Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Notice of Cancellation, Proposed Order
- Email • Immediately
Adjournments
- A continuance motion must specifically state the reason, when the basis became known, and whether the motion is opposed.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Phone
Document Format Requirements3 rules
Written closing arguments are due to the Court in Word.
Formatting
- •Word format
If the parties disagree on the language in an order, please email a redline in Word format directly to the judicial assistant at kaitlyn.dalton@flcourts1.gov.
Formatting
- •Word format
All proposed orders or judgments should be in Microsoft Word format and accompanied by a cover letter certifying that all parties agree to the entry of the proposed orders, if applicable.
Formatting
- •Microsoft Word format
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
Attorneys email Judge Brown’s JA a Joint Pretrial Statement and Joint Equitable Distribution Grid five (5) business days before the Pretrial Conference.
A Notice for Trial is filed with the Clerk and served on all parties.
Notice of Hearings must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
The Court will not hear motions that have not been properly scheduled and noticed.
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.
Written closing arguments are due to the Court in Word. The Court will provide a due date.
Notice of Hearings must include the date, time, type of hearing, motion name with respective docket number and location (courthouse or Zoom).
The Court will review closing arguments and issue findings via email and direct counsel to prepare a proposed Final Judgment and provide it to the opposing counsel to red-line.
All proposed orders or judgments should be in Microsoft Word format and accompanied by a cover letter certifying that all parties agree to the entry of the proposed orders, if applicable.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
E-file memoranda, case law, and exhibits for the judge at least three business days before the hearing.
Any memoranda, case law, and/or exhibits that parties wish for the judge to consider prior to or at a hearing should be e-filed at least three business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit Probate and Guardianship orders through the Florida Courts e-Portal to Okaloosa Probate-Guardianship Only, except for the listed excluded documents.
All Probate and Guardianship orders (EXCLUDING Petitions and Checklists for Fees, or Orders arising from a hearing before the judge) should be submitted through the Florida Courts e-Portal to the Okaloosa Probate-Guardianship Only.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Email Domestic Violence proposed orders directly to Jeanie Piland.
All Domestic Violence proposed orders should be emailed directly to Jeanie Piland at jeanie.piland@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Proposed orders should be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Proposed orders should be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
For an evidentiary hearing, file all exhibits with the Clerk three business days before the hearing.
When set for an evidentiary hearing, the Court requires all exhibits to be filed with the Clerk three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Unless an order provides otherwise, file exhibits with the Clerk at least three business days before the hearing.
Unless otherwise set forth in an order, exhibits shall be filed with the Clerk at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
File exhibits with the Clerk 10 days before trial.
Exhibits shall be filed with the Clerk ten (10) days prior to the Trial.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Unless Judge Brown specifies otherwise, the prevailing attorney must submit a proposed order within seven calendar days after the hearing.
Unless otherwise specified by Judge Brown, the prevailing attorney shall submit a proposed order no later than seven (7) calendar days after the hearing.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
File and serve the Notice of Hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The Joint Pretrial Statement and Joint Equitable Distribution Grid are due five business days before the Pretrial Conference.
Attorneys email Judge Brown’s JA a Joint Pretrial Statement and Joint Equitable Distribution Grid five (5) business days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Interpreter requests must be received at least seven business days before the proceeding.
Requests for spoken language court interpreters must be received at least 7 business days in advance of the scheduled proceeding.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Expert and non-expert witness disclosures are due 60 days before the Pretrial Conference.
Expert and Non-Expert Witness Disclosures due sixty (60) days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Exhibits should be filed with the Clerk at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Exhibits should be filed with the Clerk at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Expert and non-expert witness depositions are due 30 days before the Pretrial Conference.
Expert and Non-Expert Witness Depositions due thirty (30) days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Attorneys must confer about potential settlement 10 days before the Pretrial Conference.
Attorneys shall confer and discuss potential settlement opportunities ten (10) days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Complete mediation 20 days before the Pretrial Conference.
Mediation shall be completed twenty (20) days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Complete discovery 30 days before the Pretrial Conference.
Discovery shall be completed thirty (30) days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
E-file memoranda, case law, and exhibits for the judge at least three business days before the hearing.
Any memoranda, case law, and/or exhibits that parties wish for the judge to consider prior to or at a hearing should be e-filed at least three business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Serve the Notice for Trial on all parties.
