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

CRITICALCriminal cases

The scheduling party must send the Judicial Assistant a copy of the Notice of Hearing.

The scheduling party must also send a copy of the Notice of Hearing to the Judicial Assistant.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

All parties must be copied 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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant and include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.

Method of Communication: Communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to Brinna Allbritton, Judicial Assistant at mbrooks@Jud10.FLCourts.org. 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).

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Email the completed form to the judge’s judicial assistant at the specified address.

E-mail completed form to Miranda Brooks, JA to Judge John C. Waters at mbrooks@jud10.flcourts.org

CRITICALCriminal cases

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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

If the Court does not act on an emergency motion requiring immediate action, the party must present the matter to the duty judge.

If the Court does not act upon an emergency motion which requires immediate action, the party shall present the matter to the duty judge.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Notify the Judicial Assistant immediately to cancel a hearing.

You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

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

Scheduling Hearings: E-mail the Judicial Assistant at, mbrooks@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.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Submit memorandums and courtesy copies of case law by email to the Judicial Assistant at the stated address.

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

CRITICAL

If counsel cannot stipulate to hearing additional motions at the previously scheduled hearing, counsel seeking a hearing must obtain new dates from the judicial assistant and follow Paragraph 7(A).

If both counsels cannot stipulate to additional motions being heard at the same time as a previously scheduled hearing, then either counsel who wishes to set additional motions for hearing shall obtain new dates from the judicial assistant and follow Paragraph 7(A) above.

CRITICAL

The party canceling a hearing must notify the judicial assistant.

and notify the judicial assistant.

CRITICAL

Counsel or an unrepresented party must notify the Court if the matter settles.

Counsel or, if unrepresented, the party(ies) shall notify the Court in the event of settlement.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

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

CRITICAL

Settlement does not eliminate the obligation to cancel hearings set on the Judge’s calendar.

If the case settles, you must still cancel any scheduled hearings that you have set on the Judge’s calendar.

CRITICAL

Contact

Letter fax to chambers

Bring emergency requests to the judge’s attention by fax or hand delivery; e-filing alone does not alert the Court.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Do not send a Notice of Hearing until the judicial assistant confirms the hearing date and time by email.

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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office in addition to the call or email notifying the office.

Email (in addition to the above call or email) a copy of the Notice of Cancellation to the judge’s office.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Inform the judicial assistant by call or email before faxing an Emergency Motion; failing to call first will delay processing.

Call or email to inform the judicial assistant that your office will be submitting an Emergency Motion for Judge Spoto’s consideration and then fax a copy of the Emergency Motion to the office. Failure to call the office before faxing the Emergency Motion will delay the processing of the Emergency Motion.

CRITICAL

Only the party who set the hearing may cancel it, and that party must file written notice and notify all participants, including court reporters and witnesses.

Keep in mind that only the party who set the hearing may cancel it, and it is that party’s responsibility to file a written notice of cancellation of the hearing and to notify all participants of the cancellation, including court reporters and witnesses.

CRITICAL

A cross notice must not be sent without prior Court approval.

Never send a cross notice without prior approval of the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Anyone objecting to an order must immediately email the Judge’s office at the stated address.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Anyone objecting to an order must immediately email the Judge’s office at the listed address.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email the judicial assistant to obtain a motion hearing time only after the motion is filed and, if necessary, the case is reopened.

You must email the judicial assistant to obtain hearing times for a motion after the motion has been filed with the Clerk’s office and, if the case has been closed, after the case has been reopened.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than 4:00 p.m. the last workday before the trial.

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than 4:00 p.m. the last workday before the trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A motion for trial must be filed with the Clerk of the Court and a copy emailed to the stated address.

Any motion for Trial must be filed with the Clerk of the Court and a copy must be emailed to cmarazzito@jud0.flcourts.org .

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email a copy of every emergency motion to the stated address because filing it only with the Clerk’s Office will not bring it to the Court’s attention.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After completing the initial scheduling steps, email the judicial assistant at the specified address with the required hearing information.

After completing the above, send an email to cmarazzito@jud10.flcourts.org (judicial assistant) providing the following information:

CRITICAL

A cross-notice adding other motions 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 the judge’s office.

CRITICAL

Contact the court by phone or email as soon as you learn that a hearing is no longer needed.

Please call or email as soon as you learn that a hearing is no longer needed.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Participants must contact the judicial assistant to obtain the Microsoft Teams link for the remote appearance.

It is your obligation to contact the judicial assistant to obtain the appropriate Microsoft Teams link for the remote appearance.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Email a copy of the motion being heard and the Notice of Hearing to the judicial assistant at least 10 days before the hearing.

A copy of the Motion that is being heard, along with the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to mfreeman@jud10.flcourts.org at least 10 days in advance of the hearings.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICAL

A party requiring an interpreter must notify the Court before the pretrial conference.

If either of the parties requires an interpreter, the party requiring the interpreter shall notify the Court prior to the pretrial conference to enable the Court to comply with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 2.560.

CRITICAL

Do not include the court in electronic communications with other parties coordinating hearing times.

After obtaining available hearing times, do not include the court in any electronic communications with other parties relating to the coordination of hearing time.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email the judicial assistant with the agreed upon date and time, along with the time ach party will require to present his or her position during the hearing. You must send back an email to reserve a particular hearing date/time.

After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, email the judicial assistant with the agreed upon date and time, along with the time ach party will require to present his or her position during the hearing. You must send back an email to reserve a particular hearing date/time.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Call the Court as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be canceled.

Please call as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be canceled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICAL

Verify the correct Judge with the Clerk’s Office before submitting a motion or proposed order for consideration.

Please verify the correct Judge with the Clerk’s Office prior to submitting the motion/proposed Order for consideration.

CRITICAL

Counsel or an unrepresented party must notify the Court of a settlement, and the matter remains on the trial docket unless the Court issues a written order removing it.

Counsel or, if unrepresented, the party(ies) shall notify the Court in the event of a settlement. A matter shall be removed from the trial docket only upon the Court’s written order.

CRITICAL

If the Court does not act on an emergency motion requiring immediate action, the party must present the matter to the duty judge.

If the Court does not act upon an emergency motion which requires immediate action, the party shall present the matter to the duty judge.

CRITICAL

Notify the Judicial Assistant immediately when canceling a hearing.

You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately.

CRITICAL

The scheduling party must send the Judicial Assistant a copy of the Notice of Hearing.

The scheduling party must also send a copy of the Notice of Hearing to the Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

To obtain hearing times, email the Judicial Assistant with the case number, Defendant’s name, matters to be heard, and time required.

E-mail the Judicial Assistant at, BAllbritton@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.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email the completed form to Judicial Assistant Brinna Allbritton at the stated address.

E-mail completed form to Brinna Allbritton, JA to Judge Mark Carpanini at BAllbritton@jud10.flcourts.org

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless the law authorizes ex parte communication.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the judicial assistant, and the subject line must identify the case number, case name, and relevant matter.

Communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to Brinna Allbritton, Judicial Assistant at BAllbritton@Jud10.FLCourts.org. 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).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

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.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each party must promptly file written notice with the Clerk of any change to the party’s name, address, telephone number, or email address.

All parties must promptly advise the Court, via written notice filed with the Clerk, of any change of that party’s name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address.