Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Chambers Communication Rules

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Contact

Phone to chambers

Do not call the Judicial Assistant to confirm procedures or hearings, check whether documents have been received or signed, or for CMS technical support.

Please DO NOT CALL the Judicial Assistant to confirm these procedures, 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).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Relief may not be requested by email or phone to the Judge or Judicial Assistant; the appropriate motion must be filed.

Do not ask for relief by contacting via email or telephonically the Judge or Judicial Assistant. File the appropriate Motion.

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

Emails to the Judicial Assistant must state the case style and case number in the subject line, copy all parties, say only "see attached" in the body, attach only documents already filed and served, and include no comments or lengthy cover letters.

IMPORTANT NOTE: when emailing the Judicial Assistant please do the following: On the subject line of the email type the Case Style and the Case Number; In the body of the email, confirm that all parties to the case (Plaintiff or Plaintiff's Attorney(s) and Defendant or Defendant's Attorney(s) are listed and copied to the email. Do not write anything else other than "see attached". Confirm that whatever attachments, that may be added to the email, have been properly filed with the Clerk of the Court and served upon all parties to the case; and, Please do not write comments in the body of the email as this type of communication is not shared with the Court. If a cover letter accompanies the filed motion, please keep it simple.

CRITICAL

Parties may not ask the Judicial Assistant or court personnel to relay messages to the Judge because that 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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The noticing party must cancel the hearing both in the Online Scheduling System and by emailing div24@17th.flcourts.org a copy of the Notice of Cancellation; filing the notice alone is insufficient.

It is the responsibility of the NOTICING PARTY TO TIMELY CANCEL A HEARING through the Online Scheduling System and TIMELY NOTIFY THE COURT of a cancellation. Filing a Notice of Cancellation, without also canceling the Online Scheduling System, is insufficient; if you do not cancel the hearing online, that time will not be available online for others to schedule their hearings. The Court is not notified by the Clerk of Court! If a hearing is canceled, please send an email to div24@17th.flcourts.org, with the copy of the Notice of Cancellation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

True emergencies require following Administrative Order 2014-32-CIV and emailing Division 24 with 'URGENT // EMERGENCY' in the subject line for judge review.

ALL parties MUST follow Administrative Order, 2014-32-CIV. If you have a true emergency, please email Division 24 and write in the subject area URGENT // EMERGENCY. The email will be sent to the judge for review.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Per Administrative Order 2017-33-GEN, parties may not set a hearing on a motion for rehearing/reconsideration; the motion must be emailed to Div 24 and the Court decides whether to set a hearing.

ALL parties MUST follow Administrative Order, 2017-33-GEN. Parties may not set a hearing on a Motion for Rehearing/Reconsideration. Please submit the motion(s) by email to Div 24 as required and the Court will decide whether to set a hearing.

CRITICAL

Emergency motions are handled by the Clerk of Court, not the Judicial Assistant.

All emergency motions are handled by the Clerk of Court. The Clerk’s Office will take the emergency motion directly to a Judge. The Judicial Assistant does not handle emergency motions.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless ex parte communication is authorized by law.

All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.

CRITICAL

All parties, and only parties, must be copied on all written communications with the Court.

ALL parties, and only parties, must be copied on ALL/ANY written communications with the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must notify chambers via division email of the family case number and special set trial date/time.

Parties must notify the Judge’s chambers via the division email of the family case number and the date and time of the special set trial.

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Only the Court can schedule or cancel hearings; parties and attorneys cannot.

Hearings in this division are scheduled and canceled only by the Court. Neither self represented parties nor attorneys can schedule or cancel hearings.

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Contact

Email to chambers

If a scheduled hearing becomes unnecessary, the moving party must immediately email the Judicial Assistant to cancel and explain why.

Should a previously scheduled hearing become unnecessary, the moving party shall immediately notify the Judicial Assistant by email (div59@17th.flcourts.org) requesting cancellation and explaining the reason for cancellation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For voluntary dismissal, provide a copy of the notice and e-filing acceptance via division email with hearing date/time and dismissal/cancellation request.