A Notice for Trial is filed with the Clerk and served on all parties.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
The person submitting an order must select all relevant parties for electronic service.
It is the responsibility of the person submitting the order to make sure all relevant parties are selected for e-service.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Serve the Notice of Hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
Notice of Hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Serve the Notice of Cancellation on opposing counsel or any self-represented litigant.
The Notice of Cancellation must be served upon opposing counsel, or any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Notify any court reporter, witness, or other affected person when a hearing is cancelled.
It is your responsibility to notify any court reporter, witness, etc. of the hearing being cancelled.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
For a hearing cancelled because the matter was resolved, provide the judicial assistant with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation and a proposed order by email immediately.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via email with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation and a proposed order, if the hearing is cancelled due to resolution of the pending matter.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
To bring an e-filed document to the Court’s attention, the moving party must send a courtesy copy to the judicial assistant.
The Court is not notified when documents are e-filed. To bring a filing to the Court’s attention, the moving party shall send a courtesy copy to the judicial assistant.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance motion must specifically state the reason, when the basis became known, and whether the motion is opposed.
Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant and (2) whether the motion is opposed.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
If a hearing is cancelled because the matter was resolved, immediately email the judicial assistant and provide the Notice of Cancellation and a proposed order.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via email with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation and a proposed order, if the hearing is cancelled due to resolution of the pending matter.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Schedule hearings by emailing the judicial assistant.
Hearings must be scheduled by e-mailing the judicial assistant at kaitlyn.dalton@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the judicial assistant.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to kaitlyn.dalton@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless the law authorizes otherwise.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Email Judge Brown's judicial assistant the Joint Pretrial Statement and Joint Equitable Distribution Grid five business days before the Pretrial Conference.
Attorneys email Judge Brown’s JA a Joint Pretrial Statement and Joint Equitable Distribution Grid five (5) business days before the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Contact the Okaloosa County Court Administration ADA Liaison for ADA accommodations at the listed phone number.
Court Administration, ADA Liaison Okaloosa County (850)609-5430
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
No additional motions should be added to the existing hearing time without first coordinating with the judicial assistant and other counsel/parties.
No additional motions should be added to the existing hearing time without first coordinating with the judicial assistant and other counsel/parties.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Emails to the judicial office must include the case number and case name in the subject line.
The subject line of any e-mail must contain the case number and case name (e.g., 2025 DR 1234 – Doe v. Doe).
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
A hearing-scheduling email must include opposing counsel and self-represented parties, use reply all, identify the case and parties, list the motions and docket numbers, state the time needed, and flag trial-related urgency.
When emailing the judicial assistant to set a hearing, please include the following in your email: Opposing counsel and any self-represented party must be included on the email thread. Please be sure to always select “reply all” when responding. Case Number Party Names Motions to be set along with their respective docket numbers Length of time needed Please notate in your email if this hearing is time sensitive due to an upcoming trial date.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
For Probate or Guardianship matters, contact case manager Thomas Golden by email.
If you are reaching out regarding a Probate or Guardianship case, you will need to contact the Probate-Guardianship case manager, Thomas Golden. He can be reached by email at thomas.golden@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
If the parties disagree about an order's language, email a Word-format redline directly to the judicial assistant.
If the parties disagree on the language in an order, please email a redline in Word format directly to the judicial assistant at kaitlyn.dalton@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Contact the judicial assistant to obtain available case management conference dates; the Court will then enter the setting order.
You will reach out to the judicial assistant to obtain available case management dates and then the Court will enter an Order Setting Case Management Conference.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
For Domestic Violence Injunction matters, contact case manager Jeanie Piland by email.
If you are reaching out regarding a Domestic Violence Injunction, you will need to contact the Domestic Violence case manager, Jeanie Piland. She can reached by email at jeanie.piland@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Send Domestic Violence proposed orders by email to Jeanie Piland at the stated address.
All Domestic Violence proposed orders should be emailed directly to Jeanie Piland at jeanie.piland@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
For interpreter requests in Okaloosa County, you can reach out to (850) 226-8926.
For interpreter requests in Okaloosa County, you can reach out to (850) 226-8926.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
As a best practice, email the filed emergency motion to the judicial assistant so it can be reviewed promptly.
In addition to filing the motion, it is always best practice to email a copy of the filed motion to the judicial assistant to ensure it is reviewed timely.
Page 1 | F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters