Hernando County, FL
All 55 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Hernando County, newest effective date first. 299 circuit-wide and 636 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Published rules, newest effective date first
Showing 1–50 of 55 · page 1 of 2
Hernando AO H-2025-59-A: Duty Judge Assignment (eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
Hernando duty-judge assignment order effective January 1, 2026; the circuit also posts a Hernando weekly duty schedule page. Weekend first-appearance duty is separate (see H-2025-56-C).
5th Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: courtroom procedures
5 verbatim requirements from Judge Barbara-Jo Bell's published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.: courtroom procedures
1 verbatim requirement from Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.'s published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: courtroom procedures
43 verbatim requirements from Judge Don Barbee's published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Donald E. Scaglione: courtroom procedures
62 verbatim requirements from Judge Donald E. Scaglione's published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: courtroom procedures
5 verbatim requirements from Judge Jason L. Smith's published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann: courtroom procedures
5 verbatim requirements from Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann's published procedures.
5th Cir. — Judge Stephen E. Toner: courtroom procedures
14 verbatim requirements from Judge Stephen E. Toner's published procedures.
Chief Judge Merritt (Hernando): in-person PTC before trial; courtesy copies after e-filing; pro se files through the clerk
Attorneys may appear in person or by Zoom for many matters, but attorneys AND defendants must appear in person at the pretrial conference immediately preceding trial; courtesy copies only after e-filing; self-represented parties file through the clerk, not chambers; interpreters requested in advance; probate/guardianship dates through the clerk.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Continuances
1 summarised requirement on continuances.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Hearings
1 summarised requirement on hearings.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Judge preferences
3 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Judge preferences
3 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Barbara-Jo Bell: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.: Filing
1 summarised requirement on filing.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.: Judge preferences
3 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Deadlines
6 verbatim requirements on deadlines.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Exhibits & evidence
3 verbatim requirements on exhibits & evidence.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Hearings
1 verbatim requirement on hearings.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Judge preferences
3 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Judge preferences
11 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Don Barbee: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Donald E. Scaglione: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Donald E. Scaglione: Judge preferences
3 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Donald E. Scaglione: Judge preferences
4 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Donald E. Scaglione: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Continuances
1 summarised requirement on continuances.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Hearings
1 summarised requirement on hearings.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Judge preferences
3 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Judge preferences
3 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Jason L. Smith: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Joel D. Fritton: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Joel D. Fritton: Judge preferences
3 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Joel D. Fritton: Judge preferences
4 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Joel D. Fritton: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann: Discovery
1 verbatim requirement on discovery.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann: Judge preferences
5 summarised requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann: Judge preferences
3 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Kurt E. Hitzemann: Mediation
2 summarised requirements on mediation.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Stephen E. Toner: Filing
1 summarised requirement on filing.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Stephen E. Toner: Judge preferences
1 summarised requirement on judge preferences.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Stephen E. Toner: Remote appearances
1 summarised requirement on remote appearances.
Fifth Cir. — Judge Thomas R. Eineman: Judge preferences
1 summarised requirement on judge preferences.
Judge Barbee (Hernando) Standing Order — Circuit Civil (eff. June 18, 2026): 10-page memos, 10-day responses, email-only scheduling
Paperless chambers: no paper/mailed submissions absent prior approval; all hearing requests to dcbcivil@circuit5.org (phone requests get no response); responses + memoranda due 10 days from receipt of motion; court defers ruling 5 days when a reply is requested; 10-page memo cap; motions ordinarily decided on the papers (hearing request must accompany the motion with a time estimate); electronic evidence 2 business days ahead; proposed orders no more than 24 hours before or within 5 days after hearing; follow up after 45 days without a ruling.
Judge Barbee (Hernando) Standing Order — Guardianship (eff. June 18, 2026): 10-page memos, 2-business-day evidence
Guardianship-docket standing order mirrors the civil order's core limits: 10-page legal-memorandum cap absent permission and electronic evidence at least 2 business days before hearings/trials.
Judge Barbee (Hernando) Standing Order — Probate (eff. June 18, 2026): 12-month completion, 1-business-day evidence
Probate matters should be completed within 12 months of letters of administration (Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(c)); electronic evidence for all evidentiary hearings due at least one full business day ahead; petitions to admit a lost/destroyed will require a hearing.
Judge Bell (Hernando county): materials 1 week ahead (10-page email cap); 24-hour cancellations
Hearing materials due at least one week in advance — submissions over 10 pages by mail, 10 pages or fewer by email; cancellations e-filed no later than 24 hours before hearing; matters within five business days are emergency-handled with a courtesy copy.