Daniel B. Merritt Jr. official profile (circuit5.org)
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.
AO C-2025-45-D (5th Cir., Citrus Cty., eff. June 22, 2026)
Controls all seven Citrus benches and the 2026 monthly duty rotation (Jan Falvey, Feb Healis, Mar Thomas, Apr Carney, May Spaight, Jun Fritton, Jul Falvey, Aug Healis, Sep Thomas, Oct Spaight, Nov Singeltary/Lambert split, Dec Carney). Duty-swap changes must be in writing to all judges, Court Administration and the Clerk.
AO H-2025-56-C (5th Cir., Hernando Cty., eff. June 22, 2026, 12:01 a.m.)
The current Hernando assignment order, amended to add the Truancy docket. BenchPath parsed the full 13-page body (which prior research could not extract): Merritt (Chief) 50% felony C/D + delinquency + Baker/Marchman; Toner 50% felony A/B + all dependency; Scaglione 100% jury civil; Barbee 100% non-jury civil/probate/guardianship + all three treatment courts; Eineman UFC/50% DR/truancy; Fritton 50% DR + all RPOs/injunctions; county courts split by percentage; blind-draw assignment bars judge shopping.
AO H-2025-59-A (5th Cir., Hernando Cty., 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).
Standing Order for Circuit Civil Cases — Judge Barbee (eff. June 18, 2026)
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.
Standing Order for Guardianship Cases — Judge Barbee (eff. June 18, 2026)
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.
Standing Order on Probate Practice — Judge Barbee (eff. June 18, 2026)
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.
Jennifer Bass official profile (circuit5.org)
The motion must be filed before scheduling; if a party does not respond to offered dates within 7 days the court schedules without further coordination; evidentiary hearings in person in Courtroom 5B; temporary-relief hearings capped at 45 minutes; pretrial statements 10 days before pretrial; physical exhibits + index 2 business days ahead; Word-format orders.
Barbara-Jo Bell official profile (circuit5.org)
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.
Benjamin M. Boylston official profile (circuit5.org)
Non-evidentiary matters of 15 minutes or less may be heard remotely; longer and evidentiary matters are in person (Courtroom 1C).
Peter M. Brigham official profile (circuit5.org)
Scheduling requests go to the PMBcalendar address; the profile links the uniform motion-practice order and motion-in-limine materials for Division W.
Bruce E. Carney official profile (circuit5.org)
A motion must be filed and visible on the docket before hearing time is requested; proposed orders are submitted through the e-portal in .docx format, no cover letters required. Rule 2.550 calendar-conflict resolution document linked.
Lori Cotton official profile (circuit5.org)
Small-claims pretrials, jury/non-jury trials, rent matters and final judgments are in person (many others hybrid); Zoom-proceeding evidence due at least 2 days ahead; pro se parties get at least 10 days' notice; editable Word proposed orders.
General Procedures for Judge Ann Melinda Craggs (2026)
Pleading must be filed before hearing time; a maximum of five dates are offered; hearings need not be coordinated with pro se parties when notice allows; cross-noticing without approval is prohibited; proposed orders are NOT accepted through the e-portal — email Word versions to the JA; Zoom/in-person documentary evidence must be emailed as PDF AND hand-delivered 48 hours ahead; audio-video requests follow Rule 2.530.
Emily Curington official profile (circuit5.org)
The profile supplies plea, plea-in-absentia and inmate-transport forms and instructions; no separate comprehensive procedure document exists.
Erin Daly official profile + standing Zoom order + DACMS/MPO standing order (circuit5.org)
Hearings of one hour or less schedule through OnceHub (instructions PDF posted); non-evidentiary hearings ≤30 minutes generally proceed by Zoom under her standing Zoom order (materials 48 hours ahead); general hearing evidence 5 days ahead; trial continuances within 14 days of learning grounds; remote-appearance motions at least 5 business days ahead; DACMS + motion-practice standing order (3/2025) and stipulated-plan approval order (DOCX) posted.
Judge Eineman Judicial Practices and Procedures (rev. Nov. 13, 2025) + profile
Hearing requests to TREcalendarrequest@circuit5.org with case name/number, motion and time; Judicial Practices & Procedures document (last modified 11/13/2025) covers communications, scheduling, remote appearance, orders, courtesy copies, emergencies, exhibits, pretrial and trial settings; courtesy-copies and pretrial-scheduling standing orders posted (2017); H-2010-04 applies.
