Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Adjournments
- Submit only unopposed motions to continue with a proposed order; include the required no-objection wording and file and provide the motion by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before Docket Day, or the case remains set for Docket Day.
Request must include
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
All proposed Orders must be submitted in Word format and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
- File type
- Word
Administrative Order 2015-32 requires that all notices of court proceedings include the following ADA notice (in Times New Roman or Courier, 14-point bold font):
Format: PDF
- File type
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Motion must include “the State or Defense do not object to this Motion to Continue,”
Any issue/matter to be considered by Judge Gordon should be presented in the form of a Motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies provided to all parties of record.
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
Administrative Order 2015-32 requires that all notices of court proceedings include the following ADA notice (in Times New Roman or Courier, 14-point bold font):
If a proposed Order applies to multiple case numbers, separate proposed Orders must be e-filed for each case number.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judicial Zoom credentials.
Only unopposed Motions to Continue and proposed Orders are to be submitted to the Court.
- Document
- Motion
Include
- •Proposed order
The Motion should also include opposing party’s position or lack of response to your request for their position.
The requesting party should include the amount of time requested, whether the defendant is in custody or out of custody and any other parameters that should be considered.
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.
Exhibits for criminal evidentiary proceedings must be presented during the hearing. However, if both the State and Defense stipulate to the Court considering certain evidence prior to the hearing (such as a forensic interview for a Child Hearsay hearing), the physical exhibit may be sent to the judicial assistant for the judge to review in chambers, prior to the hearing.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Submit proposed orders through the “Proposed Order” portion of the Florida Courts-E-Filing Portal.
All proposed Orders must be submitted to the Court by the “Proposed Order” portion of the Florida Courts-E-Filing Portal pursuant to Administrative Order ECAD 2021-03.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
File and provide a motion to continue to the judge by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before Docket Day; otherwise, the case remains set and the continuance is addressed at Docket Day.
Motion must include “the State or Defense do not object to this Motion to Continue,” and be filed and provided to the judge by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding Docket Day. If the judge’s office does not receive the Motion by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding Docket Day, the case will remain set and the continuance addressed at Docket Day.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit courtesy copies within 48 business hours before the hearing date.
Within forty-eight (48) business hours before the hearing date.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Any memoranda, case law or other documents the parties wish the judge to consider prior to a hearing should be e-mailed or otherwise delivered at least forty-eight (48) business hours prior to the hearing.
Any memoranda, case law or other documents the parties wish the judge to consider prior to a hearing should be e-mailed or otherwise delivered at least forty-eight (48) business hours prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The stated notice period is at least 10 days before trial to allow subpoenas and juror summonses to be arranged.
Notice Period: At least ten (10) days prior to the trial date to ensure subpoenas can be timely issued and sufficient jurors are summoned/available
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Serve all parties with a copy of any written document filed in the court file.
Written documents filed in the court file (with a copy served on all parties); and
Page 1 | Information for Pro Se Litigants
Serve the notice of cancellation immediately on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Provide courtesy copies to opposing parties.
Submission Method: Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court by e-mail to winona.smith@flcourts1.gov and opposing parties.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Provide copies of a motion to all parties of record.
Any issue/matter to be considered by Judge Gordon should be presented in the form of a Motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies provided to all parties of record.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Provide proposed orders to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
All proposed Orders must be submitted in Word format and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Provide copies of the submitted materials to all parties in the matter.
Copies should be provided to all parties in the matter.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Email courtesy copies to the court at the specified address and provide them to opposing parties.
Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court by e-mail to winona.smith@flcourts1.gov and opposing parties.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies of case law and other documents are required when they will be relied upon in a proceeding.
When it is to be relied upon in a proceeding.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Submit only unopposed motions to continue with a proposed order; include the required no-objection wording and file and provide the motion by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before Docket Day, or the case remains set for Docket Day.
