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

WARNING

Temporary relief hearings are generally one hour and should be scheduled through OnceHub.

Temporary Relief Hearings will generally be scheduled for 1 hour. Temporary relief hearings should be scheduled via OnceHub.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If no hearing date is available on OnceHub, the scheduling party should email the Judicial Assistant and copy opposing counsel and any pro se litigants.

If parties are unable to identify a hearing date and time on OnceHub, the scheduling party should e-mail the Judicial Assistant, copying opposing counsel and any pro se litigants, to coordinate the scheduling of the hearing.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Before calling the Judicial Assistant to schedule, attorneys should conference call with opposing counsel and call from the same line.

Before calling the Judicial Assistant, please conference call with the opposing attorney so that both attorneys are calling in on the same line.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(850) 226-8926

Request an interpreter from the Court Interpreter at least three business days before the hearing or trial by phone or email.

If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contactLorena Cardenas, Court Interpreter, at (850) 226-8926 or Lorena.Cardenas@flcourts1.gov at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing or trial.

WARNING

A party in a case where each party is self-represented must advise the Family Law Case Manager when the filing is made.

The party shall advise the Family Law Case Manager of the filing.

WARNING

The moving party must schedule a case management or status conference using the stated scheduling procedures.

The moving party must schedule the CMC or status conference pursuant to the procedures noted under the above Scheduling Procedures.

WARNING

Schedule hearings requiring more than one hour with the Judicial Assistant.

Any hearing requiring more than 1 hour is scheduled with the Judicial Assistant.

WARNING

The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties, and parties must follow the stated communication procedures.

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

WARNING

Schedule criminal hearings over three hours with the Judicial Assistant and all other criminal hearings with the Clerk of Court.

Criminal hearings requiring more than 3 hours are scheduled by contacting the Judicial Assistant. All other criminal hearings are scheduled with the Clerk of Court.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

(850) 609-4700

Contact the ADA liaison at least seven days before the appearance, or immediately upon receiving the notice if fewer than seven days remain; hearing- or voice-impaired persons should call 711.

at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

WARNING

Schedule civil hearings of one hour or less through the court’s OnceHub platform.

Civil Hearings requiring 1 hour or less must be scheduled using the court’s online scheduling platform, OnceHub: https://go.oncehub.com/Judgeclark.

WARNING

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

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

WARNING

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.

WARNING

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.

WARNING

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.

WARNING

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).

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the listed address with opposing counsel or the self-represented litigant copied.

Method of Communication: All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by email to denise.moffitt@flcourts1.gov with copy to opposing counsel or self-represented litigant.

WARNING

If no objection to the Notice of Readiness for Trial is filed, the moving party must schedule a case management or status conference using the hearing instructions.

If no objection is filed to the Notice of Readiness for Trial, the moving party must schedule the CMC or status conference through the hearing instructions outlined above.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

A hearing-scheduling email must include opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

Opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant must be included in the email.

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

Email to chambers

Proposed orders relating to a hearing should be emailed to the judicial assistant in Microsoft Word format.

All proposed orders relating to a hearing should be emailed to the judicial assistant at denise.moffitt@flcourts1.gov in Microsoft Word format.

WARNING

A hearing date is not protected or final until the judge’s office is notified that the parties coordinated it.

Dates will not be protected/final until the judge’s office is notified that the hearing date has been coordinated.

WARNING

The judicial assistant must not be included in parties’ conferrals about availability or discussion of the case.

Moreover, the judicial assistant shall not be included in conferrals between the parties regarding availability or otherwise discussing the case.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must not use email to argue substantive issues.

Attempts to argue substantive issues through email will not be tolerated.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850) 595-4533

Request an interpreter for a hearing or trial by contacting Court Administration at the listed phone number or email address.

Interpreter Requests: If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contact Court Administration to request an interpreter at (850) 595-4533 or Trinidad.SerranoBennitt@flcourts1.gov.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850) 595-4400; 711 if hearing or voice impaired

Contact the ADA Liaison at least seven days before the court appearance, or immediately upon receiving notice if fewer than seven days remain; hearing- or voice-impaired persons may call 711.

ADA Accommodations: Please contact: Court Administration, ADA Liaison, Escambia County, 190 Governmental Center, 5th Floor, Pensacola, Florida 32502, Phone (850) 595-4400 Fax (850) 595-0360 ADA.Escambia@flcourts1.gov at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with the judicial office may be by phone or email; emails must copy all parties and include the case name and number in the subject line.