General Procedures for Judge Carol A. Falvey (2026) + official profile
Hearings ≤1 hour through OnceHub with three proposed dates; motion must be filed first; Zoom link goes in the notice; no cross-noticing without chambers authorization; foreclosure judgments + original note/mortgage 15 business days ahead; case law ≤5 pages by email; MIL due 45 days before trial with 5-business-day responses — untimely or unconferred MILs deemed abandoned.
Standing Order — Judge Joel D. Fritton (amended June 11, 2024)
Applies to all matters assigned to Judge Fritton: email scheduling via sjones@circuit5.org with time-set-aside stated in the notice; motions filed before scheduling; proposed orders digital by email EXCEPT probate through the e-portal; case law <15 pages by email ≥48 hours ahead; interpreters via online form 7 days ahead; meet-and-confer certification in extension/discovery motions; 10-page memo cap; 10-day responses (silence = unopposed); criminal proceedings in person with Zoom only for non-evidentiary pretrial matters ≤30 minutes; criminal continuances e-filed ≥5 days ahead; family cases follow C-2007-22-B and A-2020-1.
Mary P. Hatcher official profile (circuit5.org)
Chambers should be notified after a filing is accepted through the e-portal (not before it appears on the docket); allow three business days for chambers to process hearing submissions; interpreter requests at least four business days ahead; editable-Word proposed orders.
Kristie M. Healis official profile (circuit5.org)
Written continuance motions ≥3 days before the proceeding; docket add/remove requests within 24 hours are emergencies; plea-and-waiver courtesy copies 3 days before arraignment; motions must appear on the docket before scheduling; jury instructions due by email the Friday before trial at 5:00 p.m.; proposed orders by email in .docx only (no PDFs).
Charles L.W. Helm official profile (circuit5.org)
A hearing request must identify the case, requested time and motion, followed by a notice of hearing; a cancellation request requires proof that the matter has been resolved or otherwise removed from the docket.
Judge Herndon Policies and Procedures (2025) + Differentiated Civil CM and Motion Practice Order
Non-evidentiary matters ≤1 hour may proceed by Zoom (longer in person); opposition memoranda due within 20 days of service; replies within 5 days of receipt; 15-page motion-memo cap; motions in limine 15 days before trial; case law/exhibits 5 business days ahead; Word orders by email (not the portal).
Judge Herndon DCMO (posted Feb. 2025) vs. AOSC26-12 + AO A-2026-13-A
Judge Herndon's live differentiated civil case-management and motion-practice order retains an all-caps clause requiring generative-AI use in a pleading or motion to be noted on its face. Since June 15, 2026, AOSC26-12 bars local AI-disclosure mandates and the circuit's own A-2026-13-A §2.D disclaims any such requirement — the clause is preempted but remains posted (a judge-level holdout, like the model clause in A-2024-59).
Kurt E. Hitzemann official profile (circuit5.org)
Proposed orders emailed in .docx with all parties copied; any order involving a self-represented party must include a clause requiring service and proof of service within five days.
Judge Hodges 2026 Procedures + DCMO + motion-practice order (circuit5.org)
120-day DCMO or stipulated CM plan per SC2023-0962 + A-2024-59; hearings via cmatthews@circuit5.org with meet-and-confer confirmation; Zoom typical for hearings ≤30 minutes — in-person required over 30 minutes without prior approval; agreed/unopposed orders in Word with cover letter; competing orders flagged and sent immediately; no binders/notebooks; virtual-hearing materials 5 business days ahead; discovery motions (Rules 1.280–1.390) ordinarily decided without hearing.
R. Gregg Jerald official profile (circuit5.org) + M-2025-62-B
Scheduling correspondence may identify no more than seven proposed dates and must document conflicts when coordination fails; Division FG carries DV/dating-violence DR cases, a third of repeat/stalking/sexual-violence injunctions, after-hours injunctions and ALL risk-protection orders.
Sarah J. Jones official profile (circuit5.org)
At least five business days' notice required; service on a self-represented party should give at least 10 days with proof of service; proposed final judgments/orders should not be submitted before the hearing.
Judge Kissner instructions (circuit5.org, May 2026)
Division X publishes separate instructions for submitting proposed orders and for requesting hearings (both May 2026).
