Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union Counties Filing Rules

A written notice of appearance for a previously self-represented party or for co-counsel must be filed with the court and served on all parties.

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their contact information whenever their registered electronic-service email changes.

Emails to the judicial office must identify the county-coded case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

Attorneys and pro se parties must disclose AI use in covered filings and certify that every legal and record citation has been verified.

For a jointly agreed motion submitted without a hearing, the moving party should forward the motion and a proposed agreed order to the Court.

Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the stated address.

Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the listed address.

Do not include the Judicial Assistant in discussions about substantive matters or disputes over whether a motion is appropriate.

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to callowayc@circuit8.org with the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

Contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain the remote platform meeting ID.

The court must assign each civil case to one of three case management tracks no later than 120 days after the action commences.

The Court must receive a paper copy of each side’s pre-marked evidence by the deadline in the specific order, typically five business days before the hearing.

Before requesting hearing time, confirm that the motion has been filed, served on all parties, and docketed; no hearing time will be provided for a motion that is not filed and docketed.

An order will not be entered until the Clerk has docketed and imaged the motion.

File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after the hearing time is confirmed.

Emails to the judicial office must include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

Hearing materials must be submitted in hard copy.

Witnesses expected to testify must have video capability activated to be sworn.

Submit proposed orders through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal in Microsoft Word format.

Participants in Zoom hearings must use audio and video; if video is unavailable, the matter must be set for an in-person hearing.

Motions, pleadings, memoranda, and case law may be provided to the Court by email, U.S. Mail, or hand delivery.

Deliver copies of motions and memoranda at least seven business days before the hearing; the listed materials may be provided by email, U.S. Mail, or hand delivery.

When a party is unrepresented and does not use e-Portal, submit the proposed Order in writing with an original and a copy for each such party.

The email request should include: Case Number Style of case A courtesy copy of the motion(s) or petition(s) to be set The Total amount of time requested for both sides.

A courtesy copy of the motion(s) or petitions(s) being set

The plaintiff must serve the standing order on each named defendant along with the complaint.

The filing attorney must serve the notice of hearing and the motion.

Comments or requests must be filed in writing with the Clerk and served on all other parties.

A copy of a written comment or request filed with the Clerk’s Office must be served on all other parties.

The Court will not enter an order appointing a special process server outside its jurisdiction.

Do not file proposed orders with the Clerk or through the e-portal.

Notices of hearing must be filed electronically.

For a hearing longer than 30 minutes, a party may request remote appearance due to extenuating circumstances by filing a motion and proposed order through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at least seven days before the hearing.

Submit proposed orders through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; a proposed order sent by mail or email must be in PDF format.

Attorneys should email proposed orders in probate and guardianship cases to Mirelis Torres.

The court will not consider a motion to continue without client consent and a good-faith-effort statement.

For good cause shown, the trial judge has discretion over extensions of deadlines to serve process on defendants.

A motion to continue must include a client consent and good faith effort statement or the court will not consider it.

The court will not consider a motion to continue unless it is accompanied by client consent and a good-faith-effort statement.

For a non-appeal transcript, the approved reporter may request more time from the requesting attorney or, if the attorney cannot extend the time, from the court.

Before filing a motion, the moving party must confer in good faith with opposing counsel to try to resolve the issues.

Before filing a motion, the moving party must confer in good faith with opposing counsel to try to resolve the issues.

Before scheduling a discovery-motion hearing, moving counsel must confer with opposing counsel and contemporaneously file a certificate describing the good-faith effort and its unsuccessful result.

If the attorney cannot obtain the client’s consent or completed email designation, the motion to withdraw or substitute counsel may be set for hearing.

Before filing a motion, the moving party must make a good-faith effort to confer with opposing counsel; stating that counsel was unavailable does not satisfy that duty.

A deposit equal to half the estimated transcript cost is required before work begins.

A deposit equal to half the estimated transcript cost is required before work begins.

Grand jury proceeding audio recordings must be transferred to a CD, provided to the clerk, and sealed.

Grand jury proceedings are recorded to audio, transferred to a CD provided to the clerk, and the recording is sealed.

A witness’s driver’s license number may be redacted except for its last four digits, and the month and day of birth may be redacted while the year remains visible.

The Court encourages parties to coordinate, where possible, to submit one copy of supporting materials.

The Court encourages parties, where possible, to work together to submit one copy of the supporting materials.

The Court encourages parties to coordinate, where possible, to submit one copy of supporting materials.

Proposed orders should be limited to ten pages unless leave of Court for a longer order is obtained.

Proposed orders should be limited to ten pages unless leave of Court for a longer order is obtained.