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47 verbatim requirements extracted from judge-robert-meadows__Judicial-Practices-and-Procedures-Accessible-MeadowsR.pdf, across 7 topics.
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie). Check the order's own effective and rescission dates before relying on it. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
HEARING TIME & ARGUMENT LIMITS • The body of the e- mail must contain a brief description of the purpose of the e- mail, including the specific request to this office. Please include a good faith effort statement indicating while attempting to stipulate, counsel cannot agree. The moving party should contact opposing counsel to determine how much time all parties will require for the hearing. • • Telephone: If you are unable to e-mail the judicial assistant, please do not leave more than one voicemail message. Voicemail messages are answered in order of receipt within 24 – 48 business hours. Please understand that the judicial assistant is entitled to sick and vacation time, which might occasionally account for a delayed return of a voicemail 2. • • Court Schedule: All hearings must be coordinated through the judicial assistant via email. This office does not use an online calendar. All hearings and trials are special set. • • Waiver of Appearance: A Waiver of Appearance is to be filed and specifically sets forth that the Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives his/her appearance at any Pre- Trial Hearing(s) and elects to appear through undersigned counsel. A copy of the e-filed waiver must be available to present to the Court. Waivers of Appearance will be allowed for a short period of time and will be striken by way of Court order without warning. • • Scheduling Hearings: Scheduling will be done by me not via the online calendar. When a hearing needs to be scheduled you should first contact opposing party to determine how much time will be required by ALL parties. Once this information is obtained you may email the Judicial Assistant, copying in opposing party and their assistant if possible, (actual email address please not service address), to request the hearing indicating how much time is required. If it is a motion hearing the motion must be filed prior to request and a copy should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with request. If the hearing is for a COP you should indicate if the plea is open or negotiated and again how much time is required. The plea form, signed by the defendant and defense attorney, must be received via e- mail by noon the business day before the hearing and if applicable it should be accompanied by jail’s credit for time served paperwork. • The signed plea form must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than NOON the business day before the hearing. IF time served is a condition of the plea the Credit for Time Served Report from the Jail MUST be submitted with the plea form PRIOR TO THE HEARING NO EXECUTED PLEA FORM NO TRANSPORT • As all hearings, plea hearings will be IN PERSON ONLY no plea will be taken via computer/phone. • • Notices For Hearing: When the judicial assistant confirms the hearing date on the court calendar, the moving party will be directed to notice the hearing, if applicable. Notices of hearings MUST contain a good faith certificate as well as amount of time reserved for the hearing (see Good Faith Certificate below) and MUST contain the other party’s email address if the party is pro se. Statements of service to “all parties of record” do not constitute proper notice, which may cause the hearing to be cancelled. Notices of hearing MUST contain the ADA notification required by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.540 as well as the following language: I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have personally contacted opposing counsel in an effort to resolve the issue(s), however, the matter cannot be resolved and a hearing is necessary. Time reserved for the hearing is… • Additional motions may not be “piggy- backed” by cross-notice unless counsel first confirms with the party who scheduled the hearing and/or the judicial assistant that sufficient additional time can be reserved to hear them. • • Good Faith Certificate: All motions and notices of hearing must contain a certificate of good faith that you have contacted the opposing party (and attempted to resolve the matter without court time) and coordinated the hearing date, time, and amount of time necessary for the hearing. It must include a certification that the movant (attorney versus staff if the movant is represented) has personally and directly conferred or attempted to confer with the attorney or opposing party. I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have personally contacted opposing counsel in an effort to resolve the issue(s), however, the matter cannot be resolved and a hearing is necessary. Time reserved for the hearing is… • Attempts to Confer: One attorney’s staff member emailing/calling another attorney’s staff member regarding availability on dates and times does not constitute a good faith certification that attempts have been made to resolve the matter. An attorney must directly contact another attorney (or pro se party) and allow at least 48 hours during the business week for a response. Further, sending a letter in the mail (whether to opposing counsel or a pro se party) will never meet the requirement of good faith certification. Hearing time will not be allocated unless the good faith certification is strictly followed. • Submission Deadlines: Any materials the parties would like the court to review prior to a hearing must be submitted no later than three (3) business days before the hearing. • • Cancelling Hearings: You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant • immediately. You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self -represented litigant in addition to e-mailing a copy to the Judicial Assistant. Additionally, if the State has Nolle Prosed the case the Judicial Assistant should be notified so that valuable hearing time can be utilized. • 1. The Court does not allow any remote appearances for any hearing/proceeding including but not limited to evidentiary hearings. 