Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 181 rules apply across Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Orange and Osceola Counties. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 99
  • Applies to
    Child support guidelines worksheet

    The Child Support Guidelines Worksheet must match the child support amount stated in the Final Judgment.

  • Applies to
    Proposed final judgment

    Counsel must bring the original proposed Final Judgment to the final hearing.

  • Applies to
    Proposed final judgment
    Must include
    certificate of service

    The proposed Final Judgment must include a proper certificate of service naming both parties.

Service

All 20
  • Applies to
    Final judgment

    After the Final Judgment is signed, counsel must sign its certificate of service and provide copies to all parties.

  • Applies to
    Income deduction order

    A copy of the Income Deduction Order must be served on the obligor’s payor or payors.

  • Applies to
    Income deduction order

    The obligor must notify the obligee and, when applicable, the IV-D agency within seven days after a change in address or payor information.

Communication

All 17
  • Contact
    Phone to clerk
    Phone
    407-836-2059

    Employers and income withholders may contact the Orange County Clerk of Courts by phone at 407-836-2059, by email, or through the court website for questions.

  • Contact
    Phone to clerk
    Phone
    407-836-2059

    Employees and obligors may contact the Orange County Clerk of Courts by phone at 407-836-2059, by email, or through the court website for questions.

  • Contact
    Phone to clerk
    Phone
    407-836-2059

    Questions may be directed to the Orange County Clerk of Courts by phone at 407-836-2059 or by email/website at the listed address.

Formatting

All 14

  • All incorporated exhibits must be properly tagged with a Clerk’s evidence tag.

  • Every checklist line must be completed with a date, and check marks, Xs, and N/A entries are prohibited.

  • The Income Withholding for Support form must be regular on its face.

More categories

View all Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Orange and Osceola Counties rules
About Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell

**Sonia Henriques McDowell** is listed as a current judicial officer of the [Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida](https://ninthcircuit.org/judges/circuit). The circuit publishes these sections on the profile page: Judicial Assignment, Education, Professional Activities.

**Current assignment** **Division or department:** Circuit Criminal, Division 12 / 1 **Courtroom:** 6-A **Chambers:** Orange County Courthouse **Phone:** 407.836.2024 **Judicial assistant:** Tiana Johnson **Judicial assistant email:** 12orange@ninthcircuit.org **Official sources**

Common questions about Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for demand for speedy trials and notice of expirations. Details: delivery immediately upon filing, by email. Defense counsel must email a courtesy copy of a speedy-trial demand or notice of expiration immediately upon filing it.

View ruleSource: page 13, section H. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS — 1. Calendar Calls on Speedy Trial Demands and Hearings on Notices of Expiration

Does Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Counsel are expected to confer in good faith to resolve or narrow disputes before a hearing, and failure to do so may result in cancellation, summary denial, or sanctions.

View ruleSource: page 6, section 6. Pre-Motion Conferral

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell's formatting rule includes word format and required only if neither party requests a hearing on the bond motion. When neither party requests a bond hearing, the proposed order submitted with the motion must be in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 4, section A. HEARINGS AND MOTIONS — 2. Bond Hearings

What must be included with bond motion filings before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

The rule requires proposed order. If neither party requests a bond hearing, defense counsel must send a proposed order in Word format with the motion to the Judicial Assistant's email address.

View ruleSource: page 4, section A. HEARINGS AND MOTIONS — 2. Bond Hearings

What must be included with notice of hearing filings before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The movant must wait for Judicial Assistant confirmation and then file a notice of hearing.

View ruleSource: page 3, section A. HEARINGS AND MOTIONS — 1. Setting of Hearings

How may parties contact Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications. If no dates have been set, the State must promptly email the court with defense counsel copied or file a motion requesting new dates.

View ruleSource: page 7, section B. RECURRING SCHEDULED HEARINGS

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. A continuance request must be made in writing, with forms available for requests made at pretrial conference.

View ruleSource: page 8, section C. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A motion to continue filed less than 48 hours before pretrial may not be ruled on before the hearing, and the parties must attend or arrange coverage.

View ruleSource: page 8, section C. PRETRIAL CONFERENCE

What rule applies to service for motion before Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by email, recipient: the opposing party. Counsel must immediately email a copy of a competency-examination motion to 12orange@ninthcircuit.org and copy opposing counsel.

View ruleSource: page 12, section G. COMPETENCY PROCEEDINGS
Complete rules summary for Judge Sonia Henriques McDowell

If no dates have been set, the State must promptly email the court with defense counsel copied or file a motion requesting new dates.

If neither party requests a bond hearing, defense counsel must send a proposed order in Word format with the motion to the Judicial Assistant's email address.

Email is the preferred form of communication.

Hearings not already set in open court must be scheduled by emailing the Judicial Assistant and copying all counsel.

Before seeking hearing confirmation, the parties must select an available hearing, agree on a time with opposing counsel, and then request confirmation by email from the Judicial Assistant.

The movant must wait for Judicial Assistant confirmation and then file a notice of hearing.

When counsel in good faith believes another motion or matter needs an expedited hearing, counsel must note that request in the hearing request to the Judicial Assistant.

Counsel must immediately notify the Court of any hearing conflict or other unavailability so the Court can determine whether an alternative date or time is available.

When neither party requests a bond hearing, the proposed order submitted with the motion must be in Word format.

Where otherwise allowed by law, a participant may appear by videoconference at a non-evidentiary proceeding without a formal motion or order but must notify the Judicial Assistant by email in advance.

A motion to transfer based on a related case must be emailed to the Administrative Judge and should be accompanied by a proposed order in Word format.

The proposed order accompanying a motion to transfer should be submitted in Word format.

Counsel are expected to confer in good faith to resolve or narrow disputes before a hearing, and failure to do so may result in cancellation, summary denial, or sanctions.

A party filing a motion for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must immediately email a copy to the court.

Waivers of arraignment filed less than 48 hours before the arraignment time should be provided to the Court by email.

A continuance request must be made in writing, with forms available for requests made at pretrial conference.

A motion to continue filed less than 48 hours before pretrial may not be ruled on before the hearing, and the parties must attend or arrange coverage.

A motion to continue must state the opposing party’s position and describe good cause with detail appropriate to the number of prior continuances.

A proposed order in Word format should accompany a motion to continue.

A motion to continue a status hearing should be submitted 48 hours before the hearing, state the opposing party’s position, and describe the good cause for the requested continuance.

A proposed order in Word format should accompany a motion to continue.

The proposed order accompanying a motion to continue should be submitted in Word format.

Counsel must immediately email a copy of a competency-examination motion to 12orange@ninthcircuit.org and copy opposing counsel.

Defense counsel should bring proposed orders addressing requested expert appointment, unopposed competency or incompetency findings, placement or release terms, and other relief expected at the competency status hearing.

Defense counsel must email a courtesy copy of a speedy-trial demand or notice of expiration immediately upon filing it.

A party may request an additional case-management conference by email and must identify the matters to be addressed.

The Assistant State Attorney must submit a proposed transport order when a proceeding requires a defendant held in another county to appear.

The Assistant State Attorney must submit a proposed writ of habeas corpus ad prosequendum when a proceeding requires a federal-custody defendant to appear.

Counsel must email the Judicial Assistant about interpreter needs for defendants or witnesses as soon as those needs become known.

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