First Judicial Circuit of Florida, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Include the specified statement and judicial-preferences webpage in every Notice of Hearing.

Please include this statement in your Notice of Hearing: Counsel/Pro Se Parties shall review Judge Frydrychowicz’s preferences and procedures at https://www.firstjudicialcircuit.org/legal-professionals/judges/jennifer-frydrychowicz/

CRITICAL

Applies to

Filing

Must include

ai disclosure

A filing prepared using AI must include a statement acknowledging its use, accepting responsibility, and certifying independent review and verification; the certification may appear at the end of the body or above the signature block.

If AI is used in the preparation of any filing, the filing shall include a statement acknowledging the use of AI, accepting full responsibility for the contents of the filing, and certifying that all material within the filing has been independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. The certification may be included at the conclusion of the body of the filing or immediately above the signature block.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A Notice of Hearing must state the hearing date, time, type, and location, including whether it is at the courthouse or on Zoom.

Notice of Hearings must include the date, time, type of hearing, and location (courthouse or Zoom).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Form 2.603

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update contact information on Form 2.603 whenever their registered email account for electronic service changes.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Contact information

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused under the cited rule.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused pursuant to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Email

Every email must include the case number and case name in its subject line.

The subject line of any e-mail must contain the case number and case name (e.g., 2024 CA 001234 – Doe v. Doe).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order must list the names and email addresses of everyone who must receive electronic service of it.

Proposed orders must include the names and e-mail addresses of all parties who will need to receive e-service of same.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Each proposed order must be accompanied by a cover letter stating either that all parties agree or identifying any disagreement.

All proposed orders should be in Microsoft Word format and 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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A Notice of Hearing must contain the ADA notification required by the cited Florida rule.

Notice of Hearings must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing scheduling email

A hearing-scheduling email must identify the case and parties, hearing type, motions, requested hearing length, and any time sensitivity caused by an upcoming trial.

Your email must include the following: Case Number Party Names Type of Hearing Copy of Motion(s) to be set Length requested for hearing (make certain you request enough time for both sides to be heard) Please state whether this hearing is time sensitive due to an upcoming trial date

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency hearing motion

A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion identifying the issues, why an emergency hearing is necessary, and the time needed for each party’s presentation.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice for trial or motion for case management conference

A party must file a Notice for Trial or a Motion for Case Management Conference.

A party will file a Notice for Trial or Motion for Case Management Conference.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Hearing request

Must include

certificate of conference

A hearing will not be scheduled unless the required certificate is provided.

A hearing will not be set without the required certificate.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

The Court will not hear motions that were not properly scheduled and noticed.

The Court will not hear motions that have not been properly scheduled and noticed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court document

Filers remain responsible for AI-generated content and may not submit fabricated material, rely on AI-generated citations without independent authority, or fail to disclose AI use as required.

Each attorney or self-represented litigant remains solely responsible for the content of documents submitted to the court, and any AI-generated content shall be deemed the product of the filing party. Submission of fictitious, fabricated, or hallucinated legal authority, statutes, quotations, or facts; reliance on AI- generated citations without independent authority; or failure to disclose the use of AI as required by this order is prohibited.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court document

Must include

ai disclosure

A filer who uses AI to prepare a court document must disclose that use on the face of the filing.

Any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses AI in the preparation of a pleading, motion, memorandum, response, proposed order, or other court document must disclose such use on the face of the filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibits

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring enough copies of each exhibit for the clerk, Court, and every party to review at the hearing or trial.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Joint pretrial submission

Submit a 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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice for trial

File the Notice for Trial with the Clerk and serve it on all parties.

A Notice for Trial is filed with the Clerk and served on all parties.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A Notice of Hearing must contain the required ADA notification.

Notice of Hearings must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Motions that are not properly scheduled and noticed will not be heard.

The Court will not hear motions that have not been properly scheduled and noticed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion stating the issues, why an emergency hearing is necessary, and the time needed for each party's presentation.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written closing arguments

Written closing arguments must be submitted to the Court in Word by the date the Court provides.

Written closing arguments are due to the Court in Word. The Court will provide a due date.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A Notice of Hearing must state the hearing date, time, type, motion name and docket number, and location.

