Duval County
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Rules that apply here (county → circuit → statewide)
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Proposed Orders: Word via E-Portal Only — Never Dual-Submit — Division CV-A
Proposed orders go to the Court in Word format through the e-portal with an explanatory cover letter. Submitting the same order by both e-portal and email risks duplicate entry; with unrepresented parties, counsel must mail copies and file a Notice of Service.
Hearings ≤30 Minutes Default to Zoom; Telephonic Allowed Absent Objection — Division CV-A
Most hearings set for 30 minutes or less are conducted by Zoom in CV-A; the setting order/notice prevails. Telephonic appearance is allowed if opposing counsel doesn't object — request it when scheduling.
Courtesy Hard Copies of 20+ Page Materials: Inside the Courthouse 3–5 Business Days Before the Hearing — Division CV-A
If counsel would like Judge Wallace to have courtesy copies of motions, memoranda of law, or case law of 20 pages or more for a hearing, the Division CV-A procedures say the hard copies should be inside the Courthouse at least three to five business days before the scheduled hearing, by U.S. mail, FedEx, UPS, or hand delivery.
Proposed Orders: Circulate in 3 Working Days, Submit Within 7 — Division CV-E
When counsel is asked to prepare an order after a hearing, it must be drafted and circulated to opposing counsel within three working days and submitted to the Court within seven days of the hearing.
Two Conferral Certificates: Before Filing AND Before Setting Hearing — Division CV-E
CV-E layers a second conferral on top of Rule 1.202: certify conferral before filing the motion (Exhibit A) and again before scheduling it for hearing (Exhibit B).
150-Day Case Management Conference & Trial Setting — Division CV-E
CV-E runs a structured 150-day case management conference track with published CMO templates for jury, non-jury, and complex settings, plus a projected-vs-actual trial period system and 2026–2027 published trial calendars.
[PREEMPTED] AI Certificate Required Above Every Signature Block — Division CV-E
Judge Bruce R. Anderson, Jr.'s September 2025 Division CV-E policies and procedures (section XXXII) required anyone filing AI-generated content to disclose it and insert the court's Exhibit "C" Artificial Intelligence Certificate above the signature block. Effective June 15, 2026, Rule 2.515(d)(2) and AOSC26-12 preempted court-imposed AI disclosure and certification requirements; the September 2025 document is still posted on the division page.
Ex Parte Hearings: Uncontested Only, 5 Minutes, 9–10 a.m. — Division CV-E
Ex parte in CV-E is strictly for uncontested matters resolvable in five minutes or less, held 9:00–10:00 a.m. on posted dates (website and outside Hearing Room 739). In-person, telephonic, Zoom, and hybrid appearances are permitted under Rule 2.530.
Hybrid Zoom by Party Agreement; Notice Must Name Hearing Room 701 — Division CV-B
In CV-B the parties agree whether attendance is Zoom or in person; hybrid is permitted, and the Notice of Hearing must state Hearing Room 701 with the division's published Zoom ID (275-150-7351).
Courtesy Copies 3 Days Ahead; 20+ Pages May NOT Be Emailed — Division CV-B
Judge Dearing wants courtesy copies of motions and memoranda three days before hearing; anything over 20 pages including attachments is barred from email and must arrive by hand, U.S. Mail, or delivery service.
20+ Pages of Hearing Materials → Binder Delivered TWO WEEKS Early — Division CV-D
Judge Norton requires a binder at the courthouse no later than two weeks before hearing when materials collectively exceed 20 pages — and bars email entirely past 30 pages.
Phone Appearances: One Conference Line + Notice to JA; Plaintiff Prepares Amended Trial Orders — Division CV-D
Telephone appearances in CV-D require counsel to arrange a single conference call joining all participants and to courtesy-copy the Notice of Hearing to the JA; the JA prepares the first trial order, but every amended trial order falls on plaintiff's counsel.
Zoom Is a Privilege; Remote TESTIMONY Requires Written Motion and Leave — Division CV-C
In CV-C, appearing by Zoom is a privilege (log in five minutes early; Court hosts); presenting testimony remotely — any hearing or non-jury trial, any length — requires a written motion showing good cause under Rule 2.530(b)(2).
Cross-Noticing Absolutely Prohibited; Criminal Passes Need 72 Hours — Division CC-E
Judge Nealis bans cross-noticing outright — unilaterally cross-noticed motions will not be heard and may be denied without prejudice — and criminal pass requests must reach the JA a full 72 hours before the requested date.
Criminal Passes Need 72 Hours; Court Starts 9:00 Sharp — Division CC-I
Judge Lanigan's criminal side (the Division I policies effective Jan. 1, 2024): court starts promptly at 9:00 a.m., agreed pass requests reach the JA at least 72 HOURS before the requested date, and the defendant's FPT appearance is never waived.
Trial Motions One Week Before FPT; Pleas Close at Final Pretrial — Division CC-C
Judge Bateh enforces a hard Motion Deadline — all trial motions filed one week before the Final Pre-Trial date or not considered — and the FPT is the plea-negotiation deadline, with the defendant physically present.
Post-Hearing Orders Track the Court's Verbal Recitation — Division CC-O
Judge Nelson may request proposed orders from one or more parties per the Court's verbal rulings at hearing; orders without a hearing require the motion attached and all parties copied.
Passes by 1:00 P.M. the Day Prior — Division CC-A
Judge Ferguson runs the earliest afternoon pass cutoff in the Duval county wing: agreed add/remove/pass requests reach the JA by e-mail (cc opposing counsel) no later than 1:00 p.m. the day before, and the defendant's FPT appearance is never waived.
Fourth Cir. — Judge Kevin Blazs: Judge preferences
2 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fourth Cir. — Judge Jeb Branham: Judge preferences
2 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fourth Cir. — Judge Eric Roberson: Judge preferences
1 summarised requirement on judge preferences.
Fourth Cir. — Judge Eric Roberson: Deadlines
1 summarised requirement on deadlines.
Weekly Docket Map and the 9-Point FPT Checklist — Division CR-C
Judge Sacks runs a fixed weekly map (Mon motions-to-be-set/PTCs; Tue–Thu arraignments + PTCs mornings, hearings/trials afternoons; Fri trials) with FPTs the Wednesday before Monday selection — where counsel reports readiness, offers both ways, panel size, peremptory-strike counts, trial length, and Richardson issues; the first PT requires a deposition schedule.
Trial Set Within the 5th Month After Arrest — Division CR-E
Judge Salvador sets the trial date at the FIRST pretrial conference (3–4 weeks after arraignment), targeting trial within the fifth month after arrest, with the FPT the Monday before Monday jury selection and no waiver of the defendant's FPT appearance.
Transport Orders Need 10 Business Days; JAC Responses Attach as Exhibit A — Division CR-A
Judge Hutton: transport/extradition orders require at least 10 business days; orders submit in Word by e-mail (agreement status stated) within 5 days of hearing, and JAC no-objection responses attach to the proposed order as "Exhibit A."