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

CRITICAL

Parties must confirm that the Court received any emergency motion.

Parties shall confirm the Court’s receipt of any “emergency” motions.

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Suggested hearing dates are not held, and a hearing is not scheduled until the office or judicial assistant confirms it.

Our office does not hold suggested dates for hearings and a hearing is not scheduled on the Court’s calendar unless you receive confirmation from our office/judicial assistant.

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Contact

Email to chambers

When filing an emergency motion and proposed order, email the judicial assistant immediately after filing the motion.

If you are filing an Emergency Motion and Proposed Order, please also send an email to the Judicial Assistant immediately upon filing the motion.

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A party seeking Zoom appearance must confirm approval with the judicial assistant at least ten days before the hearing, notify all other parties, and offer to include them in a conference call to the Court.

Any party who wishes to appear via Zoom must confirm approval to do so with his judicial assistant at least 10 days prior to the hearing, and must notify all other parties and offer to include them in a conference call to the Court.

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Share Zoom hearing information only with anticipated third-party participants and do not publish it publicly.

The Zoom hearing information shall be provided only to third parties who are anticipated to participate in the hearing and shall NOT be publicly published.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to stephensont@circuit8.org.

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Do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a judge about a case.

Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.

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A party requesting a hearing should contact the Judicial Assistant with the other parties on the line or by email at polkl@circuit8.org.

The party requesting a hearing on any pending motion should contact the Judicial Assistant with all other parties on the line or by email at polkl@circuit8.org.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must email the judicial assistant at the listed address to request a hearing.

The parties are to contact the judicial assistant by email at polkl@circuit8.org to request a hearing on any matter.

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After a hearing time is set, no party may add or notice additional matters for that time without the express consent of all parties and the Court.

Once a hearing time is set, no party may add or notice additional matters for that time without the express consent of all parties and the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Limit emails to the Judicial Assistant to hearing dates, times, and the amount of time needed.

Emails to the judicial assistant should be limited to dates, times and amount of time needed for the hearing.

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Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, including its restrictions on ex parte and other communications outside the parties’ presence.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

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Counsel must immediately notify the court if the parties resolve a motion, or any part of it, before the hearing.

If the parties resolve a motion prior to the hearing, or any portion of the motion, Counsel shall immediately advise the Court of the resolution.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the listed address, with the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to polkl@circuit8.org. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024-CA-000005 – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested.).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After the court confirms a hearing, parties must email a copy of the filed notice of hearing to the judicial assistant.

Once a hearing has been confirmed with the Court, the parties are to file the notice of hearing and email a copy of the notice to the judicial assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email to the judicial office must copy all parties unless the communication is legally authorized ex parte.

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

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Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

An emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the case number, case name, and “EMERGENCY” in the reference line.

Any emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the case number, case name and EMERGENCY in the reference line.

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Coordinate all hearings with opposing counsel.

All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.

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If a case settles after being set for trial, the parties must immediately notify the Court so the trial and pending hearings can be removed from the calendar.

IF THE CASE SETTLES AFTER IT IS SET FOR TRIAL, THE PARTIES SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COURT SO THAT THE TRIAL AND ALL PENDING HEARINGS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE COURT’S CALENDAR.

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

The parties shall not include the judicial assistant in any discussions about any substantive matter or disputes about whether a motion is appropriate.

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A hearing date and time are not secured until the Court sends confirmation.

Hearing dates/times are not secured until confirmation is sent from the Court.

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

It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the listed address with the county-coded case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to FeagleR@circuit8.org. The subject line must contain the case number including the county code, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 01-2024-CF-001234-A: State v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).

CRITICALCriminal cases

Communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding must comply with Canon 3, which generally prohibits ex parte communications and other communications outside the parties’ presence unless authorized by law.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the judicial office must copy all parties unless the communication is authorized by law to be ex parte.

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

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

To request hearing time, email the judicial assistant and include the county-coded case number, case style, courtesy copy of the motion or petition, and total time requested by both sides; the calendars are not available online.

The judge’s scheduling calendars are not available online. Please email FeagleR@circuit8.org to request hearing time. The email request should include: Case number, including county code Style of the case A courtesy copy of the motion(s) or petitions(s) being set The total amount of time requested from both sides

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

If the Court grants the motion, email the Zoom participant’s driver’s license or photo ID to the listed address immediately upon receiving the proposed order; alternatively, the witness may appear before a notary public.