Only unopposed Motions to Continue and proposed Orders are to be submitted to the Court. Motion must include “the State or Defense do not object to this Motion to Continue,” and be filed and provided to the judge by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding Docket Day. If the judge’s office does not receive the Motion by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding Docket Day, the case will remain set and the continuance addressed at Docket Day.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Contact the judicial assistant directly by email and phone for emergency or urgent matters.
Contact the judicial assistant directly via email and phone for all emergency and/or urgent matters.
Page 1 | F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
It is the responsibility of the moving party to set the Motion for hearing. To request a hearing, the requesting party should e-mail a copy of the filed Motion to Judge Gordon's Judicial Assistant (copying all parties). The requesting party should include the amount of time requested, whether the defendant is in custody or out of custody and any other parameters that should be considered.
It is the responsibility of the moving party to set the Motion for hearing. To request a hearing, the requesting party should e-mail a copy of the filed Motion to Judge Gordon's Judicial Assistant (copying all parties). The requesting party should include the amount of time requested, whether the defendant is in custody or out of custody and any other parameters that should be considered.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The moving party must email the judicial assistant for available hearing dates after filing a motion.
When a Motion is filed, it is up to the party who filed the motion to email the JA and ask for available dates to set the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Immediately notify the judicial assistant to cancel a hearing if the motion is withdrawn, conceded, or no longer needed.
If a Motion that has been set for hearing is being withdrawn, conceded, or no longer needed for any reason, you must cancel the hearing by notifying Judge Gordon's Judicial Assistant immediately.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Do not communicate with Judge Gordon about a pending case outside a hearing except as authorized by law.
Judge Gordon will not discuss pending cases with any party outside of a hearing. 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 (one side only) communication and from considering other communication outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Judge Gordon will not discuss pending cases outside a hearing, and the judicial assistant cannot relay messages about a pending case.
Judge Gordon will not discuss pending cases with any party outside of a hearing. Judge Gordon's Judicial Assistant cannot take a message pertaining to a pending case from a party, family member, or other person to pass to Judge Gordon.
Page 1 | Information for Pro Se Litigants
Copy all parties on emails or writings to the judicial office unless the communication is authorized ex parte by law.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail or writing directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte (one side only) communication is authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Communicate with Judge Gordon about assigned cases through filed written documents served on all parties or through court hearings.
Communication with Judge Gordon regarding cases assigned to him can take two forms: Written documents filed in the court file (with a copy served on all parties); and Court hearings
Page 1 | Information for Pro Se Litigants
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. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The judicial assistant cannot recommend specific lawyers or advise a party on handling a pending matter.
Judge Gordon's Judicial Assistant is not permitted to recommend specific lawyers or advise a party on how to handle the matters pending before the judge.
Page 1 | Information for Pro Se Litigants
Judge Gordon and the judicial assistant cannot give legal advice, including recommendations about filings, forms, documents, opposing parties, or litigation prospects.
Judge Gordon and his judicial assistant are not permitted to give legal advice. “Legal advice” means suggesting things that might be filed, evaluating the sufficiency of information on a form, interpreting any document, evaluating the conduct of an opposing party or lawyer, and giving an opinion about the likelihood of success of an action in litigation.
Page 1 | Information for Pro Se Litigants
Parties should request remote appearance when the hearing is being coordinated.
Parties should make their request to appear remotely at the time the hearing is being coordinated.
Page 1 | C. Remote Appearance
Emails to the judicial office and written communications must identify the case name and case number.
The subject line of an email or the body of a writing, must include the case name and case number (e.g., Smith - 2025 CF 001234).
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Contact Court Administration by phone or email to request an interpreter.
Contact Court Administration to request an interpreter at (850) 595-4533 or Trinidad.SerranoBennitt@flcourts1.gov.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Communications to the judicial office may be made by email, writing, or telephone, with email preferred.
Method of Communication: Communications to the judicial office may be made by email, writing, or telephone, with email preferred.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office