Court Rules
Judge

Judge Thomas J. Brown

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Florida 18 Judicial Circuit (Brevard, Seminole)

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Amended Notice Of Hearing, Cross Notice Of Hearing

Court-wide
  • Email

Motion

Court-wide
  • Within 10 Days After Service

Notice Of Hearing

Court-wide
  • Email

Objection To Order Of Referral To General Magistrate

Court-wide
  • 1 copy • Email

Adjournments

  • Continuance requests must be made in writing.
  • For a continuance request, contact the ER State Attorney; if there is no objection, the new ER court date must be included on the proposed Continuance Order.

Request must include

Adversary Position

Communication

Email

Chambers

nancy.hickman@flcourts18.org
Scheduling
Phone
Court-wide

Chambers

+1 386-310-1754
Emergencies
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements1 rule

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026Mandatory

If requesting a continuance, contact with the ER State Attorney and if no objection, the ER State Attorney will provide a new ER court date and this date is required to be included on any proposed Continuance Order submitted to the Judge.

DocumentProposed Continuance Order

Judge Browns Policies and Procedures · p. 3|SecEarly Resolution Hearings

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Motions must be e-filed and copied to the opposing side for objection or input.

Motions must be E-filed, copied to the opposing side for objection/input.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Motions

A request for a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception may be made by e-filing a motion with the Clerk and copying the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours before the event.

Parties may request special exception for TEAMS/remote appearances by E-Filing a Motion with the Clerk of Court and copying the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours prior to the Court event.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | TEAMS/SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS

Motions and orders must not be submitted through E-Portal.

Motions and orders are not to be submitted through E-Portal.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 2 | Motions

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

A motion requesting a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception must be submitted at least 48 hours before the court event.

Parties may request special exception for TEAMS/remote appearances by E-Filing a Motion with the Clerk of Court and copying the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours prior to the Court event.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | TEAMS/SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS

If required, counsel must submit the fingerprint card with the original Plea in Absentia paperwork before the court date.

Counsel shall submit a fingerprint card (if required) with the original plea in absentia paperwork prior to the court date.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 3 | Pleas

Plea in Absentia paperwork must be submitted to the Judicial Assistant before the scheduled court date.

Plea in Absentia paperwork must be submitted to Judge Brown’s Judicial Assistant prior to the scheduled court date.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 3 | Pleas

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Motions must be copied to the opposing side for objection or input.

Motions must be E-filed, copied to the opposing side for objection/input.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Motions

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Continuance requests must be made in writing.

Continuances must be requested in writing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Hearing times/JACS

For a continuance request, contact the ER State Attorney; if there is no objection, the new ER court date must be included on the proposed Continuance Order.

If requesting a continuance, contact with the ER State Attorney and if no objection, the ER State Attorney will provide a new ER court date and this date is required to be included on any proposed Continuance Order submitted to the Judge.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 3 | Early Resolution Hearings

Chambers Communication Rules

If there is no objection, attorneys must email the motion to the Judicial Assistant, copy the opposing party, and include language stating there is no objection; the Judicial Assistant will prepare an appropriate order.

If no objection, the attorneys shall email the motion to the Judicial Assistant, copying opposing party and including the language of no objection. The Judicial Assistant will prepare an appropriate Order.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Motions

Motions and orders should be emailed directly to the Judicial Assistant.

All motions and orders should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant directly.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Motions

JACS is not used to coordinate or schedule hearings; contact the Judicial Assistant by email for assistance.

As hearing times are often set quickly, Judge Brown does not use JACS for coordinating and scheduling hearings. Please contact Judicial Assistant, Nancy Hickman at: nancy.hickman@flcourts18.org for assistance.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 10, 2026

Page 2 | Hearing times/JACS

Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for hearing-scheduling needs.

Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for your scheduling needs.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | How to sign up for a JACS Account

Contact the Judicial Assistant if the desired docket is not listed in JACs.

If you don’t see the docket you are looking for within the JACs list, please get in touch with the Judicial Assistant.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | Scheduling Hearings

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 218 rules apply across Florida 18 Judicial Circuit (Brevard, Seminole). Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 90
  • Applies to
    Extradition waiver

    An extradition waiver must be written, executed before a judge, and state that the person consents to return to the demanding state.

