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41 rules for “Pretrial Conference”
Chief Judge Merritt (Hernando): in-person PTC before trial; courtesy copies after e-filing; pro se files through the clerk
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.
Judge Fritton Standing Order (am. June 11, 2024): 10-page memos, 10-day responses, 48-hour case law, criminal Zoom ≤30 min
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.
Judge Kim Theresa Mollica — Division 70 procedures (North Satellite (70/NC))
Division 70 procedures before Judge Kim Theresa Mollica (North Satellite (70/NC), Broward). Verbatim requirements: scheduling, conferral, orders, appearance format.
Judge Jose Rohaidy — Courtroom Procedures & Requirements (11th Circuit, Miami-Dade) [2185-373]
Judge Jose Rohaidy — Courtroom Procedures & Requirements (11th Circuit, Miami-Dade)
Judge Curt Jacobus — Practice Preferences & Procedures (18th Circuit, Brevard)
Judge Curt Jacobus — Practice Preferences & Procedures (18th Circuit, Brevard)
Judge Diane Croff — Practice Preferences (Pinellas County Criminal, Section E)
Practice preferences before Judge Diane Croff (Pinellas County Criminal, Section E, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Kathleen T. Hessinger — Practice Preferences (Pinellas County Criminal, Section ADV/P)
Practice preferences before Judge Kathleen T. Hessinger (Pinellas County Criminal, Section ADV/P, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge John Carassas — Practice Preferences (Pinellas County Civil, Section 42)
Practice preferences before Judge John Carassas (Pinellas County Civil, Section 42, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Lorraine Kelly — Practice Preferences (Pinellas County Civil, Section 39)
Practice preferences before Judge Lorraine Kelly (Pinellas County Civil, Section 39, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Julie L. Sercus — Practice Preferences (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section C)
Practice preferences before Judge Julie L. Sercus (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section C, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Susan St. John — Practice Preferences (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section K)
Practice preferences before Judge Susan St. John (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section K, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Christopher LaBruzzo — Practice Preferences (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section I)
Practice preferences before Judge Christopher LaBruzzo (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section I, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Joseph A. Bulone — Practice Preferences (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section D)
Practice preferences before Judge Joseph A. Bulone (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section D, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Philippe Matthey — Practice Preferences (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section A)
Practice preferences before Judge Philippe Matthey (Pinellas Circuit Criminal, Section A, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Gregory G. Groger — Practice Preferences (Pasco Circuit Criminal, Section 1/2)
Practice preferences before Judge Gregory G. Groger (Pasco Circuit Criminal, Section 1/2, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Joshua Riba — Practice Preferences (Pasco Circuit Criminal, Section 4)
Practice preferences before Judge Joshua Riba (Pasco Circuit Criminal, Section 4, 6th Circuit). Verbatim: scheduling/JAWS, hearing format, materials deadlines, proposed orders.
Judge Tom Young — Division 41-C procedures (Osceola Juvenile Dependency)
Division 41-C procedures before Judge Tom Young (Osceola Juvenile Dependency, 9th Circuit). Verbatim requirements: scheduling, conferral, orders, appearance format.
Judge Vincent S. Chiu — Division 11 procedures (Orange Circuit Criminal)
Division 11 procedures before Judge Vincent S. Chiu (Orange Circuit Criminal, 9th Circuit). Verbatim requirements: scheduling, conferral, orders, appearance format.
Judge Chad K. Alvaro — Division 43 procedures (Business Court (Orange 43 / Osceola 23))
Division 43 procedures before Judge Chad K. Alvaro (Business Court (Orange 43 / Osceola 23), 9th Judicial Circuit). Verbatim requirements: scheduling, conferral, orders, appearance format.
Judge Kal Evans — Division MJ procedures (County Criminal)
Division MJ procedures before Judge Kal Evans (County Criminal, Broward). Verbatim requirements: scheduling, conferral, orders, appearance format.
The Movant Appears Even If the Motion Settled — County Civil O
Judge Allen: every hearing is in person (no phone/Zoom for small-claims initial pretrials), 60-minutes-or-less books through JAWS — and even after the parties agree, the movant must appear at the scheduled time unless a timely cancellation or signed stipulation reached the division.
Zoom Only (Never WebEx); No Piggybacking; No Pre-Hearing Orders — Family J
Judge Bauman: PTCs, trials, and evidentiary hearings require counsel AND clients at the courthouse; the Court will not schedule on WebEx; no piggybacking matters onto set hearings; and proposed orders must NOT enter the queue before the hearing happens.
Motions (Except Limine) Waived If Not Heard Before the PTC — Criminal I
Judge Rice mirrors the F-division waiver with an exception: all motions other than motions in limine must be filed AND heard before the Pretrial Conference or they are waived; limine motions must at least be filed by then.
Motions Not Heard Before the Pretrial Conference Are WAIVED — Criminal F
Judge Alvarez deems all motions not heard before the Pre-Trial Conference waived — and no grounds for continuance; substitutions of counsel must be filed AND heard 7 days before PTC, and continuances are not considered at PTC absent unforeseen circumstances.
