Rule 249.Call of Non-Jury Docket

Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 249 says the non-jury docket is taken up at times that do not unnecessarily interfere with the dispatch of business on the jury docket.

Full Text of Rule 249

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The non-jury docket shall be taken up at such times as not unnecessarily to interfere with the dispatch of business on the jury docket. B. Continuance and Change of Venue

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 249 sets scheduling priorities. The non-jury docket is to be taken up at such times as not to interfere unnecessarily with moving the jury docket along — jury cases get the scheduling preference, and bench matters are fit around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do jury cases get scheduling priority in Texas?

Yes. Rule 249 directs that the non-jury docket be taken up so as not to unnecessarily interfere with the jury docket.

What counts as a case on the non-jury docket in Texas?

Any case set for a bench trial rather than a jury trial. Rule 249 groups these cases into their own docket and lets the court call them up whenever doing so will not get in the way of the jury docket.

Can a Texas court schedule non-jury cases whenever it wants?

Within limits. Rule 249 gives the court latitude to take up the non-jury docket at convenient times, but only so long as the timing does not unnecessarily interfere with moving the jury docket along.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 249), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: call of non-jury docketnon-jury docketbench trial docketnon-jury docket schedulingTRCP 249