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28 verbatim requirements from Practices & Procedures.
Fourth Judicial Circuit (Duval, Clay, Nassau). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://www.jud4.org/getContentAsset/27b54fc4-4d70-4a78-a7f9-e25c09346a64/135b97c9-84fa-4e82-b956-0fbccec4aa1f/Practices-Procedures-(FSC-Template)-(1).pdf?language=en, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. • Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judge. • All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to vhester@coj.net. • The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. • All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of all parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law. • All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office. • Unsolicited Communications: • All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. • The moving party must file and serve the notice of hearing. -- 2 of 6 -- 3 • The Court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than three (3) business days before the hearing. • Continuance Procedure for Criminal and Civil: • A request for continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court date. • Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of • The party making the request must first contact the other party to obtain their position in writing. • Notification of cancellation must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with a copy to opposing counsel. • Cancellation of a hearing MUST be confirmed with and by the Judicial Assistant. -- 3 of 6 -- 4 • Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion. • All defendants in criminal proceedings must appear in person unless their appearance has been waived by their attorney. • Counsel must submit a request for remote appearance to the Court no later than five (5) days prior to the hearing. • The person appearing on Zoom must use their legal name to identify themselves and have the video function turned on. • Technology Needs: • Proposed orders must be submitted within ten (10) days after any hearing. • Courtesy copies shall be submitted via electronic submission. • If voluminous, parties must place courtesy copies on a flash drive and deliver to the Court with permission for the Court to destroy because these copies have been filed with the Clerk. -- 4 of 6 -- 5 • If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: • All parties shall make themselves available for the emergency hearing, barring exigent circumstances. • Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of the Court in paper format. • 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 following format: ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’ • Deadline for Submissions: • All exhibits must be received in chambers three (3) days before the evidentiary proceeding. • Trials will be set by the judge in open court, or the parties may email the Judicial Assistant to set a trial at vhester@coj.net. • If the case settles, the parties shall immediately notify the Court, by emailing the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net, so that it may be removed from the trial calendar.
Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.
Reviewer note: Document sha256: c40cd4310dffceedb70209ef7362181188d275bb5bf75993053953e8d7c2a6b1. Extracted from the document's own text layer.
Judge Bell caps motions and responses at 5 pages for UMC hearings and 12 pages for special-set hearings.
Judge Alijewicz requires every motion for attorney's fees and/or costs to attach a document detailing time records — no records, no fee award.
Judge Corlew bars informal contact: every communication with the Court must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, with copies furnished to all parties — and no calls to the JA to schedule or cancel UMC.