Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Law
- 3 Days Before Hearing
Motion
- 1 copy
- 1 copy • Email
Notice of Cancellation
- 1 copy
Notice of Hearing
- 1 copy • Email
Adjournments
- A continuance request must be submitted at least seven days before the scheduled court date.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Document Format Requirements4 rules
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal in Microsoft Word format.
- File type
- Word
All exhibits should be pre-marked with a letter for identification.
Formatting
- •Pre-mark each exhibit with a letter for identification
All orders shall have a 2” by 3.5″ blank space on the first page of the order in the upper right-hand corner.
Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: Petitioner/Plaintiff 1 or Respondent/Defendant 1.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
An Index of Exhibits shall be included with an indication of whether each exhibit has or has not been stipulated to by the parties.
- Document
- Exhibit submission
Must include
- •Exhibit list
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: (1) the issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
All orders shall include a certificate of service at the bottom of the order.
- Document
- Order
Must include
- •Certificate of service
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the Judicial Zoom credentials.
Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Please indicate the name of the party who is to receive the order, as well as that party’s email/e-service address and mailing address.
Parties should have a completed plea petition with the applicable attachments at the time of the scheduled court event.
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.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal OR via email to polkl@circuit8.org
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal OR via email to polkl@circuit8.org
Page 1 | Submissions of Orders and Judgements — Submission Method
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal in Microsoft Word format.
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal in Microsoft Word format.
Page 1 | Submissions of Orders and Judgements — Format
Exhibits are not accepted by email and should be delivered in a binder to Judge Davis’ office, Room 409, no later than five days before the hearing.
The Court no longer accepts exhibits by e-mail. All exhibits should be sent to Judge Davis’ office (Room 409) in a binder no later than 5 days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings — Deadline for Submissions
Exhibits are not accepted by email and should be delivered to Judge Davis’ office in a binder no later than five days before the hearing.
The Court no longer accepts exhibits by e-mail. All exhibits should be sent to Judge Davis’ office in a binder no later than 5 days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Submission Deadlines
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Exhibits should be delivered in a binder to Judge Davis’ office no later than five days before the hearing.
The Court no longer accepts exhibits by e-mail. All exhibits should be sent to Judge Davis’ office in a binder no later than 5 days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Submission Deadlines
Proposed orders must be submitted within ten days after a hearing unless the court orders a shorter period.
Proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after any hearing, unless specifically ordered to be submitted within a shorter period of time.
Page 1 | Submissions of Orders and Judgements — Deadline for Submissions
A notice of cancellation must be filed and served immediately on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant, with a courtesy copy provided to the Judicial Assistant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on the opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant with a courtesy copy provided to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Cancelling Hearings
Exhibits should be delivered in a binder to Judge Davis’ office, Room 409, no later than five days before the hearing.
The Court no longer accepts exhibits by e-mail. All exhibits should be sent to Judge Davis’ office (Room 409) in a binder no later than 5 days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings — Deadline for Submissions
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after hearing time is received.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after receiving hearing time.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The notice of cancellation must be served on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on the opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant with a courtesy copy provided to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Cancelling Hearings
A notice of hearing must be served immediately after hearing time is received.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after receiving hearing time.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless the communication is legally authorized 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.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies of case law for evidentiary proceedings must be submitted to the court three days before the hearing.
Courtesy copies of case law must be submitted to the court three days prior to the hearing for any evidentiary proceeding.
Page 1 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
A courtesy copy of the notice of cancellation must be provided to the Judicial Assistant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on the opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant with a courtesy copy provided to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Cancelling Hearings
A courtesy copy of the motion(s) being set
A courtesy copy of the motion(s) being set
Page 1 | Scheduling Procedures
A courtesy copy of the filed motion shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at polkl@circuit8.org
A courtesy copy of the filed motion shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at polkl@circuit8.org
Page 1 | Submissions of Orders and Judgements — Format
A courtesy copy of the notice of hearing shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
A courtesy copy of the notice of hearing shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown.
