Will the Dallas Court of Appeals grant oral argument to both sides of an appeal when only one party has requested it? For the answer to that question, check out the Court’s Internal Operating Procedures. The answer might surprise you. The Dallas Court of Appeals has posted its IOP’s as of September 1, 2008 on its home page. The IOP’s contain helpful procedural information, such as number of copies of motions to file and a listing of fees. But, the IOP’s also contain some not-so-obvious information such as assignment of cases to panels, when voting occurs on an appeal, what happens with petitions for mandamus that are filed, and instructions to request oral argument if the opposing side has requested it and the Court has granted it.
A cover letter accompanying the IOP’s promises to update the posting for the benefit of practitioners.