  • Applies to
    Waiver of counsel

    If an indigent defendant wishes to waive counsel, a full Faretta inquiry may be conducted and the defendant must place the waiver of counsel on the record.

  • Applies to
    Probable cause arrest affidavit

    Probable-cause arrest affidavits for probation or community-control violations must include the specified supervision and case information; unsupported database assertions are insufficient.

Communication

All 37
  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Email is the most effective way to communicate with the Court, but emails to a Judicial Assistant must not include legal argument or substantive discussion of case facts.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    For additional information or assistance, contact the judicial assistant by email.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Court approval is required to set a hearing over two hours, and pre-approval is required for a temporary relief hearing over one hour if mediation is incomplete; the request should be emailed to the Court with the motion and requested hearing duration.

Formatting

All 21

  • Exhibits must be pre-marked with stickers identifying the offering party, hearing date, and case number.

  • Each exhibit must be marked in sequence with an identifying letter.

  • Format
    PAPER

    For an in-person hearing, bring a hard copy of every exhibit intended to be offered into evidence.

Service

All 19

  • A release for failure to meet specified time periods requires a judge’s order and notice to the state; at daily first appearance hearings, receipt of the docket copy by the state attorney satisfies notice.

  • Applies to
    Arrest report and related documents
    Service
    Court service

    Booking officers must provide one copy of the arrest report and related documents to the arrested person at first appearance and deliver another copy to the clerk with the original.

  • Applies to
    Pretrial release forms and counsel affidavits
    Service
    Court service to clerk

    Pretrial release forms, appointment-of-counsel affidavits, and related documents must be delivered to the first appearance clerk.

More categories

View all Florida 18 Judicial Circuit (Brevard, Seminole) rules
Common questions about Judge Thomas J. Brown's rules

What must be included with proposed continuance order filings before Judge Thomas J. Brown?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A proposed Continuance Order submitted to the Judge must include the new ER court date provided by the ER State Attorney when there is no objection.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Early Resolution Hearings

How may parties contact Judge Thomas J. Brown's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Thomas J. Brown's chambers. If there is no objection, attorneys must email the motion to the Judicial Assistant, copy the opposing party, and include language stating there is no objection; the Judicial Assistant will prepare an appropriate order.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motions

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Thomas J. Brown?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. Continuance requests must be made in writing.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Hearing times/JACS

Is electronic filing required before Judge Thomas J. Brown?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. A request for a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception may be made by e-filing a motion with the Clerk and copying the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours before the event.

View ruleSource: page 2, section TEAMS/SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS

What filing deadlines does Judge Thomas J. Brown set?

A motion requesting a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception must be submitted at least 48 hours before the court event.

View ruleSource: page 2, section TEAMS/SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS

What rule applies to serving the opposing party before Judge Thomas J. Brown?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Motions must be copied to the opposing side for objection or input.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motions
Complete rules summary for Judge Thomas J. Brown

Contact the Judicial Assistant if the desired docket is not listed in JACs.

Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for hearing-scheduling needs.

A request for a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception may be made by e-filing a motion with the Clerk and copying the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours before the event.

A motion requesting a TEAMS or remote-appearance exception must be submitted at least 48 hours before the court event.

Motions must be e-filed and copied to the opposing side for objection or input.

Motions must be copied to the opposing side for objection or input.

If there is no objection, attorneys must email the motion to the Judicial Assistant, copy the opposing party, and include language stating there is no objection; the Judicial Assistant will prepare an appropriate order.

Motions and orders must not be submitted through E-Portal.

Motions and orders should be emailed directly to the Judicial Assistant.

Continuance requests must be made in writing.

JACS is not used to coordinate or schedule hearings; contact the Judicial Assistant by email for assistance.

Plea in Absentia paperwork must be submitted to the Judicial Assistant before the scheduled court date.

If required, counsel must submit the fingerprint card with the original Plea in Absentia paperwork before the court date.

For a continuance request, contact the ER State Attorney; if there is no objection, the new ER court date must be included on the proposed Continuance Order.

A proposed Continuance Order submitted to the Judge must include the new ER court date provided by the ER State Attorney when there is no objection.

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