No Cherry-Picking Trial Weeks — Circuit Civil C
Judge Polo's published trial calendar bars attorneys from choosing a single week out of a multi-week trial period: the trial order must reflect the entire period, and all PTCs and trials are in person.
Court Starts at 10:00 A.M. — the Latest Bell in the Courthouse — Division CC-J
Judge Derke opens criminal court at 10:00 a.m. (uniquely late for Duval), takes agreed passes by e-mail until 1:30 p.m. the day prior, and allows Zoom under Rule 3.116 when a party cannot appear.
Criminal Passes Need 72 Hours; Court Starts 9:00 Sharp — Division CC-I
Judge Lanigan's criminal side (the Division I policies effective Jan. 1, 2024): court starts promptly at 9:00 a.m., agreed pass requests reach the JA at least 72 HOURS before the requested date, and the defendant's FPT appearance is never waived.
Pretrials & Mediation In Person in the Jury Assembly Room; Orders Only After Docketing — Division CC-P
Judge Brady carves pretrial conferences and mediation out of her Zoom default — they happen in person in the Jury Assembly Room — and proposed orders without a hearing are accepted only once the motion is docketed by the Clerk.
Substantive Evidentiary Motions Filed by the Final Pretrial — Division CC-L
Judge Michelle Kalil's Jan. 2026 FSC-template procedures: all substantive motions requiring an evidentiary hearing must be filed no later than the Final Pretrial Conference, calendar calls start 9:30 a.m., and the defendant's FPT presence cannot be waived.
One Standing Zoom ID for the Whole Division: 822-372-8969 — Division CC-D
Judge Peoples-Waters publishes a standing division Zoom room (Meeting ID 822-372-8969) used for civil hearings and most criminal arraignments and pretrial conferences — with courtroom-grade dress required on camera.
Courtesy Copy in 2 Business Days — Motions Presumed Ready at Filing — Division CR-F
Division CR-F (Judge Salem per roster): substantive motions get a courtesy copy to chambers within TWO business days (the tightest window in the felony wing), are presumed hearing-ready when filed, and the Court will self-calendar a pretrial to set the hearing if no date is forthcoming.
Defendant's Presence at Final Pretrial Can NEVER Be Waived — Division CR-C
Judge Sacks: waivers of an in-custody defendant's appearance need prior Court approval and must be written and filed — and there is no waiver, ever, of the defendant's appearance at the Final Pre-Trial Conference.
Passes by E-Mail Before 3:30 P.M. the Day Prior; Zoom OK for PTs — Division CR-E
Judge Salvador: agreed add/remove/pass requests by e-mail to the JA (cc opposing) no later than 3:30 p.m. the day before — the most generous pass window in the felony wing — and Zoom appearance is allowed for pretrial conferences under Rule 3.116.
The Administrative Pass System: Seven Conditions, 2:00 Cutoff — Division CR-H
Division CR-H (Judge Branham per roster) lets counsel skip calling a case at calendar via an "administrative pass" — but only with a status e-mail to the JA by 2:00 the day before, all counsel agreeing, a pass date within 3 weeks, no more than 2 consecutive passes, and never within 2 weeks of the FPT (FPTs cannot be passed).
Trial Set Within the 5th Month After Arrest — Division CR-E
Judge Salvador sets the trial date at the FIRST pretrial conference (3–4 weeks after arraignment), targeting trial within the fifth month after arrest, with the FPT the Monday before Monday jury selection and no waiver of the defendant's FPT appearance.
Weekly Docket Map and the 9-Point FPT Checklist — Division CR-C
Judge Sacks runs a fixed weekly map (Mon motions-to-be-set/PTCs; Tue–Thu arraignments + PTCs mornings, hearings/trials afternoons; Fri trials) with FPTs the Wednesday before Monday selection — where counsel reports readiness, offers both ways, panel size, peremptory-strike counts, trial length, and Richardson issues; the first PT requires a deposition schedule.
No Hard Copies or Binders Accepted — Division RL
Judge Garrison refuses hard copies and binders outright; orders come in Word, remote hearings run on Zoom, and small-claims pretrials are in person, Tuesday afternoons, Courtroom 6-K.
There Is NO UMC in Division RL — Everything Is Specially Set
Judge Garrison abolished UMC in his division: every hearing and trial is specially set (small-claims pretrials excepted) — online scheduling handles only 15-minute special sets, anything longer goes through the JA.
After Default: Proposed Judgment Within 20 Days — Division RB
Judge Barnett requires plaintiffs awarded a default to deliver a proposed judgment within 20 days; small-claims pretrials run in person only, Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m.
E-Courtesy 3 Business Days; Small-Claims Pretrials Mondays 1:00–1:45 — Division RC
Judge Rex: hearing materials via e-courtesy three business days ahead; UMC Mon–Wed 8:45 a.m. (10 minutes, 5 per side); small-claims pretrials stack Mondays at 1:00, 1:15, 1:30, 1:45.
Small Claims Pretrial Conference: Appearance Mandatory — Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.090
Small claims cases (up to $8,000) begin with a mandatory pretrial conference where the court narrows issues and typically orders mediation. Failure to appear can result in default or dismissal.