
7.	Orders for copies of transcripts should be placed with Court Reporting Services which is located in Room 8016, Bob Casey Federal Building, at 515 Rusk Avenue. Arrangements for payment should be made with court reporting services at the time the order is placed.
8.	If a file that you need to review has been checked out to some element of the court, the Files Management clerk will retrieve it for you if it is available. To request retrieval of a file, the copy service will ask you to complete a form indicating which file and any particular documents you would like to review or have copies. The file clerk retrieves files each day a 3:00 p.m. You will be notified by the file clerk of the availability of the files or documents requested.