Method of Communication: Communication is by phone or email. Emails must include all parties, and the subject line must contain the case name and case number.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Email to the Judicial Assistant should not contain substantive arguments outside scheduling dates; such an email will be deleted in full.

Arguing the merits of any case by way of email that includes the Judicial Assistant is disfavored and triggers professional rules regarding ex parte communications. The parties and all counsel are advised that if the Judicial Assistant receives an email that contains any substantive argument outside of scheduling dates, the Judicial Assistant will delete the entire email including any contents that may relate to scheduling.

WARNING

The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties, and parties may contact the judicial office only as permitted by these procedures.

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

WARNING

A hearing is not cancelled unless and until the court confirms the cancellation.

Be advised that no hearing is cancelled until confirmed by court.

WARNING

When a hearing is no longer necessary, promptly cancel the reserved time with the judicial assistant and notify the office.

Upon determining that a hearing is no longer necessary, please cancel the time set aside with the judicial assistant as soon as possible. The ONLY way this office knows of a cancellation is through your notification.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

To schedule a hearing, email the judicial assistant with the opposing party or attorney, requested available dates and times, and the hearing duration.

To schedule a hearing, please email the judicial assistant and include the opposing party/attorney, request available dates and times and indicate the amount of time needed.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If an exhibit or attachment cannot be prepared in MS Word, the proposed order may be emailed directly to the judicial assistant at the stated address.

In the event a proposed order has an exhibit or other attachment that can’t be accomplished using MS Word, you may email the order directly to the judicial assistant at tiffany.coulter@flcourts1.gov.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

you should also provide copy of the motion to the JA via email.

you should also provide copy of the motion to the JA via email.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with the Judicial Assistant should be made by email or phone.

Method of Communication: Communication with the Judicial Assistant should take place by emailing eileen.vanboxtel@flcourts1.gov or by calling 850-609-1878.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing dates will not be provided separately, and hearings will not be set by email.

Dates for a hearing will not be passed out. The judicial assistant will not set hearings by email.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Phone

(850)595-4533

Contact Trinidad Serraano Bennitt for interpreter requests.

Contact Trinidad Serraano Bennitt at (850)595-4533 Trinidad.Serranobennitt@flcourts1.gov

WARNING

Have the case number ready when calling or emailing the Judicial Assistant.

Please be prepared with the case number of the case you are calling or emailing about.

WARNING

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

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

WARNING

Contact

Email

Phone

(850) 623-3159

A person needing disability accommodation should contact the listed ADA Liaison at least seven days before the appearance, or immediately if fewer than seven days remain; hearing- or voice-impaired persons may call 711.

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, ADA Liaison, Santa Rosa County, 4025 Avalon Blvd, Milton, Florida, 32583, Phone (850) 623-3159, Fax (850) 982-0602, ADA.SantaRosa@flcourts1.gov at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

WARNING

Do not cross-notice a hearing without coordinating and obtaining express authorization from opposing counsel and the Judicial Assistant.

Do not “cross notice” a hearing without coordinating express authorization with opposing counsel and the Judicial Assistant.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications with 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 with the judicial office be submitted by e-mail to dawn.fallon@flcourts1.gov. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2025 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe).

WARNING

Judicial assistants may assist with procedural and scheduling inquiries only, and may not make substantive inquiries of the judge or provide legal advice.

The Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judicial assistants from making substantive inquiries of the judge on behalf of any attorney or litigant involved in any action. Judicial assistants are neither qualified nor able to provide legal advice to anyone. They may assist with procedural and scheduling inquiries only.

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

Schedule hearings by emailing the Judicial Assistant.

Please schedule hearings through the Judicial Assistant by email.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If a scheduled hearing is no longer necessary, immediately email the Judicial Assistant.

If it is determined that a scheduled hearing is no longer necessary, you must notify the Judicial Assistant immediately via email.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Phone

(850) 595-4533

Contact the Supervising Court Interpreter by phone or email if an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial.

If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contact the Supervising Court Interpreter at (850) 595-4533 or Trinidad.SerranoBennitt@flcourts1.gov.

WARNING

The moving party may schedule a case management or status conference through the online scheduling platform after coordinating with opposing counsel or the self-represented party.

The moving party may schedule the case management conference or status conference through the online scheduling platform after coordinating with counsel for the other party or the pro-se party.

WARNING

Parties may contact the judicial office only as these procedures permit, 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

Contact

Email to chambers

Email an e-filed copy of an Emergency Motion to the Judicial Assistant for the Court’s consideration.

Requirements: An e-filed copy of the Emergency Motion should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for consideration by the Court.