Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 62 rules apply across Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 30
  • Applies to
    Motion
    Must include
    case number

    A motion must be entered on the clerk's docket, with its docket number provided, before hearing time may be requested.

  • Applies to
    Motion to set for hearing

    A motion to set a hearing is required when the requested hearing will exceed one hour.

  • Applies to
    Notice of hearing

    The notice of hearing must satisfy Rule 2.530(b), including identifying the communication technology and providing access directions.

Filing Timing

All 13
  • Counsel may not file a notice of hearing until the court confirms the hearing by email.

  • Counsel must file a compliant notice of hearing within three days after hearing confirmation, identifying the communication technology and providing access directions.

  • Proposed orders for remote-hearing requests must be submitted at least one week before the hearing.

Communication

All 7
  • Contact
    Email to clerk

    All scheduling must be conducted by email with the clerk.

  • Contact
    Email

    Proposed orders subject to this direction must be emailed directly to the judicial assistant.

  • The court must be notified upon settlement so the case can be removed from the trial docket.

Service

All 6
  • Service
    Electronic service

    The court cannot use electronic service as the sole method for a party who has not filed a Notice of Designation of Email Address.

  • Service
    Email

    All pro se parties must serve a designation of a primary email address, and may obtain the form from the clerk of court.

  • Applies to
    Papers and pleadings
    Service
    Mail to opposing party

    Further papers and pleadings may be served by mail or email, and service is complete upon mailing or emailing.

About Judge Angela M. Cox

Judge Angela Cox has served as a member of the Florida Judiciary for 20 years. She was appointed to the Circuit Court in the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2014 by Governor Rick Scott. She has presided over cases in all divisions of the Circuit Court currently presiding in the Dependency Court. Judge Cox previously served as a County Court Judge after being appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2005. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Cox practiced as a criminal prosecutor. Judge Cox has served as the Dean for the Florida Judicial College and served on its faculty for more than 17 years. She currently serves as a faculty trainer for the Florida Judicial College. The Florida Judicial College presents a variety of educational programs for new judges, experienced judges, and some court staff. Judge Cox serves as faculty for the National Judicial College where she presents judicial education courses across our nation. In addition, she serves as a faculty trainer for the National Judicial College. Judge Cox received the Jurist of the Year Award in 2022 from the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. In 1998, Judge Cox received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis School of Law and is a graduate of Tennessee State University.

**Division or court number:** E **Court level:** Circuit **Address:** Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex (Clay County Courthouse), Chamber 4-081, 825 N. Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 **Phone:** 904-529-2704

Common questions about Judge Angela M. Cox's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Angela M. Cox?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions, reports, drug screen results, and home studies. Details: delivery at least 2 business days before hearing. Materials the Court is to consider at a hearing must be filed as courtesy copies at least two business days beforehand, and they may also be emailed to Judge Cox’s chambers.

View ruleSource: page 4, section SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS TO THE COURT

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Angela M. Cox?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Any issue submitted for decision should be presented by a motion filed with the clerk, with copies provided to all parties of record.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COMMUNICATION

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge Angela M. Cox?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. After approval or a reasonable opportunity to object, the hearing or motion proponent must email the proposed order to the court for signature.

View ruleSource: page 4, section PROPOSED ORDERS

How may parties contact Judge Angela M. Cox's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Angela M. Cox's clerk. The rule lists email gonzalezd@clayclerk.com. The required correspondence should be emailed to Judge Cox’s Judicial Assistant, Donna Gonzalez, at gonzalezd@clayclerk.com.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COMMUNICATION

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Angela M. Cox?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A proposed order ordinarily must be submitted to the court within 14 days unless a different deadline is specified at the hearing or trial.

View ruleSource: page 4, section PROPOSED ORDERS

What rule applies to service for motion before Judge Angela M. Cox?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. The Court will generally consider only motions scheduled for hearing and served on every party.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COMMUNICATION
Complete rules summary for Judge Angela M. Cox

The Court will generally consider only motions scheduled for hearing and served on every party.

Any issue submitted for decision should be presented by a motion filed with the clerk, with copies provided to all parties of record.

Merely filing a motion does not present it to the judge; counsel must provide the judge a copy with a cover letter or email stating the time needed to hear the matter and whether evidence will be presented.

The required correspondence should be emailed to Judge Cox’s Judicial Assistant, Donna Gonzalez, at gonzalezd@clayclerk.com.

Requests for relief must be submitted as a motion or formal pleading filed with the clerk.

Opposing counsel or the opposing party must be copied on filed correspondence and pleadings, or the inquiry may not be considered.

Materials the Court is to consider at a hearing must be filed as courtesy copies at least two business days beforehand, and they may also be emailed to Judge Cox’s chambers.

Counsel must place a good-faith conferral certification at the end of any motion not agreed upon by the parties, using either of the two stated certification alternatives.

When some issues have been resolved by agreement, the conferral certification must identify both the resolved issues and the unresolved issues.

A proposed order ordinarily must be submitted to the court within 14 days unless a different deadline is specified at the hearing or trial.

After a hearing, a proposed order that must be submitted to the court should first be circulated among the parties for approval.

After approval or a reasonable opportunity to object, the hearing or motion proponent must email the proposed order to the court for signature.

If parties continue to dispute proposed-order terms, the hearing or motion proponent must submit the proposed order with an explanatory email, although the quoted text does not specify what the email must outline.

Before submitting an agreed or consent order, the preparing office must provide an advance copy to the opposing side and confirm no objection to the order's form.

The judge must be notified when an agreed or consent order is submitted that the opposing side agrees or has no objection or position on the requested relief, with the agreement shown in the order title or cover letter.

A copy of the motion must be included when submitting a proposed agreed or consent order.

A motion to set a hearing must be filed with the clerk, and a courtesy copy must be emailed to the judicial assistant.

Email requesting a hearing must state whether the hearing is evidentiary and how much time is requested, and must include all parties of record.

No additional matters may be added to a hearing unless the Court approves the addition.

Judge Cox's office should be notified of any hearing cancellation as soon as practicable.

Every unrepresented party must complete and read the instructions for Family Law Form 12.915, designating the party's current mailing and email address.

More Judges in Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties

Ashley Wells Cox
Judge
Bruce Anderson
Judge
Eric Roberson
Judge
G. L. Feltel Jr.
Judge
Gary L. Wilkinson
Judge
Hector Murcia Bustos
Judge
James E. Kallaher
Judge