A copy of the notice of voluntary dismissal and a copy of the e-filing acceptance shall be provided for the judge’s review via the division email at (div59@17th.flcourts.org) with a statement indicating the date and time of the scheduled hearing and, if a temporary injunction was entered, a request that the matter be dismissed by an order of dismissal and hearing canceled or, if an order setting was entered, a request that the hearing be canceled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All communications to chambers must be by email to div59@17th.flcourts.org with a subject line containing case number, case name, and matter.

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to div59@17th.flcourts.org. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter.

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Contact

Email to chambers

To request a hearing, email the Judicial Assistant with case number, party names, requested hearing time, copy of motion, and Clerk's acceptance.

To request a motion be set for a hearing, contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant by email: div59@17th.flcourts.org. Your email must include the court case number, the names of all parties, and a statement for the time requested for the hearing, copy of the motion and copy of the Clerk’s acceptance of your motion.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Parties may not contact the Judge directly; all communication must go through the Judicial Assistant by phone or email, and ex parte communications will be ignored or filed with the Clerk.

DO NOT contact the Judge directly. All communication should be through the Judicial Assistant, either by phone or email. Any ex parte communication directly to the Judge will be ignored or, if in writing, will be submitted to the Clerk as part of the court file.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Open pleas must be scheduled on a non-motion calendar setting through the Judicial Assistant by email and may not be set through CMS.

Open pleas must be scheduled on a non-motion calendar setting and must be coordinated through the Judicial Assistant via email. Open Plea’s may NOT be set through CMS, they must be done through JA!!

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Noticing parties must timely cancel hearings online and email div21 a copy of the Notice of Cancellation; JA-cancelled hearings require the notice to be both emailed and e-filed.

It is the responsibility of the NOTICING PARTIES TO TIMELY CANCEL A HEARING through the Online Scheduling System and TIMELY NOTIFY THE COURT of a cancellation. Filing a Notice of Cancellation, without also canceling the Online Scheduling System, is insufficient; if you do not cancel the hearing online, that time will not be available online for others to schedule their hearings. The Court is not notified by the Clerk of Court! If a hearing is cancelled, please send an email to div21@17th.flcourts.org, with the copy of the Notice of Cancellation. If the parties need the JA to cancel the hearing a notice of cancellation is REQUIRED to be emailed to the division as well as e-filed.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must inform the court of competing orders, upload them back-to-back, and notify the division by email once both are uploaded.

THE PARTIES MUST INFORM THE COURT THAT THEY ARE SUBMITTING COMPETING ORDERS. ALSO PARTIES SHOULD COORDINATE SUBMITTING ORDERS, ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER ONE TO INSURE COURT SEES BOTH ORDERS WHEN REVIEWING. ONCE BOTH ARE UPLOADED NOTIFY THE DIVISION BY EMAIL.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Add-ons to UMC/Special Set hearings require agreement of all parties; agreed add-ons require an Amended Notice of Hearing and email notice to the JA.

Parties cannot add-on to an existing UMC or Special Set hearing unless AGREED to by all parties. Add-ons will only be heard within the allotted time, both sides get equal time. No more than two motions may be noticed for a case on UMC. If the parties agree to have the motion added, file an Amended Notice of Hearing and notify the JA by email and she will add the motion.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Proposed orders must not be emailed to the Court or uploaded to CMS for signature before the hearing has taken place.

DO NOT send proposed orders to the Court's email in advance of the hearing. It is NOT professional to send Proposed Orders by email or upload to CMS for signature when the hearing has NOT taken place.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency motions must follow Administrative Order 2021-50-CIV with the required form, and the division must be emailed with 'EMERGENCY MOTION' in the subject line once e-filed.

ALL parties MUST follow http://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2021-50-Civ.pdf Administrative Order 2021-50-CIV. Please submit the form required and the Court will decide whether to set a hearing. Email the division at div21@17th.flcourts.org (PUT EMERGENCY MOTION in subject line) once efiled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearings are held via Zoom unless parties email the JA at least 24 hours (excluding weekends and court holidays) before the hearing to appear in person or hybrid.

ALL HEARINGS including Uniform Motion Calendar, Case Management, Lack of Prosecution, and Special Set Hearings and Calendar Call will be held through ZOOM Video Conference, unless the parties email the JA to advise that the parties want to appear in person. The parties MUST email the JA at least 24 hours (not including weekends and court holidays) prior to the hearing to advise they would like to appear in person or as a hybrid (both in person & zoom).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Asking the JA or other court personnel to relay messages to the Judge 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.

