First Judicial Circuit of Florida, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

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.

CRITICAL

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.

CRITICAL

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

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. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A hearing cancellation must be emailed to the judicial assistant immediately with a courtesy copy of the cancellation notice attached and, if cancellation follows resolution, a proposed order.

You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately via email with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation attached and a proposed order, if the hearing is cancelled due to a resolution of the pending matter.

CRITICAL

Communications about pending or impending proceedings must comply with Canon 3’s restrictions on ex parte communications 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 other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After coordinating dates with opposing counsel, the parties must email the judicial assistant, and the hearing is not set until the assistant confirms it.

After obtaining available dates, coordinate with opposing counsel to select dates that work for all parties. Once the parties have agreed on the potential date(s), please inform the judicial assistant via email, and she will reply to confirm that the time slot is still available, and the hearing is being set. The hearing is not considered set until you receive confirmation from the judicial assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the judicial office must copy all parties unless law authorizes otherwise.

All parties must be copied on any email directed to the judicial office, unless authorized by law.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

850-595-4453

If a hearing is scheduled within 24 hours, the judicial assistant must also be notified by phone at the listed number.

If the hearing is scheduled to occur within 24 hours, a phone call to the judicial assistant at 850-595-4453 is also required.

CRITICAL

Additional motions may not be added to an existing hearing without prior coordination, and the court will not hear motions that were not properly scheduled and noticed.

No additional motions should be added to the existing hearing time without first coordinating with the judicial assistant and other counsel/parties. The Court will not hear motions that have not been properly scheduled and noticed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Phone to chambers

After filing the motion in an urgent matter, call the judicial assistant to set a hearing.

Please email a courtesy copy of the motion to the judicial assistant and call to set a hearing after the motion is filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding must not be ex parte or otherwise outside the parties’ presence unless authorized by law.

Ex Parte Communications: All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct which prohibits judges from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte (one side only) communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

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

Contact

Email to chambers

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

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by email to Vanessa Barnett at vanessa.barnett@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After filing a notice for trial, email the Judicial Assistant to request a Case Management Conference.

File a notice for trial and email Judicial Assistant for a Case Management Conference.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails must identify the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

The subject line of any email must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g. 2024 DR 1234 CA-Jane Doe-Request for Hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

To request cancellation of a hearing, email the judicial assistant and include opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant whose email address is available.

Hearing may be cancelled by notifying the judicial assistant by email and including opposing counsel and any self represented litigant if email address is available.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Judicial-office communications must comply with Canon 3, and all parties must be copied 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 emailed to Vanessa Barnett at the listed address.

Hearings must be requested by e-mail to Vanessa.Barnett@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Call the judge’s office to schedule a Case Management Conference and obtain its Zoom link.

Call the judge’s office to set a CMC and to obtain a Zoom link for the CMC.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

(850) 609-1878

A self-represented litigant who wants to participate in hearing coordination must contact the Judicial Assistant by phone or email.

If a pro se litigant requests to be included in the coordination of a hearing, they must contact the judicial assistant by calling (850) 609-1878 or by email at eileen.vanboxtel@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Phone

850-609-1878

Schedule hearings by calling the judge’s office with opposing counsel’s office on the line.

All hearings will be scheduled by calling the judge’s office at 850-609-1878 along with any opposing counsel’s office on the line.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850)609-4700

If ADA accommodations are needed, contact Court Administration at least seven days before the court date.

Please contact Court Administration at (850)609-4700 at least seven (7) days prior to the court date if you need ADA Accommodations.

CRITICAL

A Case Management Conference is required when the case is ready for trial and the parties request a hearing of three or more hours.

Must have a Case Management Conference when case is ready for trial when parties are requesting a hearing of three or more hours.

CRITICAL

Non-parties must not send unsolicited communications to the judicial office.

Unsolicited communications from non-parties are improper and will not be considered by the court.

CRITICAL

Communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding must comply with Canon 3 and may not be ex parte 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.

CRITICAL

Contact the judge’s office to schedule a Case Management Conference when requesting a hearing of three or more hours.

File a Notice of Readiness for non-jury trial, contact the judge’s office to set a CMC if requesting three or more hours.

CRITICAL

Notify the judge’s office immediately by phone or email when cancelling a hearing.