2. The Court does not allow remote appearances for hearings greater than 30 minutes. 3. All remote appearances, other than the JAC hearings, must be approved by Court order. 4. The Court will allow JAC hearings to occur remotely. 5. In cases of exceptional circumstances, the Court may allow exceptions; however, time, distance or inconvenience is not an acceptable circumstance. 6. The court maintains a limited virtual courtroom, allowing parties to appear either in person or remotely, as provided by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Requests to use communication technology for a virtual appearance must be made by filing a motion (see Requirements below. • • Requirements: Remote Appearances may be considered for non -evidentiary hearings less than 30 minutes. Request for Remote Appearance via ZOOM: If a party requests to appear remotely for a non -evidentiary hearing lasting less than 30 minutes, pursuant to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. Rule 2.530 and Fla. R. Crim. Proc. 3.116, the moving party must file a written motion 20 days prior to the scheduled hearing. The motion must be served on all parties with a courtesy copy sent via email to hogyac@circuit19.org. The non-moving party will have 10 days from the service of the motion to object to the use of communication technology. A party waives the use of communication technology by failing to timely file the motion and/or timely object, the motion will be considered denied. A ruling on the motion will be entered in chambers after the Court considers any objection or after the time for filing/objection has lapsed. • • Deadline for Submissions: DO NOT submit proposed orders prior to hearings, unless requested to do so by the Court. The proposed order must reflect the date of the hearing, that it is ex-parte or coming before the Court in chambers. • MOTIONS FOR REHEARING, RECONSIDERATION OR NEW TRIAL: Upon the filing of such motion, the moving party shall send a copy to the Judicial Office for review via e- mail. The copy of the motion shall be accompanied by a proposed order and transmittal confirmation to all counsel. If the Court determines that a hearing is necessary, the parties will be contacted to schedule a hearing date. • WITHDRAW OR SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL: Must be in compliance with Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.505 is required. Written client consent must be filed, or a hearing must be held after proper notice to the client. • • When Required: When counsel/party intends to rely on case law or other documents in a hearing, a courtesy electronic copy submitted to the court and the opposing party in advance is required. • • Submission Method: Via email to hogyac@circuit19.org. Paper binders presented at the hearing will not be considered or accepted by the court. Do not mail binders to the judicial assistant. • • Deadline for Submissions: Courtesy copies of case law, legal memoranda, and/or hearing materials must be submitted no later than five business days prior to the hearing. • • Requirements: If an emergency situation arises, counsel may request that a hearing be set on short notice. The body of the Motion must contain a detailed explanation of the circumstances constituting the emergency as well as the substance of the Motion. The Motion must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant, hogyac@circuit19.org, for review by the Court prior to a hearing being set. • • Scheduling: . If the Court determines that an emergency exists, the Judicial Assistant will contact counsel to set the hearing. • • Format: Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of Court in paper format – counsel should contact Clerk for proper form. All attorneys and self - represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the Clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial. Exhibits must be labeled in the format required by the Clerk of Court. • • Deadline for Submissions: Evidence may be submitted during the hearing or trial. If the parties agree that he Court may view evidence prior to a hearing (such as a video or transcript), such evidence may be e-mailed to the Court at at hogyac@circuit19.org in advance of the hearing and copied to opposing counsel. The Court will make its best efforts to review any agreed evidence submitted in advance as to make efficient use of time during the hearing. • • Competency Hearing: Upon receipt/filing of a Competency Evaluation(s) finding Defendant competent to proceed, defense counsel must set a Competency Hearing, in order for the Court to make a competency determination/finding. • Routine non-evidentiary motions in limine that do not require longer than 10 minutes can be heard prior to trial with court approval. • • Interpreter Requests: If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please visit: www.circuit19.org/court-interpreters/ • • Inmates/Defendants (transport/attendance): It is the attorney’s responsibility to advise the Judicial Assistant, by e- mail at hogyac@circuit19.org, if any inmate needs to be transported from the local jail for a hearing or Docket Call at least two (2) business days prior to the hearing. It will be the responsibility of the Defendant and attorney to ensure the Defendant’s presence. If a Defendant needs to be transported from Department of Corrections (DOC) or any jail other than St. Lucie County Jail, it is the responsibility of defense counsel to submit an Order to Transport to the Judicial Assistant by e -mail at least 15 business days in advance of the hearing/Docket Call date. The order should indicate service to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office-Transport, via certified copies provided by the Clerk’s Office. This order should include the following language: CONTINUANCES • UNOPPOSED Continuance must be e -mailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than noon the Wednesday prior to Docket Call Week • • Continuance Procedure: GENERAL RULES – Attorneys can have other attorneys stand in for their cases at Docket Call; however, the