Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

For ROR or pretrial release modification motions, a copy of the written motion must be emailed to the Judge's Judicial Assistant.

Please email the Judge's Judicial Assistant with a copy of the written motion setting forth the requested relief, with proper service of copies to all parties.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

For special set hearings, a copy of the written motion setting forth the requested relief must be emailed to the Judge's Judicial Assistant.

Please email the Judge's Judicial Assistant a copy of the written motion setting forth the requested relief, with proper service of copies to all parties.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

Hearing requests must be made by email to divfz@17th.flcourts.org, sent to the Judicial Assistant, and must advise how long the hearing will take.

Hearing requests shall be made via email to: divfz@17th.flcourts.org. In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant with courtesy copy to the opposing party. Please advise how long you will need for the hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

The moving party must notify the Judicial Assistant of the estimated hearing time and the number of witnesses for each side.

The moving party shall also notify the Judicial Assistant as to the estimated amount of time expected to be needed to complete the hearing and the number of witnesses for each side.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

Hearings cannot be canceled without first contacting the Judicial Assistant at divfz@17th.flcourts.org.

Attorneys and/or parties cannot cancel hearings without contacting the Judicial Assistant (divfz@17th.flcourts.org).

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

The moving party must email the Division/Judicial Assistant a copy of the notice of hearing after serving the non-moving party.

Upon confirming the availability of the non-moving party, the moving party shall prepare and serve the non-moving party, and email the Division/Judicial Assistant a copy of the notice of hearing on your motion.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to chambers

The Court cannot accept ex-parte communications or provide legal advice, and all parties must be included in any communication with the Court.

The Court cannot accept ex-parte communications or provide you with legal advice. An ex-parte communication occurs when a party to a case, or someone involved with a party, talks or writes to or otherwise communicates directly with the judge about the issues in the case without the other parties' knowledge. You must include all parties involved when communicating with the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

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Email to clerk

Interpreter requests for languages other than Spanish or French/Creole must be received at least 7 days before the scheduled proceeding.

Requests for spoken language court interpreters, other than Spanish or French/Creole, must be received at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled proceeding.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

All parties must be copied on any communication with the Judge's Office; ex parte communications are not accepted.

Please be advised when responding to an email from the Judge's Office and/or communicating with the Judge's Office, ALL parties MUST be copied as WE DO NOT accept ex-parte communications.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

954-831-0661

Interpreter requests must be made to the Judicial Assistant at least 3 days before the hearing (7 days for languages other than Spanish or Haitian Creole), including the Judicial Assistant on all such emails.

Please notify the Judicial Assistant at the telephone number above or via email to: divfw@17th.flcourts.org at least three (3) days prior to your hearing if you require the services of an interpreter. For a language other than Spanish or Haitian Creole, please contact the Judicial Assistant at leave seven (7) days prior to your hearing. Please make sure to include the Judicial Assistant on all emails for requests for an interpreter.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

All hearings are set by emailing or calling the Judicial Assistant and stating the requested relief, estimated hearing time, and number of witnesses for each side.

Please email or call the Judge's Judicial Assistant setting forth the requested relief or type of hearing. The moving party shall also notify the Judicial Assistant as to the estimated amount of time needed to complete the hearing and the number of witnesses for each side (if applicable).

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

The setting attorney must contact the court with as much advance notice as possible if a scheduled motion must be reset or cancelled.

If the motion needs to be reset or canceled, the setting attorney has an obligation to contact the court to give as much advance notice as possible.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

Attorneys and parties may not cancel hearings without contacting the Judicial Assistant at divfw@17th.flcourts.org.

Attorneys and/or parties cannot cancel hearings without contacting the Judicial Assistant (divfw@17th.flcourts.org).

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email to chambers

Parties may not ask the judicial assistant or court personnel to relay messages to the judge, as this is prohibited ex-parte communication.

Please do not ask this Court's Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to communicate any message to the Judge. This is prohibited ex-parte communication. The Court's staff is not permitted to relay ex-parte information to the Judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email to chambers

True emergencies must be emailed to Division 26 with the subject line 'URGENT // EMERGENCY' for judge review.

