Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County Chambers Communication Rules

WARNING

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Email to chambers

The setting attorney must contact the Court with as much advance notice as possible if a motion is reset or cancelled, and must advise the Court as soon as practicable if the case will be resolved by plea.

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. If the case is to be pled rather than the motion is heard, the setting attorney should advise the Court as soon as practicable.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

After the dismissal order is signed, email div21@17th.flcourts.org a copy of the Order to remove the case from the docket.

When the Order is signed. Please send an email to div21@17th.flcourts.org with a copy of the Order to remove your case from the docket.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Email div21 for Court review of rehearing/reconsideration motions; do not ask the JA to set a hearing until the Court approves.

Motions for rehearing/reconsideration need to be reviewed by the Court to determine if they need to be set for a hearing. Email div21@17th.flcourts.org for the court to review. Please do not email the JA asking to set the motion for a hearing until the Court reviews and approves the motion to be set for hearing.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Technical difficulties with CMS must be emailed to calendar@17th.flcourts.org; the JA is not tech support.

If you encounter technical difficulties submitting an order or uploading documents to CMS, or any other problem please send an email to calendar@17th.flcourts.org for further assistance. The JA is not tech support.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Pro se parties must make requests of the Judge by email; the JA handles scheduling only and cannot give legal advice.

If you represent yourself, any requests you are making of the Judge needs to be in EMAIL. The Judicial Assistant is not a lawyer and handles scheduling only, therefore, do not call and ask for advice on what to file or how to prepare anything.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Do not ask the JA to arbitrate unilateral hearing scheduling; coordinate via CMS with all parties, or email the JA to request a Case Management hearing if the parties cannot agree.

DO NOT ask the judicial assistant to get involved in the scheduling of unilaterally online hearings. The CMS system was created so that both parties can coordinate the hearings. This applies to dates given from the JA as well, all must agree. The judicial assistant is not an arbitrator of your scheduling disputes. Set a hearing via CMS coordinated with all parties. If the parties can not agree to a date, the JA can set a Case Management hearing to address with the Court. (EMAIL THE JA REQUESTING A CM)

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

The JA cannot give legal advice or answer procedure questions listed in the Division 21 procedures; voicemails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

Please do not ask Judicial Assistant questions on how to proceed with the case, the JA is not allowed to give any legal advice, and will not reply to your email or return your call to provide you information/procedures that are listed in the Procedures for Division 21. Therefore, review the procedures carefully before emailing the Judicial Assistant. Voicemails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Special Set hearings of 60 minutes or more must be requested by emailing the motion to the division with all parties copied and the time needed stated.

For Special Set hearings requiring 60 minutes or more, please email a copy of the motion to the division email copying all parties on the case and state how much time is needed. The JA will give dates.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

When asking the JA for dates, email with the motion(s) attached, all parties copied, and time requested; do not call asking for dates.

IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR DATES FROM THE JA - Please attach the motion(s), copy all parties and state how much time you are requesting. DO NOT CALL ASKING FOR DATES.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

954-831-7763

Interpreter requests must be made to the Judicial Assistant at least 3 days before the hearing, or at least 7 days before for languages other than Spanish or Haitian Creole.

Please notify the Judicial Assistant at the telephone number above (nosotros hablamos español) or via email to: div14@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 least seven (7) days prior to your hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

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Email to chambers

Motions to disqualify the Court should simply be filed and a copy emailed to the Judicial Assistant.

Please simply file the Motion and e-mail a copy to the Judicial Assistant.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

The original noticing party must contact the Judicial Assistant to timely cancel hearings and notify the Court and all parties, including cancelling dates after an agreed order is entered.

Please remember to contact the Judicial Assistant (div14@17th.flcourts.org) if a hearing is to be cancelled. If the parties have reached an agreement, an agreed order resolving the matter shall be submitted to the office prior to, or at the time of the hearing. If an agreed order is not submitted prior to the hearing, parties are expected to attend. If an agreed order has been entered, please remember to contact the Judicial Assistant to cancel any hearing dates previously set. It is the original noticing party's responsibility to timely cancel hearings and to notify the Court and all parties.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must timely cancel UMC hearings via the online system and by directly contacting the Judicial Assistant when a matter is resolved before the hearing.

Since the number of hearings is limited and the Court attempts to review written materials in advance, please timely cancel any hearings via the online system AND by contacting the Judicial Assistant directly, if and when a matter is resolved prior to your scheduled hearing time.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Motions for rehearing or reconsideration are not set for hearing; parties simply file the motion and email a copy to the Judicial Assistant with a cover letter.