attorney must have satisfactory information in order to be granted another continuance. Cases that are under a year old will be granted a continuance as long as the State and Defense are in agreement. The Court does not need any explanation regarding the status of the case that is younger than a year. • • Procedure: When counsel announces ready for trial, or if a request for continuance is denied by the Court, the case will be set for a Jury Selection date, or continued if there is no trial time. • Once a case is set for jury selection, no futher continuances will be granted unless there has been an act of god or there is not enough court time. Cases set for jury selection that do not go to trial that week will be reset to the following week. PROPOSED ORDERS • • Order of Proceedings: If multiple cases are scheduled at the same time, the Court will exercise its discretion in calling the order of cases during a the time the case is scheduled. • • Format: All proposed orders must be submitted in WORD format, along with a copy of the motion which may be submitted in WORD or PDF format. The document should be named in a searchable format, which contains a short style of the case, short case number and short name of order. • • Submission Method: All proposed orders are to be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant, hogyac@circuit19.org, in WORD format. • • Certificates of Service: Your order must contain a complete service list, setting forth E-Service address, as well as any postal addresses if there is no E-Service address. Orders that do not contain E-Service addresses will be e- filed, but no copies will be provided by this office. Signed orders will be e- filed and e-served via the e-portal. The party submitting the order will be responsible for providing any copies that are to be sent via U.S. Mail. DISCOVERY DISPUTES • Any case that is older than a year, the attorney must be able to give a good faith estimate regarding how much time is needed to complete discovery, how many depositions are still outstanding, and how long it will take to complete depositions. • Attorneys should not announce ready for trial if discovery is ongoing, i.e. depositions still in progress, etc. • Attorneys must make a good faith effort to conclude discovery prior to announcing ready for trial. REMOTE & VIRTUAL APPEARANCES • • Remote Appearance Procedure: The Rules for Remote Appearances: • • Platform Used: IF granted, the court uses Zoom for remote appearances. • • Platform Meeting ID#: If your Zoom appearance has been approved and the order granting filed the Judicial Assistant will e -mail you the Zoom link and Meeting ID. COURTESY COPIES • Table of Contents A. Communications with the Judicial Office ................................................................. 1 B. Scheduling Procedures ............................................................................................. 3 C. Remote Appearance ............................................................................................... 6 D. Submission of Orders and Judgments ....................................................................... 7 E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents ................................................. 7 F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters ..................................................................... 8 G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings ......................................................................... 8 H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences ........................................................................ 8 I. Setting Case for Trial ............................................................................................... 9 J. Forms ..................................................................................................................... 9 K. Other Division Procedures .................................................................................... 10 • • Post-Conviction Motions: A courtesy copy of all Post-Conviction Motions shall be e-mailed to the Court at hogyac@circuit19.org A Post-Conviction Motion will not be heard in a timely manner if the Court is never made aware of its existence. EXHIBITS & EVIDENCE • • Please see separate exhibit policy posted on the division website.
Table of Contents A. Communications with the Judicial Office ................................................................. 1 B. Scheduling Procedures ............................................................................................. 3 C. Remote Appearance ............................................................................................... 6 D. Submission of Orders and Judgments ....................................................................... 7 E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents ................................................. 7 F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters ..................................................................... 8 G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings ......................................................................... 8 H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences ...................................................
Reviewer note: Document sha256: 33141421254ef755a773981cb5809cb9497b44a56660dfb369bb656b07f254e2. One rule per order rather than per topic, so an order's requirements stay together. Published during the completeness pass. | Title normalised 2026-07-26 for readability; the court's own asset name was "19th Cir. — judge-robert-meadows__Judicial-Practices-and-Procedures-Accessible-MeadowsR.pdf: published requirements". Only the display title changed — the requirement text, source URL and hash are untouched. Text layer cleaned 2026-09-08 (Phase 3g): 1 kerning-split word rejoined; wording untouched. Verbatim from the order, captured 2026-07-24; whitespace normalised only. No OCR was used anywhere in this chain. [moved from the text 2026-09-14]
4 verbatim requirements on hearings.
2 verbatim requirements on hearing time in LAUREN N. PEFFER's division.