Page 1 | Continuance Procedure
A continuance request must be submitted at least seven days before the scheduled court date.
A request for continuance must be submitted at least seven days prior to the scheduled court date.
Page 1 | Continuance Procedure
Chambers Communication Rules
Hearings must be canceled by immediately notifying the Judicial Assistant.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately.
Page 1 | Cancelling Hearings
A hearing-time email request should include the case number, case style, a courtesy copy of the motion or motions, and the total time requested for both sides.
The email request should include: Case Number Style of Case A courtesy copy of the motion(s) being set The total amount of time requested for both sides
Page 1 | Scheduling Procedures
For ADA accommodations, contact the ADA Coordinator at least seven days before the court appearance, or immediately upon receiving notice if fewer than seven days remain.
Please contact the ADA Coordinator, Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center, 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601, phone# 352 337 6237 at least 7 days prior to your scheduled Court appearance or immediately upon receiving the notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days.
Page 1 | Other Division Procedures — ADA Accommodations
Hearing time must be requested by email to PolkL@circuit8.org.
Please email PolkL@circuit8.org to request hearing time.
Page 1 | Scheduling Procedures
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronically receiving signed orders unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.
Page 1 | E-Filing Portal Contact Information
Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to PolkL@Circuit8.org.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to PolkL@Circuit8.org.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
The Judicial Assistant must be contacted to obtain the Zoom meeting ID.
Contact the judicial assistant to obtain the platform meeting ID#.
Page 1 | Remote Appearance
A hearing is not on the court calendar until the Judicial Assistant confirms it.
A hearing is not set on the Court’s calendar unless you receive confirmation from the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
Only parties may contact the judicial office under these procedures.
Only parties may contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Email polkl@circuit8.org to arrange a drop-off for exhibit binders.
Please email polkl@circuit8.org to make arrangements to drop off your binder(s).
Page 1 | Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings — Submission Method
Once a motion or petition is scheduled, other motions or matters may not be noticed for the same 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 without prior approval from the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Other Scheduling Procedures
Change-of-plea matters generally should not be set at Case Management and should instead be set on the appropriate docket.
Changes of Plea are not generally accepted at Case Management and should be set on the appropriate docket.
Page 1 | Change of Plea
Emails to the judicial office must include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 CC 001234 – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested.)
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
All messages on the telephone should be accompanied by an email message.
All messages on the telephone should be accompanied by an email message.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Change-of-plea matters should be set on the Criminal General docket unless specially set with the Judicial Assistant.
Changes of Plea should be set on the Criminal General docket unless specially set with JA.
Page 1 | Change of Plea
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office
A plea expected to last more than 15 minutes should be specially set on the judge’s calendar.
Any plea expected to last more than 15 minutes should be specially set on the judge’s calendar.
Page 1 | Change of Plea
Do not call the Court expecting to speak with a judge about a case.
Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.
Page 1 | Judge William E. Davis
Mail comments to the Clerk’s Office in the appropriate county.
If you have a comment to make, please mail it to the Clerk’s Office in the appropriate county.
Page 1 | Judge William E. Davis
Do not contact Chief Judge Davis’ office directly about residential foreclosure or Division MG matters; direct questions to the appropriate case manager.
Please do not contact Chief Judge Davis’ office directly regarding any RESIDENTIAL FORECLOSURE OR DIVISION MG matter. Any questions regarding any residential foreclosure or Division MG matter should be directed to the appropriate case manager.
Page 1 | Judicial Assistant
The Court considers only arguments made in court or in documents filed by actual parties, not other opinions or arguments about the case.
Please keep in mind that the Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in court and documents filed by actual parties to the case. They cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case,
Page 1 | Judge William E. Davis
Judicial Assistants do not provide legal advice.
Judicial Assistants are not authorized to provide legal advice.
Page 1 | Communications with the Judicial Office