CRITICAL

Status inquiries by phone to Judicial Assistants are inappropriate; parties must not call or email Judges, Judicial Assistants, or Staff Counsel (Appellate Division).

Phone calls to Judicial Assistants regarding the status of filed documents are inappropriate. It is for that reason that ALL parties are directed to review the Guidelines for Communications with the Appellate Division and to govern himself/herself accordingly. The Guidelines for Communications with the Appellate Division provides that parties shall not "call or email Judges, Judicial Assistants, or Staff Counsel."

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Ex-parte communications to the Court or JA are prohibited; all communications with the Court must include all parties.

The Court or JA 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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

UMC hearings may be scheduled through the online CMS system or by emailing the Judicial Assistant with a copy of the motion.

UMC hearing may be set via the online CMS system OR by sending a request with a copy of your Motion to the Judicial Assistant (Div14@17th.flcourts.org).

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Special-set hearings are scheduled only through the Judicial Assistant by emailing a copy of the motion with the amount of time needed; online scheduling is not available.

All special-set hearings are scheduled by the Judicial Assistant; online scheduling is not available for Division 14. Please send a copy of your motion with a request that includes the amount of time needed to the Judicial Assistant (div14@17th.flcourts.org).

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Filing a pleading does not automatically set a matter for hearing; parties must separately schedule a hearing time with the Court.

Please note that filing a pleading does not automatically bring the matter before the Judge or set the matter for hearing; parties must schedule a hearing time with the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency pleadings must be submitted by email to the Judicial Assistant, and only matters involving irreparable harm, death, or manifest injury qualify as emergencies.

An emergency is defined as a matter that will result in irreparable harm, death or result in a manifest injury if immediate relief is not afforded. Matters which do not meet this definition shall not be submitted to the court as an "emergency." Any pleading asserting the existence of an emergency shall be submitted by electronic mail to the Judicial Assistant (Div14@17th.flcourts.org), accompanied by a cover letter to the Court and a proposed order.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Because the Judge does not receive e-filed documents, a party who files something the Judge needs to see or act on (not already set for hearing) must alert chambers by phone call or email, cc'ing all parties.

Please be advised that when a pleading, motion, or other document is e-filed, the Judge does not receive a copy. If you file something that you would like Judge Di Pietro to see or act upon that is not already set for a hearing, you must alert our office by way of phone call or email. Please remember when emailing the division, you must "cc" all parties.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Parties are strictly prohibited from asking the Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to relay any message about their case to the Judge, as this constitutes prohibited ex-parte communication.

However, do not ask the Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to communicate any message about your case to Judge Di Pietro. This is ex-parte communication and is strictly prohibited.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Special set hearings longer than 30 minutes must be scheduled by email to div49@17th.flcourts.org containing the case number, motion title(s), time requested, and a narrowed time period, with all parties cc'ed.

All Special Set hearings over thirty (30) minutes long must be scheduled via email to div49@17th.flcourts.org. Please make sure your email request contains the case number, title of the motion(s) being scheduled, the amount of time being requested, and a narrowed down time period you would like dates/times for. Please remember when emailing the division, you must "cc" all parties.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

the drafting party shall send an email to the Judicial Assistant (copying all parties) with the words DISPUTED PROPOSED ORDER in the subject line, and should include a cover letter detailing the disputed provisions of the order.

the drafting party shall send an email to the Judicial Assistant (copying all parties) with the words DISPUTED PROPOSED ORDER in the subject line, and should include a cover letter detailing the disputed provisions of the order.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Scheduling emails must include all parties, the amount of time needed, and a copy of the relevant pleading, and the division email may only be used to schedule matters.

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL PARTIES ARE INCLUDED ON THE EMAIL AND INCLUDE HOW MUCH TIME YOU WILL NEED FOR THE MATTER AND A COPY OF THE RELEVANT PLEADING(S). THE DIVISION EMAIL SHALL ONLY BE USED TO SCHEDULE MATTERS WITH THE COURT.

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Contact

Email to chambers

The Court must not be included on emails unrelated to scheduling, such as emails where attorneys are litigating with each other.

PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE THE COURT ON ANY EMAILS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO SCHEDULING. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, EMAILS WHERE ATTORNEYS ARE LITIGATING WITH EACH OTHER.

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Contact

Email to chambers

If a case settles before trial, the scheduling party must immediately email the Judicial Assistant and cancel all future hearings.

If a case is settled prior to the trial date, the scheduling party MUST immediately provide email notification to Ms. Del Ponte, as further described below and cancel all future hearings.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to intake unit

Phone

954-831-8532

Pro se litigants may not schedule motion calendar hearings themselves and must contact Case Management to schedule hearings.

*PRO SE LITIGANTS SHALL NOT SCHEDULE MOTION CALENDAR HEARINGS. Please contact Case Management to schedule your hearings at 954-831-8532.*

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to intake unit

Phone

954-831-8532

Self-represented parties must contact the Case Management Main Number for all case questions and guidance.

If you are a self-represented (pro se) party (not represented by an attorney), you must contact the Family Court, Case Management Main Number at 954-831-8532 for all questions and guidance regarding your case.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to intake unit

Phone

954-831-8532

Pro se litigants must contact the Case Management Unit by email or phone rather than the Judge's office.

**Pro se litigants must contact our Case Management Unit via e-mail at ufchelp@17th.flcourts.org or by phone at 954-831-8532

CRITICAL

Parties may not send letters, emails, or notes to the Judge's office; the Court acts only on filings made with the Clerk.

DO NOT SEND LETTERS, EMAILS OR NOTES TO JUDGE ACHILLE’S OFFICE. The Judge’s Office does not act on letters or notes sent by either party.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Relocation filings seeking statutory calendar priority must be immediately copied to the Judicial Assistant by email with the subject line RELOCATION REQUEST.

If a party is seeking to invoke the statutory provision entitling them to priority on the Court’s calendar for a temporary relief hearing (within 30 days of filing the motion) or for a nonjury trial (within 90 days after the notice for trial), then immediately upon the filing of the motion or notice, the party shall copy the subject filing to the Judicial Assistant (Ms. Del Ponte at div33@17th.flcourts.org) with the subject line RELOCATION REQUEST.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After Clerk acceptance, a copy of the emergency motion with a proposed order must be emailed to the division with all parties copied.

Once it has been accepted by the Clerk’s office, please e-mail a copy of the motion, along with a proposed order, to div33@17th.flcourts.org for the Judge’s review and consideration. Please be sure to always copy all parties with the e-mail.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Once your case is scheduled for trial, if your case settles, please email Ms. Del Ponte immediately with a copy of the Settlement Agreement (or its equivalent) and Proposed Final Judgment.

Once your case is scheduled for trial, if your case settles, please email Ms. Del Ponte immediately with a copy of the Settlement Agreement (or its equivalent) and Proposed Final Judgment.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Orders changing, cancelling, or scheduling dates may not be uploaded without first receiving written confirmation from the Judicial Assistant.

DO NOT UPLOAD ORDERS CHANGING DATES, CANCELLING DATES OR SCHEDULING DATES WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING WRITTEN CONFIRMATION FROM THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Ex parte communications and inappropriate copying of the Judge's office are prohibited; such correspondence will be returned and court personnel will not relay messages.

The Judge’s office must not receive ex parte communication and/or be inappropriately copied on communications with anyone, and is not permitted to relay information to the Judge. If the Judge’s Office receives ex parte communication and/or is inappropriately copied on communications, the correspondence or document will be returned and not acted upon. Please do not ask Ms. Del Ponte or other court personnel to communicate any message to the Judge.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All correspondence with the Court must be in writing via the divisional email, and parties may not call chambers to schedule hearings.

ALL correspondence with the Court shall be done in writing via the divisional email div33@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 email.

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Contact

Email to chambers

The Judicial Assistant must be provided all State Attorney Office documents for a negotiated plea in each case.

Judicial Assistant shall be provided ALL documents from the State Attorney Office for a Negotiated Pleas for EACH case.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A party must seek the Court's permission to appear via Zoom at least 48 hours before the hearing.

If a party is requesting to appear via ZOOM, they must seek permission from the Court 48 hours in advance of the hearing