Court Rules
About Judicial Officer Broward County Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida

The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida serves Broward County through circuit and county court divisions, handling civil, criminal, family, and other matters.

The court's published procedures include temporary division hearing dockets during COVID and online procedures for Division 4, with a link to an edited document.

Common questions about Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County rules

Are courtesy copies required in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by email. A copy of the motion must be sent by email to the Division Judge.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motion procedures for in-custody defendants

Does Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County rules set a pre-motion procedure for reconsideration. Motions for rehearing must not be set for hearing unless the Court instructs the party to do so.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 3. Motions - Generally

What page or word limits apply to motion in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County's rule states these limits: 4 pages; 10 pages. Motions are limited to 4 pages if set on motion calendar and 10 pages if set for special set hearing.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 2. Motions - Page and Other Limitations

What page or word limits apply to response in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County's rule states these limits: 3 pages; 7 pages. Responses are limited to 3 pages for motion calendar matters and 7 pages for special set matters.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 2. Motions - Page and Other Limitations

What formatting rules apply to filings in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County's formatting rule includes 12 point type, double spacing, margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches, font size shall not be less than 12 points, and margins shall not be less than one inch. All motions and responses must be double-spaced with at least one-inch margins and a font size of at least 12 points.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 2. Motions - Page and Other Limitations

What must be included with motion filings in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

The rule requires case number. Motions must state the facts with specificity, list all of the defendant's cases, the charges for each case, and the legal reason for custody; boilerplate motions are not allowed.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motion procedures for in-custody defendants

What must be included with notice of change of plea filings in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. For agreed in-custody pleas, defense counsel must file a notice of change of plea that clearly indicates the terms of the plea.

View ruleSource: page 2, section SPECIFIC PROCEDURES RELATED TO IN CUSTODY CHANGE OF PLEAS

How may parties contact Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

The rule addresses phone communications with the court. Counsel must contact the Division Judge's judicial assistant to be placed on an in-custody docket and must provide a working phone number and email address.

View ruleSource: page 1, section GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR IN-CUSTODY DEFENDANTS

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include reason for request. Trial continuances will be considered only for good cause on a written motion filed prior to calendar call, with compliance with party-consent rules (Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.460; Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.545(e)).

View ruleSource: page 2, section 3. Motions - Generally

Does Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Add-on motions may not be added to a scheduled hearing without Court approval, updated CMS scheduling information, and notice to opposing parties, and no additional time will be allocated.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 4. Hearings

Is electronic filing required in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. A copy of the motion must be e-filed with the Clerk's office.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motion procedures for in-custody defendants

When is a filing treated as filed in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Summary judgment motions must be heard prior to 45 days before calendar call.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 3. Motions – Generally

What rule applies to service for exhibits in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: timing: 2 calendar days before hearing. Documents or exhibits for a hearing must be provided to the Division Judge and opposing party no later than 2 days before the hearing, except for the State's access to criminal history and judicial notice of the court file.

View ruleSource: page 1, section GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR IN-CUSTODY DEFENDANTS
Complete rules summary for Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County

Counsel must contact the Division Judge's judicial assistant to be placed on an in-custody docket and must provide a working phone number and email address.

When setting a hearing, counsel must give the Division Judge's judicial assistant a good-faith estimate of the anticipated hearing length.

Documents or exhibits for a hearing must be provided to the Division Judge and opposing party no later than 2 days before the hearing, except for the State's access to criminal history and judicial notice of the court file.

Counsel must provide witness names and contact information to opposing counsel no later than 2 days before the hearing and must notify the witnesses who will testify.

A copy of the motion must be e-filed with the Clerk's office.

A copy of the motion must be sent by email to the Division Judge.

A copy of the motion must be sent by email to the opposing party.

Under Marsy's Law, the State is responsible for notifying the victim so the victim is afforded the opportunity to be heard at the hearing.

Motions must state the facts with specificity, list all of the defendant's cases, the charges for each case, and the legal reason for custody; boilerplate motions are not allowed.

A separate motion must be filed for each individual case number, including the new law charge and VOP case numbers.

Counsel must certify a good-faith attempt to resolve the issue with opposing counsel; if contact was unsuccessful, counsel must certify at least three contact attempts plus a follow-up email.

If the opposing party objects to the motion, the objection must be clearly indicated within the motion.

For agreed in-custody pleas, defense counsel must file a notice of change of plea that clearly indicates the terms of the plea.

The notice of change of plea must be e-filed with the Clerk's office.

A copy of the notice of change of plea must be sent by email to the Division Judge.

A copy of the notice of change of plea must be sent by email to the opposing party.

Out-of-jurisdiction bond and change-of-plea matters are heard by Judge Andrew Siegel and must be set through Sabrina Albert at Salbert@17th.flcourts.org.

Defense counsel must file the notice of change of plea and clearly indicate the terms of the plea in it.

Counsel must call or email Judge Coleman's judicial assistant, Tyrone Kintchen, at (954) 831-5835 / tkintchen@17th.flcourts.org to schedule a negotiated plea appointment.

Appointments for open pleas or Motions for Downward Departure must be coordinated between the Division judge's judicial assistant and Judge Coleman's judicial assistant, Tyrone Kintchen, at (954) 831-5835 / tkintchen@17th.flcourts.org.

A hearing where the defendant's presence has been waived or is not required will not be scheduled unless a written motion has been filed.

Counsel must notify the Division Judge's judicial assistant in advance if an interpreter is needed so arrangements can be made.

During this period the Court prefers that all communications to Division 04 be made via email to div04@17th.flcourts.org (phone: (954) 831-0608).

Notices of hearing for Zoom hearings must include the Court's Zoom instructions (Exhibit A).

Every motion must include a concise statement of the relief requested, the basis for the request, and citation to supporting legal authority.

Motions for rehearing must not be set for hearing unless the Court instructs the party to do so.

Motions are limited to 4 pages if set on motion calendar and 10 pages if set for special set hearing.

All motions and responses must be double-spaced with at least one-inch margins and a font size of at least 12 points.

Responses are limited to 3 pages for motion calendar matters and 7 pages for special set matters.

Reply memoranda and further memoranda are prohibited unless the Court grants leave.

More Judges in Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County

Alberto Ribas Jr.
Judge
Allison Gilman
Judge
Andrew L. Siegel
Judge
Ari Abraham Porth
Judge
Barbara R. Duffy
Judge
Bernard I. Bober
Judge
Betsy Benson
Judge
Carlos Augusto Rodriguez
Judge