Notice of Hearings must include the date, time, type of hearing, motion name with respective docket number and location (courthouse or Zoom).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed final judgment

Counsel must prepare a proposed Final Judgment when directed and provide it to opposing counsel for redlining.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Emergency motion

A party seeking an emergency hearing based on a factual basis must file a detailed motion stating the issues, why an emergency hearing is necessary, and the presentation time needed for each party.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Form 2.603

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update their contact information using Form 2.603 whenever their registered electronic-service email account changes.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Each proposed order must include a cover letter certifying agreement by all parties or identifying any disagreement about the order.

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.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice for trial

A notice for trial must be filed to set the case for trial.

File a notice for trial to set the case for trial.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Every notice of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A notice of hearing involving a remote appearance must list the judge’s Zoom credentials.

A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judge’s Zoom credentials.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Every notice of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

All notices of hearing must contain the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

The motion must be filed and docketed before the proposed order is submitted.

The motion must be filed and docketed prior to submitting the proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

All proposed Orders should be titled as follows: Name, Case #, Title of Order.

All proposed Orders should be titled as follows: Name, Case #, Title of Order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

The moving party must prepare, file, and serve the hearing notice immediately after reserving hearing time.

It is the responsibility of the moving party to prepare, file, and serve a notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A notice of hearing for a Zoom hearing must include the Court’s Zoom ID.

If the hearing is scheduled to occur via Zoom, the notice must contain the Court's Zoom ID.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Remote appearance request

A request to appear remotely must be made by motion.

Any request to appear remotely must be made by motion.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

A participant requesting remote appearance must provide the Zoom link in the notice of hearing.

Participants requesting a remote appearance must provide the Zoom link in the notice of hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

Present any issue or matter for Judge Miller’s consideration in a motion filed with the Clerk and serve copies on all parties of record.

Any issue/matter to be considered by Judge Miller should be presented in the form of a motion filed with the Clerk of Court with copies served on all parties of record.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of court proceeding

Every notice of court proceedings must include the specified ADA notice and contact information.

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 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, Escambia County, 190 Governmental Center, 5th Floor, Pensacola, FL 32502, Phone (850) 595-4400, Fax (850) 595-0360, ADA.Escambia@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Once the hearing time has been confirmed, a Notice of Hearing should be filed with the Clerk of Court to advise all parties of the date, time and the matter to be heard.

Once the hearing time has been confirmed, a Notice of Hearing should be filed with the Clerk of Court to advise all parties of the date, time and the matter to be heard.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

When a proposed order applies to multiple cases, file a separate proposed order for each case number.

If a proposed Order applies to multiple case numbers, separate proposed Orders must be e-filed for each case number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Criminal evidentiary exhibit

Exhibits for criminal evidentiary proceedings must be presented at the hearing.

Exhibits for criminal evidentiary proceedings must be presented during the hearing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to continue

Every Motion to Continue must state that the State does not object to the continuance.

All Motions to Continue must state: “The State does not object to the continuance.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion to continue

A Motion to Continue for Docket Days must include the stated language that the State or Defense does not object.

All Motions to Continue must include the language “the State or Defense does not object to this Motion to Continue.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of court proceedings

Every notice of court proceedings must include the specified ADA notice.

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 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, Escambia County, 190 Governmental Center, 5th Floor, Pensacola, FL 32502, Phone (850) 595-4400, Fax (850) 595-0360, ADA.Escambia@flcourts1.gov.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Orders must contain “DONE and ORDERED,” leave room for the judge’s electronic signature, and omit the date because it is generated automatically.

Orders must include “DONE and ORDERED” with sufficient space for the judge’s e-signature. Do not write the date; it is auto generated.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion

A motion must be filed in the court file before it can be scheduled for hearing.

To schedule a Motion for hearing, the Motion must be filed in the court file.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of hearing

Every notice of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Request to cancel final hearing

A final hearing may be cancelled only by court order; the request must be written, filed with the Clerk, and emailed as a courtesy copy to the Judicial Assistant.

Cancelling Final Hearings: Final Hearings may only be cancelled by court order. Any such request must be in writing and filed with the clerk and a courtesy copy emailed to the Court’s Judicial Assistant.