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24 verbatim requirements from 5th Jud. Cir., Edward C. Spaight — sha256-hashed 2026-07-25.
Fifth Judicial Circuit (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://www.circuit5.org/courts-judges/citrus-county/judiciary/edward-spaight/, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • Apopka Avenue Inverness, FL 34450 Parties requesting a hearing shall send an e-mail request to Joan Gaither as hearings are not scheduled by telephone. • The coordinating party must provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing to finalize the hearing selection. • In cases where the parties are unable to obtain agreement as to when a motion should be heard, the moving party shall file a motion, copied to opposing counsel, memorializing the interactions of the parties and the previously relayed dates and times proposed. • All participants to a virtual hearing must join with a functional camera, speaker, and microphone. • Virtual hearings are only recorded when required by Florida law, and no party shall record the proceedings except the Court. • The environment from which a participant joins shall be free from noises, distractions, or environmental interference. • Participants shall identify any other individuals present with them to the Court and opposing counsel. • The parties shall comply with Fifth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order A-2021-58 (IX). • Evidence for virtual hearings must be physically delivered to the Court, in advance of the hearing, as the Court will not print evidence for the parties. • Cancellation of Hearings, Motions to Continue, and Notice of Conflict When a movant no longer desires to proceed with a scheduled hearing, the movant shall file a Notice of Cancellation with a courtesy copy to the Court. • However, if the hearing is one set by the Court, it will only be cancelled through a voluntary dismissal with prejudice, Motions to continue must set forth specific grounds for the request as general statements will be insufficient. • Motions to continue shall also include the position of opposing counsel as to the motion. • The moving party shall send a courtesy copy to the Court with a proposed order. • Each motion to continue will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the Court is able to rule on the face of the pleadings or whether a hearing is required. • A party having a conflict with a hearing shall comply with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.550 (c). • The Notice of Conflict shall contain at least the following information: the case number creating the conflicts with the county of the case and the name of the judge presiding over the other case. • The requesting party shall request permission by contacting Joan Gaither through e-mail with opposing counsel copied. • The e-mail shall include the name of the desired motion to be cross-noticed, the currently scheduled date and time of the existing hearing, and opposing counsel’s position on the request. • In non-jury cases, the Court will set a pretrial conference where counsel for the parties shall appear to discuss the scheduling of trial; discovery deadlines; a mediation deadline, if it has not already occurred; possible stipulations between the parties; and an exhibit and witness list exchange deadline. • In jury cases, the Court shall set a case management conference where counsel for the parties shall be expected to appear to discuss the scheduling of trial; discovery; deadlines, and a mediation deadline, if it has not already occurred; and an exhibit and witness list exchange deadline. • All Orders shall be submitted through the Florida eFiling Portal by selecting Submit Proposed Order(s) to Judiciary (Court) – Citrus, using the format on the Sample Proposed Order located below (Sample – Proposed Order), and MUST be submitted in Word format (.docx) only. • All correspondence and submissions to the Court on Probate and Guardianship matters, other than Proposed Orders that are ready for immediate entry (refer to Submission of Proposed Orders) , shall be made through the Florida Courts E-filing portal . • 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 Judges.
Apopka Avenue Inverness, FL 34450 Parties requesting a hearing shall send an e-mail request to Joan Gaither as hearings are not scheduled by telephone.
Reviewer note: Page sha256: b46addfd663222207bd8d149979f5a39d7eee483776aa5d31c896a98c92e56ed. Requirements published on the page itself. Site navigation stripped before extraction.
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.