Robert Kyle Lambert official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearings of one hour or less are scheduled through the profile's online process; longer matters require contacting chambers. The calendar distinguishes 15-minute foreclosure dates from contested matters, CMCs and status conferences by color.
Robert E. Landt official profile (circuit5.org)
Documents for judicial review must be filed with the Clerk of Court, not emailed to the judge; email correspondence must include all attorneys of record and pro se parties or no action will be taken.
LeAnn Mackey-Barnes official profile (circuit5.org)
The motion must be filed and required conferral completed before hearing time is requested; pro se parties get at least 10 days' notice; materials 2 days ahead; discovery-motion responses within 20 days and replies within 5; civil case-management plan/order within 120 days.
Timothy McCourt official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearing materials should reach chambers at least 10 days before the hearing.
Paul L. Militello official profile (circuit5.org)
A continuance motion with proposed order should be submitted at least three business days before the proceeding; criminal proceedings are in person (some civil matters may be hybrid).
Chad J. Monty official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearings require 10 calendar days' notice; proof of service is required when a party is self-represented.
Dan R. Mosley official profile (circuit5.org)
Case law and hearing materials to chambers at least five days before hearing; evidentiary proceedings in person with hard-copy evidence; agreed proposed orders may be emailed in editable format.
Jason J. Nimeth official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearings scheduled by email only (never phone), all parties copied with case, county, motion and total time; failed coordination requires a motion memorializing the history; evidence for virtual hearings must be physically delivered — the court will not print it; proposed orders emailed in editable Word after opposing review; electronic materials 10 days / binders 1 week ahead.
Carla R. Pepperman official profile (circuit5.org)
Most matters are handled by Zoom, with the judge retaining discretion to require in-person appearance.
Shanae L. Pickens official profile (circuit5.org)
All written communication by email with party names + case number in the subject line; every correspondence copied to all parties/attorneys; hearing materials 10 days ahead; remote participants need working camera/microphone/speaker with camera on; proposed orders through the e-portal in .docx with required signature/service codes.
Judge Rogers hearing requests and procedures + calendars (circuit5.org)
Hearing requests follow the posted procedures PDF (official filename typo 'haring'); 2026 pretrial/trial schedule and change-of-plea dates posted separately.
Shelby D. Senn official profile (circuit5.org)
A motion must be filed before a hearing request; testimony, exhibits and oral argument require a specially set hearing; proceedings are in person unless a written order authorizes remote appearance; .docx proposed orders.
George L. Singeltary II official profile (circuit5.org)
Scheduling requests must be by email with all parties copied, stating case, county, motion and total time requested; when dates cannot be coordinated, the requesting party files a motion memorializing the attempts.
Jason L. Smith official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearing materials due at least one week in advance with the 10-page email/mail threshold; cancellations e-filed no later than 24 hours before hearing.
Edward C. Spaight official profile + DACMS standing order (circuit5.org)
No cross-noticing without chambers permission; electronic case law/memoranda ≥10 days before hearing (physical ≥1 week); advance evidence submission only for virtual proceedings; portal .docx proposed orders; county-civil DACMS standing order posted; profile directs AI compliance per the circuit's current AI authority (A-2026-13-A).
Michael Takac official profile (circuit5.org, corrected slug michael-g-takac)
Before trial or any dispositive evidentiary hearing a case-management order sets specific, detailed requirements for disclosing ALL evidence to the other parties and the Court; failure to comply results in exclusion. Hearing requests use a 7-item email format to ssutton@circuit5.org.
Amber Thomas official profile (circuit5.org)
Proposed orders must be DOCX; WordPerfect, Word 97 and PDF submissions are rejected. The linked sample proposed order contains Seminole County text — a posted-form anomaly to avoid copying.
Stephen E. Toner official profile (circuit5.org)
Proceedings are in person in Courtroom E (Room 432) unless remote appearance is separately approved — a remote-appearance request requires a written motion and hearing at least 15 days before the proceeding; pro se motions through the clerk.
Brian M. Toti official profile (circuit5.org)
Hearings longer than 15 minutes and all evidentiary proceedings are held in person; remote evidence is not accepted.
