Research · 435 federal fee rulings in Texas
Attorney Fee Motions in Texas Federal Courts (2026): Judges Cut 44.4% of Requests
In this article
How often do Texas federal judges cut fee requests?
In 44.4% of 435 rulings that decided a fee amount since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
In rulings that cut fees at least partly over time records, the median cut was 25% (76 rulings).
Why do they cut?
Most often for clerical work billed as legal work, duplicative staffing and a lower hourly rate.
| Reduction | Share of rulings with a cut | Rulings |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical work billed as legal work | 25.9% | 50 |
| Duplicative staffing | 24.9% | 48 |
| Hourly rate reduced | 23.3% | 45 |
| Unrelated claims | 22.8% | 44 |
| Vague entries | 20.7% | 40 |
| Excessive hours | 18.1% | 35 |
| Block billing | 16.1% | 31 |
| Other reasons | 32.1% | 62 |
What hourly rates do they approve?
Median approved rates by district, from rulings in the last two years.
| District | Partner | Associate | Paralegal | Rulings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E.D. Texas | $550 | $388 | $180 | 12 |
| N.D. Texas | $495 | $378 | $115 | 72 |
| S.D. Texas | $425 | $250 | $115 | 28 |
| W.D. Texas | $628 | $425 | $125 | 28 |
Recent fee cuts over time records
- N.D. Texas cuts employment fee award 10% over block billing (Oct 16, 2026)
- N.D. Texas cuts intellectual property fee award 3.3%, including for block billing (Sep 23, 2026)
- S.D. Texas cuts commercial fee award 39.8%, including for vague entries (Sep 23, 2026)
- N.D. Texas cuts commercial fee award 32.4%, including for clerical work (Sep 18, 2026)
- N.D. Texas cuts sanctions fee award, including for block billing (Sep 15, 2026)
- N.D. Texas cuts commercial fee award over clerical work (Aug 27, 2026)
Filing a fee motion in federal court
In federal court a fee claim is generally made by motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2), filed no later than 14 days after judgment unless a statute or court order sets a different time. Many districts add local rules on conferring with the other side and on the detail the motion must include, so check the district's local rules before filing.
Before filing, see what a fee declaration needs. If you are opposing one, see which objections courts accept. Other states: California, New York, Florida, Arkansas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee.
Methodology and sources
- Every ruling on GovInfo since January 2024 from a federal district court in Texas that decided the amount of a fee request (435 rulings, stipulated awards left out).
- Reductions are counted once per ruling, where the court's words were found in the opinion. Rates come from rulings in the last two years.
Limitations. State courts are not included; this page covers federal district courts only. Some federal districts publish few or no opinions to GovInfo, including the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Middle District of Florida, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Western District of Washington and the District of Nevada. They are missing or thin here. LegalTime sells timekeeping software for law firms. The sections on LegalTime describe our own product; everything else comes from the court rulings.
General information from public court rulings, not legal advice. Data: CSV (CC BY 4.0). Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it.
FAQ
How do I file a motion for attorney fees in federal court in Texas?
In federal court a fee claim is generally made by motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(2), filed no later than 14 days after judgment unless a statute or court order sets a different time. Many districts add local rules on conferring with the other side and on the detail the motion must include, so check the district's local rules before filing.
How often do federal judges in Texas reduce attorney fee requests?
In 44.4% of 435 fee rulings since January 2024, against 53.8% nationally.
Why do Texas federal judges cut attorney fees?
Most often for clerical work billed as legal work, duplicative staffing and a lower hourly rate.
What hourly rates do federal courts in Texas approve?
E.D. Texas: partners $550, associates $388; N.D. Texas: partners $495, associates $378; S.D. Texas: partners $425, associates $250; W.D. Texas: partners $628, associates $425.