 Divisional InstructionsUniform Motion Calendar is Monday through Thursday at 8:45 a.m. Hearings are not scheduled or cancelled with the judge's office. Five business days notice must be given to opposing counsel or pro se litigant (unless they agree to do hearing on short notice). Ten minutes is allotted (5 minutes per side). A courtesy copy of the notice of hearing and motion must be sent to the judge for review prior to the hearing. Please check the court's website at 15thcircuit.com for suspension dates, or call judicial assistant. Counsel should bring to the hearing a proposed order granting/denying the motion, sufficient copies and sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. The hearings are done on a first come, first serve basis. Uniform Motion Calendar hearings are not scheduled, cancelled or confirmed with our office, nor do we keep a "calendar". See Local Rule #4. Appearance by telephone is permitted by special setting only. One party must appear in person. Contact judicial assistant to arrange. Telephone hearings are not permitted on Uniform Motion Calendar. Specially set hearings of thirty minutes or less are set with the judicial assistant and require the motion be filed with the clerk first. Our office does not schedule hearings online. When setting, several dates are given and the setting party must confirm opposing counsel or pro se litigant is available. The setting party must then call the judicial assistant back with the date they have selected. Once set, the hearing cannot be cancelled without court approval. Courtesy copies of the notice of hearing and motion must be sent to the judge for review prior to the hearing date. Our office does not require an order setting hearing. Counsel should bring to the hearing a proposed order granting/denying the motion, sufficient copies and sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Please do not send a letter to our office requesting we call you to set your hearing. Specially set hearings over thirty minutes are set by court order on the next available trial docket. The setting party must file a motion for lengthy hearing indicating the amount of time needed with a copy of the motion(s). The original should be filed with the clerk and a copy to the judge with sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Motions for Final Summary Judgment and Motions for Default Final Judgment should be specially set for hearing. Motions in Limine and Charge Conferences should be set for hearing at least ten days prior to trial. Stipulations for Substitution of Counsel must include the client's signed consent pursuant to Rule 2.505(e)(2), Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. Memoranda of Law (original) not to exceed ten double spaced pages, or case authority shall be submitted directly to our office no later than ten (10) business days in advance of the hearing and should designate the date and time of the hearing which they reference. The clerk will not file memos in the court file without permission from the judge, and delivering the original to the clerk's office results in a delay in reaching the judges office. Do not prepare memos for motion calendar hearings. If the attorney thinks a memo is necessary, the hearing should be specially set. Emergency hearings should not be set for hearing. Submit the original motion to the clerk. Send a copy to the judge for review, along with a proposed order, sufficient copies, and sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. If your office is simply trying to set an expedited hearing, please contact the judicial assistant and she may be able to accommodate your request without the necessity of filing a motion for emergency hearing. See Administrative Order No. 3.206-1/09 Motions for Rehearing or New Trial should not be set for hearing. The original must be filed with the clerk. Send a copy to the judge for review, along with a proposed order, sufficient copies, and sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. If granted, the order will include hearing date. See Local Rule #6 Notice to Set Cause for Trial (original) should be filed with the clerk. Send a copy to the judge with sufficient stamped, self-addressed envelopes. It is helpful to have the phone numbers of all counsel included in the notice. Continuances for trial or special set hearings require a hearing on Uniform Motion Calendar prior to calendar call or the special set hearing, even if "agreed" to by counsel. Calendar call is mandatory and telephone appearances are not permitted. At calendar call your case will be given a trial date. The judge will not hear motions or conflicts. Prior to calendar call, conflict dates must be addressed on Uniform Motion Calendar. At calendar call you must have filed a Pretrial Statement, attended Mediation, and have otherwise complied with the Pretrial Order. Failure to comply with any part of the Pretrial Order will result in your case remaining on the trial calendar on 24 hours notice for trial. If your case has settled prior to calendar call, please call the judicial assistant and advise the court in writing. Faxes, e-mails and hand deliveries are not accepted by our office. All hand deliveries must be left at the first floor information desk. Receipt of packages/confirmation of signed orders cannot be confirmed with our office due to the volume of mail received and processed each day. Proposed orders should be submitted with a cover letter or cover sheet , sufficient copies and sufficient self-addressed envelopes. Pursuant to Administrative Order 2.033, all parties names and addresses must be included on all orders and/or judgments. Court Directory and Administrative Orders/Forms can be accessed on the court's website at 15thcircuit.com. Court reporters are not provided by the court. Please notify the court reporter if your hearing or trial has been cancelled. Electronic equipment is not provided by our office. For a fee, the law library rents various equipment. They may be reached at 355-2928. Standing orders for motions for summary judgment and specially set motions are on the court's website at 15thcircuit.com. 04/12/2012  |