Notification to the judge’s office must be made immediately either by phone call or email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless the ex parte communication is 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

Probate/Guardianship hearing requests are scheduled through the judicial assistant after the motion is filed. Requests for a hearing date should be sent by e-mail to kimberly.eaton@flcourts1.gov and the request should include all parties.

Probate/Guardianship hearing requests are scheduled through the judicial assistant after the motion is filed. Requests for a hearing date should be sent by e-mail to kimberly.eaton@flcourts1.gov and the request should include all parties.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Probate and guardianship proposed orders must be submitted in Word format to the listed email address.

All proposed orders shall be submitted in Word format to esc.divu.eserve@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Proposed orders in probate and guardianship cases are directed to the listed email address.

Probate/Guardianship cases – esc.divu.eserve@flcourts1.gov

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Proposed orders must be sent by email to the appropriate address.

Please e-mail ALL proposed orders in Microsoft Word with the case name, number and title of document (Ex. Jones 18 CF 1111 Order to Withdraw) to the appropriate e-mail address:

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Submit courtesy-copy materials by email to the Court’s Judicial Assistant.

Submission Method: Via email to the Court’s Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Communications about pending or impending cases must occur at hearings or through documents filed in the court file and served on all parties; the restriction also applies to the judicial assistant.

Method of Communication: Judge Stone is restricted by principles of judicial ethics from communicating about pending or impending cases outside of hearings or documents filed in the court file and served on all parties. This restriction also applies to Judge Stone's judicial assistant, Mrs. Natalie.

CRITICAL

A communication to the Judge without prior notice to the opponent is improper unless extreme circumstances and applicable law permit it.

Ex parte Communications: Communication to the Judge without prior notice to the opponent is “ex parte” and improper except in extreme circumstances and as specifically provided by applicable law. If the litigant does not know of any applicable law permitting a particular ex parte communication, it is improper.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If the motion is not yet docketed, a file-stamped copy may be emailed to the judicial assistant with all parties copied and notice that the proposed order was submitted through the e-Portal.

If the Motion has not yet been docketed, you may e-mail a file-stamped copy to the Judicial Assistant copying all parties and advise that you have submitted the proposed Order through the e-Portal.

WARNING

The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.

Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850) 595-4533

Request an interpreter from Court Administration by telephone at the listed number.

Contact Court Administration to request an interpreter at (850) 595-4533 or Trinidad.SerranoBennitt@flcourts1.gov.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Parties should request remote appearance when the hearing is coordinated, using email.

Parties should make their request to appear remotely at the time the hearing is being coordinated by email or telephone.

WARNING

The judicial assistant may not recommend lawyers or advise a party on handling matters pending before the judge.

Judge Brodersen’s Judicial Assistant is not permitted to recommend specific lawyers or advise a party on how to handle the matters pending before the judge.

WARNING

The judge and her judicial assistant may not give legal advice.

Judge Brodersen and her Judicial Assistant are not permitted to give legal advice.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850) 595-4400

Request ADA accommodations from Court Administration by telephone at the listed number.

Contact Court Administration to request ADA Accommodations (850) 595-4400 or ADA.Escambia@flcourts1.gov .

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with the judicial office should be submitted by email to the listed address.

Method of Communication: All communications with this office should be submitted by e-mail to Michelle.Gibbs@FLCourts1.gov or by telephone at (850) 595-4464.

WARNING

Only the judge may excuse a party from a court appearance; the judicial assistant lacks that authority.

Judge Brodersen’s Judicial Assistant does not have the authority to excuse a party from court appearances. Only the judge can grant that request.

WARNING

Parties may contact the judicial office only as these procedures allow, and the Court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.

Unsolicited Communications: Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures. Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the Court.

WARNING

Attorneys delayed by other court appearances or unforeseen circumstances should notify the judicial assistant.

Attorneys who are delayed due to other court appearances or unforeseen circumstances should notify the judicial assistant.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

After receiving available dates, coordinate with opposing counsel, preferably agree on several potential dates, and email the agreed dates to Ms. Newsom for confirmation.

Once Ms. Newsom provides available dates, coordinate with opposing counsel to select dates that work for all parties. It is recommended that the parties agree on several potential dates in case one of the dates is no longer available by the time the hearing is confirmed. Once the parties have agreed on the potential date(s), please inform Ms. Newsom via email, and she will reply confirming that the time slot is still available and finalizing the hearing being set.