Loading…
40 verbatim requirements from the procedure documents published under "CC-A Judge Emmet F. Ferguson III".
Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from the documents linked under "CC-A Judge Emmet F. Ferguson III" on https://www.jud4.org/ex-parte-dates-judge-s-procedures/duval-judges, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • All communications to the judicial oflice must be submitted by e-mail to mstottf(r coi.net ' , . • The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g.,2024 DR 0O1234 SC - Doe v. • All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge frorrr 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 larv. • All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by 1 -- 1 of 7 -- 1aw. • All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. • All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel or party if unrepresented. • The Court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than three (3) business days before the hearing. 2 -- 2 of 7 -- • A request for continuance must be submitted at least {ive (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 General Practice and • 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. [Other Schedullng Proceduresl: • Requests to use communication technolog, for an appearance must be made by motion. a Requirements: • Counsel must submit a request for remote appearance to the Court no later than five (5) days prior to the hearing. • All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (i) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement 3 -- 3 of 7 -- identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order. • All consent Orders shall include the word "Consent" or "Agreed" in the caption of the proposed Order. • Proposed orders must be submitted to the Court via e-mail with copies to all parties. • Proposed orders must be submitted within ten (lO) days after any hearing. [Other Procedures Relatlng to Submission of Orders aDd • 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. • If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a dc,tailed motion setting forth the following must be fi1ed: • All parties shall make themselves available for the emergency hearing, barring exigent circumstances. 4 -- 4 of 7 -- • Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of the Court in paper format. • A11 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 triai. • Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: 'Petitioner/ Plairrtiff 1 ' or 'Respondent/ Defendant A.' • All exhibits must be received in chambers three (3) days before the evidentiary proceeding. • Any request for a status conference must articulate the reasons for the necessity of the conference. • If the Court agrees that a status conierence is required, the moving party may scheciule the status conference by emailing the Judicial • The parties shall complete all information in the form, including the desired mediator and trial date, and submit it as an e-mail attachment to the judge's Judicial • Any disagreements on 5 -- 5 of 7 -- mediators or trial dates shall be included in the email along with each party's recommendation. • If the case settles, the parties shall immediately notify the Court, in writing, so that it may be removed from the trial calendar. • Accol4nqgfqlq! Request Form - Duval and Clav to access the form, that must be submitted to the ADA Coordinator at (904) 255-1695 (or 711 • All attorneys shall be available and prepared to handle their assigned cases as called by the Court, In- • Those attorneys have the responsibility to timely notify the courtroom bailiffs of the needed presence of the inmate, once both attorneys are available and ready for the case to be called. 3) There shall be no talking in the courtroom while courtroom proceedings are in progress unless a recess has been called. • Conversations between or amongst attorneys and/or defendants and victims must be conducted outside of the courtroom to minimize noise and maintain the required decorum. • Conversations with defendants, if detained, must have occurred prior to the defendant being brought to the courtroom, unless specifically authorized by the Court. 4) If there are any in-custody defendants who are creating a disturbance or acting out prior to being called, please notify the Court. • Plea. 6) Defense counsel shall not waive the presence of any in-custody defendant, who has been transported to the courthouse from the jail, without prior approval of the • Any waivers of appearance of the defendant shall be in writing and filed with the clerk. • However, there shall be no waiver of defendant’s appearance at the Final Pre-Trial Conference. 7) Speak clearly and loudly into the microphone at the podium to assure that the digital operator or court reporter, opposing counsel, the defendant and this Court can hear you. • Do not move or remove the microphone from the podium. 8) Side Bar conferences during morning docket are discouraged and shall be kept to a minimum - i.e., for the following type of issues: 1) Defendant’s cooperation with law enforcement/SAO; 2) Defendant’s mental or physical health matters; 3) Scheduling conflicts due to personal reasons of counsel. 9) At Arraignment, the State shall be prepared to advise the Court of the following: a) the States offer if one is to be made; b) the speedy trial date; and c) whether discovery has already been provided, and if not, the reason why it has not already been provided. 10) After Arraignment, the Court shall pass the case for 1 Pre-Trial (PT) conference, approximately two to three weeks later, and then at that first PT conference, the • Court shall set the matter for final pretrial sometime within the 3 rd month after arrest, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
All communications to the judicial oflice must be submitted by e-mail to mstottf(r coi.net ' , .
Reviewer note: Page sha256: a8e70ab94dc6af2d448a0aced7dd9edd3f06b98067c2c2d2a2cad89942b6704f. Requirements taken from the judge's own procedure documents' text layers.
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.