Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Chambers Communication Rules

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Ex-parte communications with court staff are prohibited, and staff may not relay messages to the judge.

The Court staff will not have ex-parte communications with anyone and is not permitted to relay ex-parte information to the Judge. Please do not ask this Court’s Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to communicate any message to the judge.

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties may not call the Court to speak with the judge about any pending case; the Court considers only evidence and arguments presented in the courtroom or in properly filed documents.

Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a judge about any case.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

To obtain a hearing date, an email must be sent to the judicial assistant with a courtesy copy to the opposing party.

In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the judicial assistant with courtesy copy to the opposing party.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All motions for continuance of trials must be set for a hearing by contacting the Judicial Assistant via email.

All Motions for Continuance of Trials must be set for a hearing by contacting the Judicial Assistant via email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Filing a notice of cancellation alone is insufficient; the scheduling party must first email the Judicial Assistant explaining the reason for the desired cancellation.

Filing a Notice of Cancellation is not sufficient to cancel a hearing. First, the Scheduling party shall send an email to the Judicial Assistant explaining the reason for the desired cancellation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Questions (other than procedural) may be emailed to div02@17th.flcourts.org or agranata@17th.flcourts.org, and the opposing party must be copied or no response will be given.

If you have any questions only (other than procedural questions), please email us at div02@17th.flcourts.org or agranata@17th.flcourts.org and remember to also copy the opposing party. (If your email omits opposing side, you will not receive a response).

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Special-set hearings longer than 60 minutes must be coordinated with the JA by conference call with all parties' scheduling representatives participating.

ALL SPECIAL SET HEARINGS GREATER THAN 60 MINUTES MUST BE COORDINATED WITH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT. When setting such hearings, all persons responsible for scheduling such hearings for each party must participate in a conference call to the Court’s Judicial Assistant in order to schedule a hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must not email correspondence, pleadings, proposed orders, or supporting documents to the judicial office; such emails will not be read or received.

Email communication is limited. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, PLEADINGS, PROPOSED ORDERS or SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, THEY WILL NOT BE READ OR RECEIVED.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

All hearings and trials must be coordinated by the parties or they will be cancelled without notice; if the parties cannot agree, the Court will intervene.

ALL HEARINGS and TRIALS MUST BE COORDINATED BY THE PARTIES, OR WILL BE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT NOTICE - NO EXCEPTIONS. IF PARTIES CANNOT AGREE TO COORDINATE - THE COURT WILL INTERVENE.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

The prosecutor must be copied on every email to the division.

(ALWAYS COPY THE PROSECUTOR ON EVERY EMAIL).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency Motions and other urgent matters should be filed with the Clerk and sent to divmw@17th.flcourts.org. Please note that the Motion will not be addressed unless it is an ex parte motion in compliance with the rules, or the other side is copied on the email.

Emergency Motions and other urgent matters should be filed with the Clerk and sent to divmw@17th.flcourts.org. Please note that the Motion will not be addressed unless it is an ex parte motion in compliance with the rules, or the other side is copied on the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Parties may not ask the Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to relay messages or ex-parte information to the Judge.

The Court staff will not have ex-parte communications with anyone and is not permitted to relay ex-parte information to the Judge. Please do not ask this Court's Judicial Assistant or other Court personnel to communicate any message to the Judge.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing dates are obtained by emailing the Judicial Assistant, and once both parties confirm the date the moving party must complete a notice of hearing.

In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant. Once both parties confirm the date, the moving party shall complete a notice of hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A hearing will not be docketed until the e-filed Notice of Hearing has been emailed to the Assistant State Attorney and the Judicial Assistant.

A Hearing will not appear on the Judge's Docket until a copy of the e-filed Notice of Hearing has been emailed to the Assistant State Attorney and the Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Court cannot accept ex-parte communications or give legal advice, and all communications with the Court must include all parties.

The Court cannot accept ex-parte communications or provide you with legal advice. An ex-parte communication occurs when a party to the case, or someone involved with a party, talks 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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearings cannot be cancelled without contacting the Judicial Assistant at divmj@17th.flcourts.org.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For special set hearings, parties must email the Judicial Assistant a copy of the written motion with proper service on all parties, and notify the Judicial Assistant of the estimated hearing time and number of witnesses for each side.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For ROR or pretrial release modification motions, the written motion must first be filed with the Clerk of Court and a copy emailed to the Judicial Assistant with proper service on all parties.

You MUST first file your written Motion with the Clerk of Court. This office does not accept ex-parte communication. 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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency or urgent motions must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with an explanation of the emergency, and copies of the motion and email must be sent to the opposing party.

Any Motion filed, requesting urgent or emergency action, must be sent to the Judicial Assistant with an email explaining the emergency or urgency. A copy of the Motion and email must be sent to the opposing party.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing requests are preferred via email to: divmq@17th.flcourts.org. In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant. Please advise how long you will need for the hearing. Once both parties confirm a date, the moving party shall complete a Notice of Hearing.

