Courtroom and Remote Hearings 

Judge Bradley conducts hearings in the following methods: (1) Courtroom (in-person); and (2) remotely by WebEx. The notice of hearing issued by the Clerk’s office or the order setting the hearing will set forth whether the hearing will be conducted in the Courtroom (which means all counsel and witnesses are expected to appear in-person in the Courtroom), or by WebEx (which means all counsel and witnesses are expected to appear by WebEx and not in the Courtroom).  If counsel or a party is uncertain as to the method that a hearing will be conducted, they should email the Courtroom Deputy (Ronda Farrar(link sends e-mail)). 

Instructions and rules for appearing at a hearing by WebEx are set forth in the Virtual Courtroom Guidelines for Users.   

If a hearing is set to be conducted remotely by WebEx, and instead, a party believes that an in-person hearing in the Courtroom should be conducted, counsel can request the hearing be reset in the Courtroom as an in-person hearing by emailing such request to the Courtroom Deputy (Ronda Farrar(link sends e-mail)). Prior to making such request, counsel should confer whenever possible with opposing counsel regarding the request. 

How to Request Remote Appearance (by WebEx or Telephone) at Courtroom Hearings 

If a hearing is set to be conducted in the Courtroom (in-person), the Court will consider permitting counsel and parties to appear remotely (by WebEx or telephone), when appropriate and upon request. Consideration will be given to the nature and scope of the matter before the Court, the purpose of the appearance, the number of parties appearing, associated time and cost of travel, and equity to all parties, when a request to appear remotely is made.   

If a hearing is set to be conducted in the Courtroom (in-person) and counsel or a party wants to attend the hearing remotely by WebEx or telephone, counsel must electronically file a Request for WebEx Appearance or a Request for Telephonic Appearance at least 48 hours before the hearing. A Request for WebEx Appearance event and a Request for Telephonic Appearance event has been created in CM/ECF as a text only entry, with no PDF attachment.  It will prompt the filer to include the reason for the request, a phone number, date and time of the hearing, and linkage to the matter being heard. If Judge Bradley approves the Request, a Judge’s Notice of Party Permitted to Appear by WebEx (or Telephonically) will be entered on the docket. If Judge Bradley denies the Request, a Judge’s Notice of Party Not Permitted to Appear by WebEx (or Telephonically) will be entered on the docket. Judge Bradley prefers that counsel desiring to appear remotely request to appear by WebEx and not by telephone. Telephonic appearances are permissible only if counsel or a party is monitoring a hearing, has a very short announcement, or some extraordinary circumstance. Witness appearances are not permitted by telephone.   

If you are not a registered user with the Texas Western Bankruptcy Court CM/ECF system, email the Courtroom Deputy (Ronda Farrar(link sends e-mail)) with your request to appear by WebEx or telephonically at a hearing set to be conducted in the Courtroom.  You will be notified by email if your request is approved or denied. 

Instructions and rules for appearing at a hearing by WebEx and by telephone are set forth in the Virtual Courtroom Guidelines for Users.   

Please mute your phone line or audio connection immediately when appearing remotely by WebEx or telephone (and advise your clients of the same). Other hearings may be in progress and you do not want to interrupt other hearings. Once your case is called, you may unmute your phone line or audio connection when the Court requests appearances or requests you to speak. If appearing by telephone, please state your name each time before you speak.  If a technological problem develops, the hearing may continue in the Courtroom without the participation of those appearing remotely. Accordingly, persons choosing to remotely attend a hearing being conducted in the Courtroom do so at their own risk.   

IMPORTANT NOTE--if a hearing has been set and noticed to be conducted by WebEx, it is not necessary for counsel or a party to request to appear by WebEx.