If you have a true emergency, please email Division 26 and write in the subject area URGENT // EMERGENCY. The email will be sent to the judge for review.

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Email to chambers

For DV cases, the Judicial Assistant must be notified by phone or email of the need for an interpreter at least seven days before the hearing.

For Domestic Violence cases, please notify the Judicial Assistant by phone or email you require the services of an interpreter at least seven (7) days prior to your hearing.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

When parties disagree on order language, neither may upload to CMS; each party must email their order to Div44 advising the Court of the disagreement.

If the opposing counsel disagrees with the language, do not upload the order to CMS, EACH PARTY must submit the Order by email to DIV44@17TH.FLCOURTS.ORG advising the Court that the parties DO NOT AGREE.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

If the matter set for trial settles, please email the Judicial Assistant IMMEDIATELY.

If the matter set for trial settles, please email the Judicial Assistant IMMEDIATELY.

CRITICAL

Parties may not call chambers to schedule hearings; hearing requests must be made by email.

Please do not call the Court's chambers to schedule a hearing as you will be directed to make your request via email.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

All correspondence with the Court must be in writing via the division email Div44@17th.flcourts.org.

ALL correspondence with the Court shall be done in writing via the division e-mail: Div44@17th.flcourts.org

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Email to chambers

Emails to the Division regarding emergency motions must include the case number, party names, and the word EMERGENCY in the subject line.

Any e-mail to the Division must include the case number, party names, and EMERGENCY in the subject line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to clerk

Phone

954-831-8532

Pro se litigants must not contact the Judicial Assistant and should instead contact the Case Management Unit by email or phone for assistance.

If you are a pro se litigant please do not contact the Judicial Assistant. Instead, all self-represented parties may seek assistance by contacting our Case Management Unit via e-mail at ufchelp@17th.flcourts.org or by phone at 954-831-8532 for all questions and guidance regarding your case.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

Ex parte or one-sided communications to the Judge's office are prohibited and will be returned; staff may not relay messages to the Judge.

Judge Wigand's office MUST NOT be the recipient of any ex parte or one-sided communications. If Judge Wigand's office receives an ex parte communication or is inappropriately or improperly copied on communications, the correspondence or document will be returned. Please do not ask any of the Court's staff to communicate any message to Judge Wigand.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

The Court cannot act on letters, emails, or notes; relief must be sought through petitions or motions e-filed with the Clerk.

DO NOT SEND LETTERS, E-MAILS, OR NOTES TO THE COURT. The Court acts on petitions and motions which have been properly e-filed and accepted by the Clerk's Office. The Court cannot act on letters, e-mails, or notes sent to the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email to chambers

Emergency motions must comply with Administrative Order 2021-50-Civ and be emailed to the Court; if the Court is closed, pleadings go to Court Administration Room WW-20170.

The moving party must comply with Administrative Order 2021-50-Civ “Circuit and County Civil and Probate Emergency Matters” and email the filed emergency motion, request form, and proposed order to div03@17th.flcourts.org for the Court's consideration. If the Court is in recess or closed, you must take your filed pleadings to Court Administration Room WW-20170 for reassignment.

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email to chambers

All emails to the Court must copy all parties, and duplicate telephone messages should not be left.

EMAIL ADDRESS: div03@17th.flcourts.org - All emails to the Court MUST be copied to all parties in the case. For a prompt response, please send an email copying all parties and do not leave a duplicate telephone message.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Parties must not call the Judicial Assistant to confirm/cancel hearings, check document status, or get CMS technical support.

Please DO NOT CALL the Judicial Assistant to confirm or cancel hearings, to see if your documents have been received or signed by the Judge and/or for technical support using the Court Management System (CMS).

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

For special set hearings over 60 minutes, parties must email the Court with the motion and exact time needed, copying all parties.