Hearing requests are preferred via email to: divmq@17th.flcourts.org. In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant. Please advise how long you will need for the hearing. Once both parties confirm a date, the moving party shall complete a Notice of Hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing and trial requests must be sent to divmq@17th.flcourts.org with a copy to the State or opposing counsel.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST TO HAVE A HEARING/TRIAL, PLEASE CONTACT divmq@17th.flcourts.org AND REMEMBER TO COPY THE STATE OR OPPOSING COUNSEL.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Court cannot accept ex parte communications or give legal advice, so all parties must be included in communications, although setting a court date is not considered ex parte.

The Court cannot accept ex-parte communications or provide you with legal advice. An ex-parte communication occurs when a party to the case, or someone involved with a party, talks 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. If you need the contact information, please refer to www.browardclerk.org for specific case information. Setting a court date is not ex-parte.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing dates are obtained by emailing the Judicial Assistant, and once both parties confirm the date the moving party must complete a notice of hearing.

In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant. Once both parties confirm the date, the moving party shall complete a notice of hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Ex parte communications are prohibited; issues must be raised by motion filed with the Clerk with copies to all parties of record, and mere filing does not bring a matter before the Court.

In addition, the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from considering exparte (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. Notably, the mere filing of a motion with the Clerk's Office does not place the matter before the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Special set hearings, case management conferences, and status hearings longer than 30 minutes must be set by contacting the Judicial Assistant.

All special set hearings, case management conferences, and status hearings that are for more than thirty (30) minutes shall be set by contacting the judicial assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Court will not act on letters, e-mails, or notes; legal arguments and requests for relief must be submitted as properly filed pleadings.

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. In other words, the Court will not accept or address legal arguments, requests for relief, or other remarks submitted by e-mail.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Copies of filed Petitions for Relocation must be immediately e-mailed to the division with case number, party names, and RELOCATION in the subject line, or setting may be delayed.

As such, in order to comply with § 61.1003(10), Florida Statutes, a copy of all properly filed Petitions for Relocation must be IMMEDIATELY provided to the Court through the division e-mail. Failure to provide a copy and comply with this requirement may result in a delay in setting the petition for hearing. The e-mail must include the case number, party names, and RELOCATION in the subject line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Special set hearing request e-mails must include the motion and filing date, total time requested (divided equally between the parties), time-sensitivity, evidence of conferral, and correct e-mail addresses for all parties.

After the parties have conferred and a Motion has been filed, please e-mail your hearing request to the Judicial Assistant at Div37@17th.flcourts.org with the following information: A copy of the Motion to be special set and the DATE IT WAS FILED WITH THE CLERK OF THE COURTS. The total amount of hearing time requested shall include the time required by both sides and will be divided equally between the parties unless otherwise ordered by the Court. The parties are responsible for monitoring and managing their allotted time to ensure that all arguments and presentations are completed within the scheduled hearing time; Whether the Motion is time-sensitive or entitled to statutory preference; Evidence of the parties conferral; and Correct e-mail address for all parties.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

Judge Kanner's office MUST NOT be the recipient of any ex parte or one-sided communications. If Judge Kanner'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 Kanner.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After filing an emergency motion with the Clerk, a copy must be e-mailed to the division with the case number, party names, and EMERGENCY in the subject line.

All emergency motions must be properly filed with the Clerk's office. Once it has been filed, you must e-mail a copy of the emergency motion to the Court to the division's e-mail. The e-mail must include the case number, party names, and EMERGENCY in the subject line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Filing a notice of cancellation does not cancel a hearing; the Court must be notified directly through the Judicial Assistant.

Filing a notice of cancellation does not automatically cancel the hearing. PLEASE ENSURE YOU NOTIFY THE COURT BY CONTACTING THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Expedited hearing requests must be made in the original scheduling e-mail thread, copy all parties, include a certificate of conferral, and state the motion name, attached motion, current date/time, reserved time, format, and any proposed reduced time.

Any request for an expedited hearing must be made by responding within the same e-mail thread that was originally used to set the hearing/trial. The e-mail must include all parties and/or counsel of record and a certificate of conferral. The request e-mail must clearly include all of the following: The name of the motion; A copy of the motion attached; The currently scheduled hearing date and time; The amount of time reserved for the hearing; Whether the hearing was set to be conducted via Zoom or in-person; and A statement as to whether the requesting party believes the hearing time can be reduced, and if so, the proposed reduced time.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All correspondence with the Court must be in writing via Div37@17th.flcourts.org; chambers may not be called to schedule hearings.

