Judge Jenny S. Higginbotham
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Law
Courtesy copies
Trial Or Hearing Set Memo
Court-wideAdjournments
- Continuances are disfavored, require good cause, and must be requested at least five days before the scheduled court date.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideDocument Format Requirements3 rules
All proposed orders must be submitted using the court’s e-filing instructions at the stated website.
All proposed orders must be submitted using the instructions found at https://www.jud4.org/proposed-orders-efiling.
Exhibits must be submitted in paper format with sufficient copies for the clerk, Court, and each party, and must use the prescribed party-number labeling format.
• Format: Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of the Court in paper format. 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. Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: ‘Petitioner/Plaintiff 1’ or ‘Respondent/Defendant A.’
Paper
Courtesy copies of case law and other documents must be submitted in PDF or Word format.
Format: PDF or Word document.
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
Hearings will be set only for motions filed with the Clerk.
Hearings will only be set on motions filed with the Clerk.
Document Type
Motion
A notice of hearing involving a remote appearance must list the Judge’s Zoom Meeting ID.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance will list the Judge’s Zoom Meeting ID.
Document Type
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 should contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
A request to appear remotely using communication technology must be made by motion.
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion.
Document Type
Motion
A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion stating the issues, reasons for emergency relief, and the time needed for each party’s presentation.
• Requirements: 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.
Document Type
Motion
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their contact information whenever the email account registered 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.
Document Type
Contact Information Update
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Courtesy copies must be submitted electronically.
Courtesy copies shall be submitted via electronic submission.
Page 4 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
All hearing materials must be received by the Court no later than three business days before the hearing.
The Court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than three (3) business days before the hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Counsel must submit the remote-appearance request no later than five days before the hearing.
Counsel must submit a request for remote appearance to the Court no later than five (5) days prior to the hearing.
Page 4 | C. Remote Appearance
Proposed orders must be submitted within ten days after the hearing.
Proposed orders must be submitted within ten (10) days after any hearing.
Page 4 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
All exhibits must be received in chambers three days before the evidentiary proceeding and may not be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
• Deadline for Submissions: All exhibits must be received in chambers three (3) days before the evidentiary proceeding. Exhibits may not be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 5 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
A hearing date and time are not secured until the moving party files and serves the Notice of Hearing.
Hearing dates and times are not secured until the moving party files the Notice of Hearing. The moving party must file and serve the notice of hearing.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The moving party must file and serve the notice of hearing.
The moving party is responsible for filing and serving the notice of hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The moving party must file the notice of hearing and serve it immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing will be filed by the moving party and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies of case law must be submitted to the Court in every evidentiary proceeding.
Courtesy copies of case law must be submitted to the Court for any evidentiary proceeding.
Page 4 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the Court at least three days before the hearing, with simultaneous copies provided to all other parties.
• Deadline for Submissions: Courtesy copies must be delivered to the Court at least three (3) days prior to the hearing with copies provided to all other parties at the same time.
Page 5 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored, require good cause, and must be requested at least five days before the scheduled court date.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A request for continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court date.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Communications to the judicial office must be submitted by email to the listed address and include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to vhester@coj.net. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested.)”
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties, and parties must follow the stated practices and procedures when contacting the judicial office.
Unsolicited communications from non- parties will not be considered by the Court. Parties may only contact the judicial office according to these practices and procedures.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
All parties must be copied on any email sent to the judicial office.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The requesting party must email the Judicial Assistant with the other party copied to obtain hearing availability.
The party requesting the hearing should email the Judicial Assistant, with the other party copied, to obtain availability.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Only the hearing-setting party may cancel a hearing, must email notice to the Judicial Assistant with opposing counsel copied, and must obtain confirmation from the Judicial Assistant.
Only the party setting a hearing may cancel it. Notification of cancellation must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with a copy to opposing counsel. Cancellation of a hearing MUST be confirmed with and by the Judicial Assistant.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Before requesting an administrative pass date, the requesting party must obtain the other party’s written position and forward it to the Judicial Assistant.
The party making the request must first contact the other party to obtain their position in writing. Once their position has been obtained in writing, it should be forwarded to the Judicial Assistant with the request.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Criminal defendants must appear in person unless their attorney waives their appearance.
All defendants in criminal proceedings must appear in person unless their appearance has been waived by their attorney.
Page 4 | C. Remote Appearance
If a case settles, the parties must immediately notify the Court by emailing the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net so the case can be removed from the trial calendar.
If the case settles, the parties shall immediately notify the Court, by emailing the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net, so that it may be removed from the trial calendar.
Page 6 | I. Setting Case for Trial
The Judicial Assistant cannot provide legal advice; urgent matters are addressed through instructions in an automatic email when the office is unattended, while nonurgent emails are answered after the Judicial Assistant returns.
The Judicial Assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice. If the Judicial Assistant is out of the office, an automatic email reply will provide instructions on how to get assistance for urgent matters. Emails that are not urgent will be answered upon the Judicial Assistant’s return to the office.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
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.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
A party requesting a motion hearing should contact the Clerk of Court for hearing availability and coordinate with opposing counsel or an unrepresented party.
The party requesting a hearing on a motion should contact the Clerk of Court at 904-548-4600 to obtain availability and then coordinate with opposing counsel or party if unrepresented.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A hearing may be scheduled only after the underlying motion has been filed with the Clerk.
Hearings will only be set on motions already filed with the Clerk.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
After coordinating dates, the parties must forward the email thread to the Judicial Assistant to confirm availability.
When the parties have determined which dates and times work for both, the email thread should be forwarded to the Judicial Assistant to confirm if the preferred dates are still available.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
After filing the remote-appearance motion, the moving party must email the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net to notify the Court.
After the motion is filed, the moving party should email the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net to inform the Court that the motion has been filed.
Page 4 | C. Remote Appearance
Parties must contact the Court’s Information Technology department in advance to coordinate technological issues for a trial or hearing.
Please contact the Court’s Information Technology department at 904 548-4520 to coordinate any technological issues in advance of the trial or hearing.
Page 4 | C. Remote Appearance
The parties may jointly submit a Trial Set Memorandum by email to the Judicial Assistant before the Case Management Conference, including the proposed mediator and trial weeks.
The parties may also jointly submit a Trial Set Memorandum prior to the Case Management Conference and provide it by e-mail to the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net along with (i) the proposed mediator and (ii) the proposed trial week(s).
Page 5 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
In civil cases, parties may email the Judicial Assistant at vhester@coj.net to request that the judge set a trial.
• Civil: Trials will be set by the judge in open court, or the parties may email the Judicial Assistant to set a trial at vhester@coj.net.
Page 6 | I. Setting Case for Trial