Except where explicitly authorized by the Court, no motions for rehearing or reconsideration shall be set for hearing. See Administrative Order No. 2022-002-GEN, superseding former Administrative Order No. 2017-33-GEN. Please simply file the Motion and e-mail a copy to the Judicial Assistant with a cover letter.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

If the parties cannot agree on a hearing date or length, all persons responsible for scheduling for each party must be included in an email to div49@17th.flcourts.org.

If the parties cannot agree on a date or the length of a hearing, then all persons responsible for scheduling such hearings for each party must be included in an email to div49@17th.flcourts.org.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(954) 831-5708

Division procedure and scheduling questions may be directed to the Judge's office by phone at (954) 831-5708 or email to div49@17th.flcourts.org, and every email to the division must cc all parties.

For questions regarding division procedures or scheduling, you may contact Judge Di Pietro's office by phone at (954) 831-5708 or by email to div49@17th.flcourts.org. Please remember when emailing the division, you must "cc" all parties.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Interpreter requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at least five business days before the scheduled hearing.

Please contact Ms. Del Ponte at least five (5) business days in advance of your scheduled hearing at div33@17th.flcourts.org to request an interpreter.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

To get a hearing date on an objection to a General Magistrate referral, email the division the objection, the motion to be heard, and the time needed.

When a case has been referred to the General Magistrate and is objected to, the following is required to receive a hearing date: Please email div33@17th.flcourts.org a copy of the objection, a copy of the motion to be heard and how much time you will need for the hearing.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must not send multiple emails about the same matter and must respond using the original email thread.

DO NOT send multiple emails regarding the same matter and please respond to the emails utilizing the original email thread. The result of sending multiple emails will result in a delay in the response to your requests or correspondence.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

UMC hearings must be canceled online on CMS, with same or next-day cancellations also emailed to the Judicial Assistant, and only the attorney who set the hearing may cancel it.

If you are canceling a hearing on the UMC docket, please cancel it online on CMS. Filing a Notice of Cancellation does not automatically cancel a hearing online. If you are canceling a hearing that is scheduled for the same or next day, please email Ms. Del Ponte. The UMC hearing can only be canceled by the attorney who set the hearing.

WARNING

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Email to chambers

Attorneys scheduling a CMC must submit the e-filed motion to the Judicial Assistant and indicate how much time is needed.

Attorneys wishing to schedule a CMC shall submit a copy of their e-filed Motion for Case Management Conference to Ms. Del Ponte and indicate how much time they wish to have their CMC heard.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Case law may be submitted to the Court via the divisional email with the case number and motion/proceeding title in the subject line.

Case law may be submitted to the Court via email at div33@17th.flcourts.org with the case number and title of the motion/proceeding included in the subject line.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Correspondence to the Court: Any communications to the Court, INCLUDING EMAILS, should come from members of the Bar, not staff and must be served OR COPIED on all parties.

Correspondence to the Court: Any communications to the Court, INCLUDING EMAILS, should come from members of the Bar, not staff and must be served OR COPIED on all parties.

WARNING

The setting attorney must contact the court with as much advance notice as possible to reset or cancel a motion, and must advise the Court promptly if the case will plead at the scheduled time.

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. If the case is to plea at the scheduled hearing time, the setting attorney should advise the Court as soon as possible.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Matters requiring more than 10 minutes must be requested as a special set hearing through the Judicial Assistant.

Parties wishing to set matters that require in excess of ten (10) minutes should request a special set hearing from the Judicial Assistant.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

The moving party must tell the Judicial Assistant 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.

WARNING

Notify Judge's Chambers of the Family Division case number so the DV case can be transferred before a special-set evidentiary hearing.

If there is a special set Domestic Violence evidentiary hearing scheduled, please notify the Judge’s Chambers of the Family Division Filing or Case Number so that the Judicial Assistant can transfer the Domestic Violence case to the Family Division prior to the special set hearing.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(954)831-0322

Court staff cannot relay ex-parte communications or messages to the Judge; the Judicial Assistant may be reached at (954) 831-0322.

It is important to note the Court staff is not allowed to relay ex-parte communication to the Judge. Please do not ask the Courts' Judicial Assistant or other court personnel to relay any messages to the Judge. You may reach Judge DeLuca's Judicial Assistant at (954)831-0322.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

The moving party must tell the Judicial Assistant 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.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Since hearing time is limited, please timely cancel any hearings by contacting the Judicial Assistant directly by email.

Since hearing time is limited, please timely cancel any hearings by contacting the Judicial Assistant directly by email.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

To use screen-sharing on Zoom, parties must e-mail the division email (DIV81) at least one business day before the hearing.