Brian Welke official profile (circuit5.org)
Time-certain PNC appointments close at noon the Monday before (noon Friday if Monday is a holiday); sentencing strictly in person; inmate transport requests by 2:30 p.m. the day before; remote evidence never accepted — evidentiary hearings in person; exhibits exchanged 2 days ahead and notebooks 5 days ahead; probate proposed orders by U.S. Mail only, held 10 days pending documentation then destroyed; equipment requests 1 week ahead; ADA requests 7 days ahead.
Judge Youmans Judicial Practices and Procedures 2026 (eff. Apr. 21, 2026)
Marion's Administrative Judge (eff. 6/15/2026) publishes a 16-page practices document (eff. 4/21/2026): hearings cannot exceed secured time (split equally); Zoom typical for non-evidentiary matters ≤1 hour; notice of hearing must be filed within 48 hours of confirmation or the slot is released; continuances 7 days (hearings) / 14 days (trials) ahead; remote-appearance requests 10 days ahead; proposed orders within 10 days after hearing; case law 5 days ahead; electronic-hearing exhibits 5 business days ahead.
AO L-2025-60-D (5th Cir., Lake Cty., eff. June 22, 2026)
Allocates Lake circuit work in quarters: Baxley/Davis/Rada/Welke each take 1/4 criminal (incl. Ryce, excl. death penalty) + 1/4 death penalty + 1/4 non-jury civil (incl. foreclosure) + 1/4 probate; Mosley 1/2 civil jury; Nimeth and Takac 1/4 civil jury + 1/4 family each; Boylston and Toti 1/4 family each plus juvenile/DV/guardianship/mental-health splits; specialty courts assigned by name; child-support add-on to county Judge Jones eff. Feb. 2, 2026.
AO L-2025-61 (5th Cir., Lake Cty., eff. Jan. 1, 2026)
Lake county-court split: Curington and Jones 1/2 county criminal each; Monty small claims + civil traffic; Pepperman county civil + ordinances + noncriminal infractions; first appearances quartered among the four.
AO M-2025-62-B (5th Cir., Marion Cty., signed Apr. 30, 2026, eff. June 15, 2026)
Controls Marion circuit assignments: felony designations W-Brigham / X-Kissner Kwatkosky / Y-Rogers / Z-McCourt; DR designations FC-Bass / FG-Jerald / FJ-Craggs / FK-Pickens; civil thirds (incl. forfeitures, bond validations, eminent domain, trust/estate litigation) to Herndon, Hodges and Youmans; King takes all probate/guardianship/Baker/Marchman/juvenile; and the Administrative Judge role passes to Judge Youmans effective June 15, 2026.
Standing Order Establishing Motion Practice Procedures in Circuit Civil Cases in Marion County (June 24, 2022)
County-wide standing order (signed by Judge Hodges as Administrative Judge, June 24, 2022) establishing motion-practice procedures in ALL Marion circuit-civil cases: 15-page memo cap absent permission; replies within 5 days of receipt of the opposing memorandum; Rule 1.380 motions need good-faith certification; motions in limine resolved without hearing unless argument is granted and must be filed at least 15 days before the trial term; non-compliance risks striking, stay, dismissal or default.
AO M-2024-37 + AO M-2025-30 (5th Cir., Marion Cty.)
No consolidated 2026 Marion county-court order is posted. Current assignments derive from applying M-2025-30's dated rotations (Cotton/Thompson July 1, 2025; Landt/Mackey-Barnes January 1, 2026) to the M-2024-37 base: Cotton + Mackey-Barnes on county criminal/traffic; Landt + Thompson on county civil; specialty courts DUI-Cotton, pretrial-diversion Drug-Landt, Mental Health-Thompson.
AO S-2025-52 (5th Cir., Sumter Cty., CY2026)
Sumter's calendar-year-2026 duty-judge rotation order (landing page verified; PDF linked from the AO index).
AO S-2025-58-A (5th Cir., Sumter Cty., eff. June 1 / June 29, 2026)
Controls the five Sumter benches with split effective dates — county court, general magistrate and hearing officer June 1, 2026; circuit assignments June 29, 2026. Helm: felony/delinquency/Ryce + Administrative Judge; Daly: circuit civil/guardianship/mental health/Drug Court/RPOs; Hatcher: family/dependency/UFC/probate (order supersedes her stale felony profile text); Militello: county criminal + criminal traffic; Senn: county civil/small claims/civil traffic/first appearances.