Rule 16.1. Authority and Applicability

(a) Authority. This rule is promulgated under Sections 74.251-74.257 of the Government Code.

(b) Applicability. This rule applies to civil actions pending on or after May 1, 2012, in a constitutional county court, county court at law, probate court, or district court and that may require additional judicial resources.

(c) Other Cases. This rule does not apply to:

(1) criminal matters;

(2) grants for local court improvement under Section 72.029 of the Government Code;

(3) cases in which judicial review is sought under Chapter 2001, Subchapter G, of the Government Code; or

(4) cases that have been transferred by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation to a district court for consolidated or coordinated pretrial proceedings under Chapter 74, Subchapter H, of the Government Code.