Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties Chambers Communication Rules

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Contact

Email to chambers

To request hearing time, email the judicial assistant with the case number, party names, matters to be heard, and total time required; the scheduling party must contact the other parties to determine their time needs.

Hearing time may be obtained by sending an email to my Judicial Assistant Anita Reiley at areiley@jud10.flcourts.org. Such requests must include the case number, party names, matter(s) to be heard, and total amount of time required. The party scheduling a hearing is responsible for contacting all other parties to determine how much time each party will require.

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Contact

Email to chambers

After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email Ms. Reiley with the agreed upon date and time, along with the total amount of time required for the hearing. You must send back an email to confirm a particular hearing date/time.

After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email Ms. Reiley with the agreed upon date and time, along with the total amount of time required for the hearing. You must send back an email to confirm a particular hearing date/time.

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Contact

Email

Email a copy of every emergency motion to Ms. Reiley; filing it with the Clerk’s Office alone will not alert the Court.

Please email a copy of any emergency motion to Ms. Reiley. Simply filing an emergency motion with the Clerk’s Office will not bring the motion to the attention of the Court.

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Contact

Phone to chambers

Call the judicial assistant as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be cancelled.

Please call Ms. Reiley as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be cancelled.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email the judicial assistant a copy of the motion being heard and the Notice of Hearing at least 10 days before the hearing, or immediately upon filing the notice if fewer than 10 days remain.

A copy of the Motion that is being heard, along with the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to Ms. Reiley at areiley@jud10.flcourts.org at least 10 days in advance of the hearing, or immediately upon filing of the Notice of Hearing if there are fewer than 10 days before the hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A party canceling a hearing must notify the Judicial Assistant immediately.

You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

To schedule a motion hearing, email the Judicial Assistant with the required case and hearing details, coordinate an agreed date and time with all other parties, and confirm and reserve the date before submitting the Notice of Hearing.

Scheduling Hearings: E-mail the Judicial Assistant at jcochran@Jud10.FLCourts.org to obtain hearing times for your Motion. Such requests must include the case number, Defendant’s name, matter(s) to be heard, and time required. The party scheduling the hearing is responsible for contacting all other parties and coordinating an agreed upon date and time. The hearing times provided are not held while the attempt is being made to coordinate with opposing counsel/party. You must e-mail the judicial office to confirm and reserve your court date prior to submitting your Notice of Hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A copy of the motion to continue must be provided to the Judicial Assistant for court review when counsel seeks the specified continuance.

If a Plea or Motion hearing is currently set before the court and counsel wishes to continue a scheduled Pretrial Conference to the date of the Plea or Motion hearing, and the Defendant has waived speedy trial, a Motion to Continue Pretrial Conference to the motion hearing date may be e-filed and a copy provided to the judicial assistant for court review.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Submit communications to the judicial office by email to the Judicial Assistant.

Communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to Janet Caudillo, Judicial Assistant at JCaudillo@Jud10.FLCourts.org.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless the communication is authorized ex parte by law.

All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email the judicial office to confirm and reserve the court date before submitting the Notice of Hearing.

You must e-mail the judicial office to confirm and reserve your court date prior to submitting your Notice of Hearing.

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Notify the Judicial Assistant immediately to cancel a hearing.

You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately.

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Contact

Email

Memorandums and courtesy copies of case law must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at the stated address.

Memorandums and Courtesy Copies of Case Law must be submitted via e-mail to the Judicial Assistant at JCaudillo@Jud10.FLCourts.org.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email the completed form to Janet Caudillo, the judge’s judicial assistant, at the listed address.

E-mail completed form to Janet Caudillo, JA to Judge Brenda P. Ramirez at JCaudillo@jud10.flcourts.org

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email the Judicial Assistant to obtain motion hearing times, including the case number, Defendant’s name, matters to be heard, and time required.

Scheduling Hearings: E-mail the Judicial Assistant at, JCaudillo@Jud10.FLCourts.org to obtain hearing times for your Motion. Such requests must include the case number, Defendant’s name, matter(s) to be heard, and time required.

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Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, including its restrictions on ex parte communications.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email subject lines to the judicial office must include the case number, case name, and relevant matter.

The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).

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Contact

Email to chambers

Email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office.

Email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office.

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Only the Court may cancel or modify an Order Setting Hearing.

Remember, only the Court may cancel or modify an Order Setting Hearing.

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Contact

Email to chambers

If you object to an order, contact the Judge’s office immediately via email to Kmorales@jud10.flcourts.org.

If you object to an order, contact the Judge’s office immediately via email to Kmorales@jud10.flcourts.org.

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Contact

Phone to chambers

Always call to confirm that the Court received an emergency motion.

Always call to confirm that the emergency motion was received.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Emergency motions to cancel a sale should be submitted by email to the stated address so they can be hand-delivered to the Clerk for processing before the sale if granted.

EMERGENCY MOTIONS TO CANCEL SALES, should be submitted via-email to: Kmorales@jud10.flcourts.org, so that, if granted, they may be hand-delivered to the Clerk for processing PRIOR to the sale occurring.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Bring emergency requests to the Judge’s attention by email or hand delivery; e-filing alone will not alert the Court.

Requests for emergency relief must be brought to the judge’s attention through email using! or hand delivery. E-filing alone will not alert the Court that an emergency request has been filed.

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Even if the case settles or the hearing matters are agreed, contact judicial assistance and provide written notice that the hearing is no longer needed.

If the case settles or you agree on the matters set for hearing, you must still contact the judicial assistance to advise the hearing is no longer need providing written notice.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Wait for the judicial assistant’s email confirmation before sending a Notice of Hearing; the date and time are not reserved until confirmation is received.