If the Court grants the Motion, please email a Driver’s License or photo ID of the Zoom participant to FeagleR@circuit8.org immediately upon receipt of the proposed Order. This is required for identification purposes, or the witness can be in the presence of a Notary Public.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Once a motion or petition is scheduled, other matters may not be noticed for the same reserved time without the judicial assistant’s prior approval.

Once a motion or petition is scheduled, any other motions or matters may NOT be noticed at the same time reserved for the first motion unless prior approval has been obtained from the judicial assistant.

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Counsel must promptly respond to the moving party’s request with proposed dates received from the Judicial Assistant.

All counsel shall promptly respond to the moving party’s request with proposed dates received from the Judicial Assistant to facilitate this process.

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If the parties resolve all or part of a motion before the hearing, counsel must immediately notify the court.

If the parties resolve a motion prior to the hearing, or any portion of the motion, Counsel shall immediately advise the Court of the resolution.

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If a case settles after being set for trial, the parties must immediately notify the Court so the trial and pending hearings can be removed from the calendar.

IF THE CASE SETTLES AFTER IT IS SET FOR TRIAL, THE PARTIES SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COURT SO THAT THE TRIAL AND ALL PENDING HEARINGS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE COURT’S CALENDAR.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

If there is an unrepresented party involved in the case not using e-Portal, the proposed Order must be submitted to the Court in writing and emailed in word format, with sufficient copies for an original to be entered by the Court and a copy for each party not using e-Portal.

If there is an unrepresented party involved in the case not using e-Portal, the proposed Order must be submitted to the Court in writing and emailed in word format, with sufficient copies for an original to be entered by the Court and a copy for each party not using e-Portal.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to hallt@circuit8.org.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Do not include the Judicial Assistant in substantive discussions or disputes about a motion’s appropriateness; emails to the assistant should address only hearing dates, times, and duration.

The parties shall not include the judicial assistant in any discussions about any substantive matter or disputes about whether a motion is appropriate. Emails to the judicial assistant should be limited to dates, times and amount of time needed for the hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After the court confirms a hearing, the parties must email a copy of the notice of hearing to the judicial assistant.

Once a hearing has been confirmed with the Court, the parties are to file the notice of hearing and email a copy of the notice to the judicial assistant.

CRITICAL

Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, including its restrictions on ex parte and other communications outside the parties' presence.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

CRITICAL

All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.

All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A party requesting a hearing should contact the Judicial Assistant with all other parties on the line or by email at hallt@circuit8.org.

The party requesting a hearing on any pending motion should contact the Judicial Assistant with all other parties on the line or by email at hallt@circuit8.org.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.

CRITICAL

After a hearing time is set, no party may add or notice another matter for that time without the express consent of all parties and the Court.

Once a hearing time is set, no party may add or notice additional matters for that time without the express consent of all parties and the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Email every emergency motion to the Judicial Assistant and put the case number, case name, and “EMERGENCY” in the reference line.

Any emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the case number, case name and EMERGENCY in the reference line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the judicial office must copy all parties unless the law authorizes ex parte communication.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must request hearings by emailing the judicial assistant at the listed address.

The parties are to contact the judicial assistant by email at hallt@circuit8.org to request a hearing on any matter.

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If the court finds an emergency, it will schedule the hearing unilaterally, and all parties must be available unless exigent circumstances prevent it.

If the Court determines that an emergency exists, a hearing will be scheduled unilaterally by the Court. All parties shall make themselves available for the emergency hearing, barring exigent circumstances.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the listed address with the specified case information in the subject line.

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to SimoneauxA@circuit8.org. The subject line must contain the case number INCLUDING the county code, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 01-2023-CA-001234 – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested on X Motion.).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, and all parties must be copied on emails unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless 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

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing requests must be submitted using the hearing request page’s form to email them to the judicial assistant.

Please fill out the form on our hearing request page to email all hearing requests to SimoneauxA@circuit8.org.

CRITICAL

If a case settles after being set for trial, the parties must immediately notify the Court.

IF THE CASE SETTLES AFTER IT IS SET FOR TRIAL, THE PARTIES SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COURT SO THAT THE TRIAL AND ALL PENDING HEARINGS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE COURT’S CALENDAR.

CRITICAL

Counsel must immediately notify the Court if the parties resolve all or part of a motion before its hearing.

5. Cancelling Hearings: If the parties resolve a motion prior to the hearing, or any portion of the motion, Counsel shall immediately advise the Court of the resolution.