On March 3, 2014, the judges of the Northern District of Texas adopted Special Order No. 2-82, which provides for certain amendments to the Local Rules. With respect to the Local Civil Rules, the amendments will revise LR 15.1(b) and LR 79.3(b)(2), and repeal LR 67.1 (the amendments are available here).
LR 15.1 will be amended to provide that, with respect to motions to amend pleadings, if leave is granted, “the amended pleading will be deemed filed as of the date of the order granting leave, or as otherwise specified by the presiding judge, and the clerk will file a copy of the amended pleading.” The party itself will no longer be required to electronically file the amended pleading.
LR 79.3 will be amended to specify that, with respect to sealed documents, if leave is granted by the court to file the document under seal, the sealed document will be deemed filed as of the date of the order granting leave (or as otherwise specified by the presiding judge), and the clerk will file a copy of the sealed document. The relevant party will no longer be required to file the document under seal.
LR 67.1, which now concerns the deposit of money into the court’s registry, will be repealed in its entirety.
The amendments will take effect on September 2, 2014, unless modified after receipt of public comment. Comments should be submitted to the Clerk of Court for the Northern District of Texas by June 2, 2014.