Do not send a Notice of Hearing until you receive e-mail confirmation from the judicial assistant advising that the date and time have been confirmed. The date is not reserved until the email from the judicial assistant is received advising the hearing is confirmed.

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Do not send original documents to the judicial officer or case manager.

Do not send any original documents to the judicial officer or case manager.

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Judges and court staff may not speak with parties about substantive matters in a case.

The Code of Judicial Conduct precludes judges, magistrates, judicial assistants, case managers, staff attorneys, and other court staff from speaking to parties about substantive matters in any case.

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Contact

Email

For a matter believed eligible for emergency or expedited review, put “Emergency” in the email subject and include a courtesy copy of the motion and all attachments.

If you believe the matter you have submitted for review is eligible for emergency relief or must be reviewed on an expedited basis, please state that it is an “Emergency” in the subject line of your email and include a courtesy copy of your motion and all attachments.

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Judicial officers may not consider ex parte communications.

In addition, the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judicial officers from considering ex parte

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Do not call or email the Court to speak with the Judge or Magistrate about a case.

Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with the Judge or Magistrate about any case.

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Contact

Email

Hearing requests should be emailed and include the specified case, motion, participant, and time information.

Hearing requests should be made by email and should include the county name, full case number, style of the case, type of motion(s) being heard, the attorneys and/or pro se parties involved, and the amount of time requested.

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Contact

Email

If a court interpreter is required, the moving party must coordinate with Denise Wilcox by email and/or Court Administration.

If the services of the Court Interepter are required, it is the obligation of the moving party to coordinate with Denise Wilcox at dwilcox@jud10.flcourts.org and/or Court Administration, pursuant to Tenth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order No. 1-52.1.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Caselaw and jury instructions must be emailed to the court's office for review.

Judge Ward requires that any caselaw or jury instructions be submitted 48 hours in advance via email to our office at ddelgado@jud10.flcourts.org and to opposing counsel for review.

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Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing times are not held during coordination; email the office, including the other party, to confirm and reserve the date before submitting the Notice of Hearing.

All hearing times provided are not held while the attempt is being made to coordinate with opposing counsel. You must e-mail this office back, including the other party, to confirm and reserve your court date prior to submitting your Notice of Hearing.

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Contact

Email to chambers

To obtain hearing times, email the Judicial Assistant a copy of the motion.

E-mail the Judicial Assistant at ddelgado@jud10.flcourts.org a copy of the motion to obtain hearing times for your motion.

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Do not include the Court or Judicial Assistant in electronic communications with other parties about coordinating a hearing.

Please DO NOT include the Court/Judicial Assistant in any electronic communications with other parties relating to the coordination of the hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

A cross-notice adding another motion is prohibited unless the addition has been cleared with opposing counsel and the judge’s office.

Cross-Notices to add other motions are not permitted unless the addition has been cleared with opposing counsel and with the judge’s office.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Email the motion being heard and the Notice of Hearing to the judicial assistant at least five days before the hearing.

A copy of the Motion that is being heard, along with the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org at least 5 days in advance of the hearing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

After agreeing on a hearing time with opposing counsel, email the judicial assistant the case, motion, hearing, duration, format, and clearance information listed.

Once you and opposing counsel agree on a time, send an email to the judicial assistant at kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org providing the following information: a. The case number, style of the case, and the names of the attorneys involved; b. The motion being set for hearing; c. The agreed upon date and time for the hearing; d. The agreed upon length of time being reserved for the hearing (it is important that you schedule sufficient time for each party to have a fair opportunity to be heard regarding the issues); e. Whether the hearing is being set for an in-person or virtual hearing; and f. The name of the individual(s) with whom the time was cleared.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The final hearing date for a proposed Order to Show Cause must be confirmed by email before submission.

Proposed Orders to Show Cause must include a final hearing date that is confirmed by email before submitting the proposed order for the Judge’s consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

Emergency Motions to Cancel Sales should be submitted via email to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org so that, if granted, they may be hand-delivered to the Clerk for processing prior to the sale occurring.

Emergency Motions to Cancel Sales should be submitted via email to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org so that, if granted, they may be hand-delivered to the Clerk for processing prior to the sale occurring.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

Confirm the final hearing date by email before submitting the foreclosure packet for consideration.

Orders to Show Cause regarding entry of Foreclosure Judgments must include a final hearing date that is confirmed by email before submitting the packet for the Judge’s consideration.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

Email a copy of any emergency motion to the stated address; filing it only with the Clerk’s Office will not alert the Court.

Please email a copy of any emergency motion to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org. Simply filing an emergency motion with the Clerk’s Office will not bring the motion to the attention of the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Hearing dates and times must be cleared with opposing counsel or the parties.

All hearing date/time slots shall be cleared with opposing counsel or parties.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Anyone objecting to an order must immediately email the Judge’s office at kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org.

If you object to an order, please contact the Judge’s office immediately via email to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email

The courtesy copy must be emailed to the specified address.

B. You must file the original with the Clerk and email a courtesy copy to kstarling@jud10.flcourts.org.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Please always email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office to make sure that the hearing or trial has been removed from the calendar.

Please always email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office to make sure that the hearing or trial has been removed from the calendar.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, which prohibits ex parte communications and certain communications outside the parties’ presence unless authorized by law.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The party scheduling a hearing must contact all other parties and coordinate an agreed date and time.

The party scheduling the hearing is responsible for contacting all other parties and coordinating an agreed upon date and time.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Once a hearing is set, opposing counsel must consent before it is canceled.

After a hearing is set, opposing counsel must consent to the cancellation.