ALL correspondence with the Court shall be done in writing via the division e-mail: Div37@17th.flcourts.org. Please do not call the Court's chambers to schedule a hearing as you will be directed to make your request via e-mail.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After the Clerk accepts a rehearing-type motion, a copy must be e-mailed to Judge Kanner with the case number, party names, and REHEARING/RECONSIDERATION/CLARIFICATION in the subject line.

Once the Clerk of the Courts has accepted the motion, a copy of the motion must be sent to Judge Kanner by e-mail for consideration. The e-mail must include the case number, party names, and REHEARING/RECONSIDERATION/CLARIFICATION in the subject line. The Clerk's Office does not serve a copy of the motion to Judge Kanner or her chambers.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties may not contact the Judicial Assistant to inquire whether an order has been signed.

Please do not contact the Judicial Assistant to see if your order has been signed, the Court will review, enter, and conform orders as promptly as possible.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A copy of every e-filed emergency motion must be e-mailed to the division with the case number, party names, and EMERGENCY in the subject line.

If electronically filed, a copy of the motion MUST be e-mailed to the division at Div37@17th.flcourts.org. Any e-mail to the Division must include the case number, party names, and EMERGENCY in the subject line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency motions will not be addressed unless they are rule-compliant ex-parte motions or the other side is copied on the email.

Please note that the Motion will not be addressed unless it is an ex-parte motion in compliance with the rules, or the other side is copied on the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Judicial Assistant must be emailed to set a hearing needing more than 30 minutes or for eviction/unlawful detainer, claim of exemption, and attorney fee hearings.

Please contact JENNIFER CASTANEDA, Judge Peffer's judicial assistant, by email (div82@17th.flcourts.org) to request that a motion be set for hearing if more than 30 minutes is needed AND/OR if setting a hearing for eviction and unlawful detainer, claim of exemption hearings and attorneys fee hearings.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Cases without attorneys for all parties must schedule hearings through the Judicial Assistant unless the self-represented party agreed to online scheduling, and pro se status must be noted in the email.

IF YOUR CASE DOES NOT INVOLVE ATTORNEYS FOR ALL PARTIES, THEN THE HEARINGS MUST BE SET THROUGH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT, UNLESS THE SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE SCHEDULING. PLEASE NOTE IN YOUR EMAIL IF A PARTY IS A SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the Division regarding emergency motions must include the case number, party names, and 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 chambers

Do not send letters, emails, or notes to the Court; the Court only acts on properly e-filed petitions and motions.

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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All correspondence with the Court must be in writing via the division email; do not call chambers to schedule hearings.

ALL correspondence with the Court shall be done in writing via the division e-mail: Div41@17th.flcourts.org. Please do not call the Court's chambers to schedule a hearing as you will be directed to make your request via e-mail.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Court provides interpreters only for Domestic Violence cases, for which the Judicial Assistant must be notified at least seven days before the hearing; appearing without a secured interpreter results in cancellation.

The Court will provide an interpreter for Domestic Violence cases only. For Domestic Violence cases, please notify the Judicial Assistant by phone or e-mail you require the services of an interpreter at least seven (7) days prior to your hearing. The parties are responsible for obtaining their own interpreters for all other matters. If you appear for a hearing without first securing the services of an interpreter, your hearing will be cancelled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Phone

954-831-8532

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

If you are a pro se litigant (which means you do not have an attorney and are representing yourself) 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

Contact

Email to chambers

When e-mailing this office, you must include the opposing party/counsel in all correspondence.

When e-mailing this office, you must include the opposing party/counsel in all correspondence.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Special set hearing requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the motion and filing date, total time requested, time-sensitivity, evidence of conferral, and all parties' email addresses.

After the parties have conferred and a Motion has been filed, please e-mail your hearing request to the Judicial Assistant at Div41@17th.flcourts.org with the following information: a. A copy of the Motion to be special set and the DATE IT WAS FILED WITH THE CLERK. b. The total amount of time requested by both sides, which will be split evenly between the parties; c. Whether the Motion is time-sensitive or entitled to statutory preference; d. Evidence of the parties conferral; and e. Correct e-mail address for all parties.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The Court is not automatically notified of emergency motion filings; all emergency motions must be emailed to the Division.

THE COURT IS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FILING OF AN EMERGENCY MOTION. ALL EMERGENCY MOTIONS MUST BE E-MAILED TO THE DIVISION.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Ex parte or one-sided communications to Judge Weiss' office are prohibited and will be returned.

Judge Weiss' office MUST NOT be the recipient of any ex parte or one-sided communications. If Judge Weiss' office receives an ex parte communication or is inappropriately or improperly copied on communications, the correspondence or document will be returned.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

If a case settles before trial, the scheduling party must immediately email notification to Ms. Stitt.

If a case is settled prior to the trial date, the scheduling party MUST immediately provide email notification to Ms. Stitt.