FOR THE USE OF SCREEN- SHARING ON ZOOM, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE DIVISION EMAIL AT DIV81@17TH.FLCOURTS.ORG, AT LEAST ONE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE HEARING.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.

Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(954) 831-7821

Interpreter requests must be made to the Judicial Assistant at least three days before the hearing, or seven days for languages other than Spanish or Haitian Creole, with the Judicial Assistant included on all interpreter request emails.

The Court will provide an interpreter for all Criminal Hearings. Please notify the Judicial Assistant at the telephone number above or via email to: divfh@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 least seven (7) days prior to your hearing. You may also contact the court interpreter's office at interpreterrequest@17th.flcourts.org. Please make sure to include the Judicial Assistant on all emails for requests for an interpreter.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(954) 831-7821

Requests to use the Court Evidence Presentation System must be made to the Judicial Assistant as soon as possible and not less than 24 hours before the scheduled court appearance.

If you are in need of the Court Evidence Presentation System (Monitor & Projection stand) to participate in a court proceeding, don't hesitate to get in touch with the J.A., Nichole, at (954) 831-7821 or via email at DIVFH@17th.flcourts.org. Your request should be made as soon as possible, not less than 24 hours before your scheduled court appearance.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

(954) 831-7821

Hearings not accommodated in court are arranged by contacting the Judicial Assistant at (954) 831-7821 or DIVFH@17th.flcourts.org.

To arrange a hearing not accommodated in court, please contact the Judicial Assistant Nichole Lunsford, at (954) 831-7821 or via email at DIVFH@17th.flcourts.org.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must provide the Court a copy of the motion and inform the Court of witness schedules that need to be accommodated for the hearing.

Please provide the Court with a copy of the motion as well. Also, let the Court know the schedules of witnesses that will need to be accommodated for the hearing.

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Phone

954-831-6348

Division FY may be contacted by email at divfy@17th.flcourts.org or by office phone at 954-831-6348.

Division FY Email: divfy@17th.flcourts.org Office Phone Number: 954-831-6348

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

Pleas and VOP admissions may be set through the Judicial Assistant, at a status conference, at a calendar call, or at a VOP status hearing.

All Pleas and VOP admissions may set through the Judicial Assistant, at a status conference, at a calendar call or at a VOP status hearing.

INFOCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Division FZ provides email contacts for the judge (JPorth@17th.FLCOURTS.org), judicial assistant Makila Holmes (MHolmes@17th.FLCOURTS.org), and the division inbox (DIVFZ@17th.FLCOURTS.org).

Judge's email: JPorth@17th.FLCOURTS.org Judicial Assistant (JA): Makila Holmes JA's email: MHolmes@17th.FLCOURTS.org Division email: DIVFZ@17th.FLCOURTS.org

INFOCriminal cases

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

954-831-0697

General Magistrate chambers may be contacted by phone at 954-831-0697, with Zoom meeting ID 595-222-547 for proceedings.

GM's chambers: 954-831-0697 Zoom meeting ID: 595-222-547

INFOCriminal cases

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

954-831-6905

Division FZ chambers can be reached by phone at 954-831-6905.

Chambers phone: 954-831-6905

INFO

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

954.831.5540

Hearings not accommodated in court are scheduled by calling Judicial Assistant Kami Rubin at 954.831.5540, with the total time needed for both sides in mind.

To schedule a hearing not accommodated in court, please call J.A, Kami Rubin, at 954.831.5540 or via email at DivFD@17th.flcourts.org.

INFO

Any questions or concerns about these policies or procedures should be made in writing to the Judicial Assistant.

Any questions or concerns about these policies or procedures should be made in writing to the Judicial Assistant.

INFO

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

954-831-5600

The Clerk of Court Felony Division telephone line (954-831-5600) may be used by attorneys only.

Clerk of Court Felony Division telephone: 954-831-5600 (attorneys only)

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Chambers need only be contacted about cancellation if the case is resolved less than 48 hours before the hearing.

There is no need to contact us for cancellation unless the case is resolved less than 48 hours before the hearing.

INFOCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

When a document reflecting case resolution is filed, the court automatically dismisses the action and cancels all scheduled matters, so no contact with chambers is needed.

We automatically cancel all currently scheduled matters when a case is resolved. When a Notice of Settlement, Notice of Voluntary Dismissal, Confession of Judgment, Mediation Report Noting Settlement, or any other document reflecting resolution of the case is filed, the Court dismisses the action, retains jurisdiction, and cancels all currently scheduled matters automatically. There is no need to contact us and ask that matters be canceled.