Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida (Monroe County) Filing Rules

All emails and telephonic communications should be directed to the Judicial Assistant, either via telephone or by e-mail, and should be limited to scheduling matters.

Motion hearings are scheduled through the Judicial Assistant by email.

Civil hearing-time requests may be made by phone or email to the Judicial Assistant and must state the case number, time needed, motion title, and preferred hearing platform.

Schedule civil hearings through the Judicial Assistant, preferably by email with the specified case and motion details; confirm all counsel are available and reconfirm with the JA before noticing the hearing.

Update contact information using Form 2.603 whenever the email account registered for electronic service changes.

Civil motions must be filed with the Clerk before hearing time is requested.

Each proposed order submitted through the E-Filing Portal must have a separate PDF cover letter.

A proposed order submission must include a corresponding cover letter indicating whether the opposing party or counsel agrees or objects to entry.

The separate cover letter submitted with each proposed order must be in PDF format.

The separate cover letter accompanying each proposed order must be in PDF format.

Submit proposed orders in Word format and provide them to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

Proposed orders must be submitted in Word format with the correct DJMCA codes; an order not in Word format will not be entered and may be rejected without notice.

File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.

Hard copies of exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk at least five business days before the scheduled hearing.

Beginning June 15, attorneys must submit proposed orders through the State of Florida E-Filing Portal.

Attorneys should submit proposed orders through the State of Florida E-Filing Portal for the Court’s review and signature.

Submit proposed orders through the proposed-order portion of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Submit proposed orders through the e-portal with a cover letter stating whether opposing counsel or the opposing party agrees or objects to entry.

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for receiving signed orders electronically unless excused.

All communications to the court must be copied to all parties and counsel.

Continuances are disfavored and require good cause; lack of due diligence is not a ground, successive requests are highly disfavored, and the requesting party must sign the motion unless good cause is shown.

A motion to continue must be filed with the Clerk and emailed to the Judicial Assistant with a proposed order at least three business days before the hearing; confer with opposing counsel about agreement and note any disagreement in the email.

Stipulations for continuance are not typically accepted, but may be submitted to Judge Jones for review in extreme extenuating circumstances.

Deliver stipulations for continuance to the judge’s office at least four business days before the pretrial conference.

Submit courtesy copies of case law and exhibits the party wants the Court to consider for any hearing or trial.

Copies of notices, motions, memoranda of law, exhibits, and the exhibit list must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant as a hyperlink at least five days before the scheduled hearing.

Provide the Court copies of all documents to be considered at a hearing before the hearing.

Meet and confer before filing any non-dispositive motion.

Attorneys must confer before forwarding a proposed order to the Judge.