Please email div03@17th.flcourts.org and attach the Motion to be heard and the exact amount of time needed for your entire hearing. All parties must be included in the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must notify the judge's office immediately if a special set hearing matter settles or a new date is needed.

If the matter settles, or you need to obtain a new date, you must notify the judge's office immediately.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

For non-jury trials, trial evidence must be uploaded to the Division email at least two days before trial.

NON JURY TRIALS - Evidence to use at Trial must be uploaded to the Division email at least two days prior to trial. (div55@17th.flcourts.org)

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(954)831-6916

Special set hearings longer than 30 minutes must be scheduled through Judge Kanner's Judicial Assistant.

All special set hearings greater than 30 minutes must be set through Judge Kanner's Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

If the parties cannot agree on a hearing date or length, all scheduling persons for each party must join a conference call with the Judicial Assistant to schedule the hearing.

If the parties cannot agree on a date or the length of the hearing, then all persons responsible for scheduling such hearing for each party must participate in a conference call to the Court's Judicial Assistant in order to schedule the hearing.

CRITICAL

Attorneys must send motions to tax costs and award attorney's fees to chambers, and after complying with the preliminary order, the moving attorney must contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain a special set hearing time.

Attorneys must send to the Judge's chambers their Motion to Tax Costs and Award Attorney's Fees. Once the Judge receives it, he will enter an Order Preliminary to hearing on Motion to Tax Costs and Award Attorneys Fees. Once the attorneys comply with the order and are ready for a special set hearing, the moving attorney must contact the Judge's Judicial Assistant to obtain a special set hearing time.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Parties may not ask the Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to relay messages or information to the judge, as this constitutes prohibited ex parte communication.

EX-PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: Please do not ask this Court's Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to communicate any message to the judge. This is prohibited ex-parte communication. The Court's staff is not permitted to relay ex parte information to the judge.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Court personnel may not relay ex parte information to the Court.

Please note: Court personnel are not allowed to relay ex-parte information to the Court.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing cancellations require an email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied stating the reason.

Canceling a hearing will also require an email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied, outlining the reason for the cancellation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Landlord tenant/unlawful detainer hearings must be set through chambers and are held on Thursdays.

Landlord Tenant/Unlawful Detainer must be set through chambers (hearings are held on Thursdays)

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

Special set hearings of 30 minutes or longer must be coordinated with the judicial assistant.

ALL SPECIAL SET HEARINGS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 30 MINUTES MUST BE COORDINATED WITH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergencies may not be raised by simply emailing the court; the procedures in Administrative Order 2018-112-Gen (Amendment 2) for Criminal Division Emergency Matters must be followed.

Please do not just email the Court saying you have an emergency. You must follow the procedures established by 2018-112-Gen (Amendment 2) for Criminal Division Emergency Matters.

CRITICAL

Ex parte communications are prohibited; any issue to be considered by the Court must be raised by a motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies provided to all parties of record.

In addition, the Code of Judicial Conduct also prohibits judges from considering ex-parte (or one-sided) communications. As a result, any issue to be considered by the Court should be in the form of a Motion filed with the Clerk of Court and copies provided to all parties of record.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Correspondence providing motions and cover letters to the Judge must be sent to Judicial Assistant Nadine Turner at NTurner@17th.flcourts.org.

All such correspondence should be sent to the Judge's Judicial Assistant, Nadine Turner at NTurner@17th.flcourts.org.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency Motions and other urgent matters should be filed with the Clerk and sent to div100@17th.flcourts.org.

Emergency Motions and other urgent matters should be filed with the Clerk and sent to div100@17th.flcourts.org.

CRITICAL

Special set hearings longer than 30 minutes must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant.

All special set hearings greater than thirty (30) minutes must be set through Judge Powell’s Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Same-day or next-day hearing cancellations require a call to the JA, and only the attorney who set a Motion Calendar hearing may cancel it.

If you are canceling a hearing that is scheduled for the same or next day, please call the JA as well. The Motion Calendar hearing may only be canceled by the attorney who set the hearing.