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

CRITICALCivil cases

If the ward’s residence changes to an adjacent county, the guardian must promptly inform the Court in writing.

If the ward’s residence changes to an adjacent county, the guardian must promptly inform the Court, in writing, in accordance with §744.1098(2), Florida Statutes.

CRITICALCivil cases

If a hearing must be cancelled, the attorney who noticed it must promptly notify the judge’s judicial assistant.

If a hearing must be cancelled, the attorney noticing the hearing shall promptly notify the judge’s judicial assistant,

CRITICALCivil cases

All hearings must be scheduled with the probate judge’s judicial assistant.

All hearings must be scheduled with the probate judge’s judicial assistant.

CRITICALCivil cases

Parties should avoid ex parte communications with the Court.

The Court cautions all parties to avoid exparte communication with the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

After all parties agree on a hearing date and time, email to reserve a slot.

Once all parties agree on time/date for hearing, email to reserve a slot.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Set all hearings by email and include the case name and number, estimated hearing time, a copy of the motion, and all attorneys.

All hearings must be set via email, information needed a) Case name/number b) Estimate of time c) Copy of Motion d) Copy all attorneys

CRITICAL

Do not send the notice of hearing until the Judicial Assistant has confirmed the reservation.

Do not send out a notice of hearing until you have received confirmation from Judicial Assistant.

CRITICAL

If the case settles, cancel any hearings you set on the Judge’s calendar.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

Call the court as soon as you learn that a hearing must be cancelled.

Please call/email as soon as you learn that the hearing is to be cancelled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Call the Court promptly when a hearing is to be cancelled, and cancel hearings you set even if the case settles.

c. Please call as soon as you learn that a hearing is to be cancelled. If the case settles, you must still cancel any hearings that you have set on the Judge’s calendar.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

If you object to an order, immediately email the Judge’s office at jwitmer@jud10.flcourts.org.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After the parties agree on a hearing date and time, request confirmation by email from the judicial assistant before filing the hearing notice; include the specified case and hearing details and all parties on the email.

After all parties have agreed upon a hearing date and time, and PRIOR TO FILING A HEARING NOTICE, you must request confirmation by email from the judicial assistant at jwitmer@jud10.flcourts.org. Such request must include the case number, party names, matter(s) to be heard, state whether its date has been agreed upon, and time required. Please include all parties in the email when requesting confirmation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email the motion being heard and the Notice of Hearing to the judicial assistant within 72 hours of confirmation.

A copy of the Motion that is being heard, along with the Notice of Hearing must be emailed to jwitmer@jud10.flcourts.org within 72 hours of the confirmation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Anyone objecting to an order must contact the judge’s office immediately by email or phone.

If you object to an order, please contact the Judge’s office immediately via email or phone.

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone to chambers

Call the judge’s office as soon as you learn that a hearing must be canceled.

Please call or email as soon as you learn that the hearing is to be canceled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Send joint motions to continue trial to the judge’s office by email for court review.

Please forward Joint Motion(s) to Continue Trial to the Judge’s office via email for the Court to review.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email a copy of an emergency motion to the judge’s office.

Please email the Judge’s office a copy of the Emergency Motion to the office.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After clearing a slot or making a good-faith attempt, email back to reserve it; slots are not held unless the Judge directs it.

Once a slot has been cleared (or a good faith attempt has been made) you must send back an email to reserve a particular date/time slot. If you don’t, the hearing will not be reserved or added to the calendar. All available hearing date/time slots are given to anyone attempting to set a hearing. Slots are not “held” unless directed by the Judge.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than the Friday before the trial.

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than the Friday before the trial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Obtain the final hearing date by email before submitting the Order to Show Cause packet.

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

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing times are not held while counsel coordinates with opposing counsel; email the office 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 to confirm and reserve your court date prior to submitting your Notice of Hearing.

CRITICAL

All hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.

ALL hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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

E-mail the Judicial Assistant at, atolley@Jud.10.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 a copy of an emergency motion to the Judge’s office.

Please email the Judge’s office a copy of the Emergency Motion to the office.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than the Friday before the trial.

The proposed instructions should be submitted via email to the judicial assistant no later than the Friday before the trial.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Contact

Email to chambers

If the State Attorney’s Office or defense counsel requires an inmate to appear in person for an evidentiary hearing, plea hearing, or samples collection, submit the request by email to the judge’s office no later than three business days before the hearing.

Should the State Attorney’s Office or defense counsel require the inmate to be present for any evidentiary hearing, plea hearing or samples collection, a request for in person appearance must be submitted via email. This request must be made no later than three (3) business days prior to the hearing date. All in person appearance requests must be submitted to the judge’s office, at kwitt@jud10.flcourts.org.

CRITICAL

If virtual observation is authorized, parties must provide observers with the hyperlink information and notify the Court in advance so the link can be activated.

It is the parties’ obligation to provide the hyperlink information to persons wanting to observe virtual court proceedings, if authorized, and to notify the Court in advance so the virtual link can be activated.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After filing an emergency motion with the Clerk, the filer must email a copy to the Court.

After the emergency motion is filed with the Clerk of Court, please email a copy of any emergency motion to the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Email a copy of every emergency motion to the Court because 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

The party scheduling a hearing must contact the other parties to determine how much hearing time each will need.

The party scheduling a hearing is responsible for contacting all other parties to determine how much time each party will require.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Unless an emergency motion is submitted ex parte, the email to the Court must include a cover letter stating that the submission was copied to opposing counsel or the opposing party.

Unless the motion is being submitted ex parte, the email shall include a cover letter that indicates that this submission has been copied to the opposing party/counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

To obtain hearing time, email the judicial assistant with the case number, party names, matters to be heard, and time required.

Hearing time may be obtained by email to the judicial assistant at wwatson@jud10.flcourts.org Such request must include the case number, party names, matter(s) to be heard, and time required.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For a proposed order or judgment submitted without a hearing, email the packet containing the motion copy to the Court.

All proposed orders or judgments being submitted without a hearing must include a copy of the motion in the packet emailed to the Court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

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 each 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 each 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

Before submitting a motion and proposed order packet for consideration, verify the correct judge with the Clerk’s Office.

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

WARNING

After obtaining available hearing times, do not include the judicial assistant in electronic communications with other parties about coordinating hearing time.

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

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Phone

Phone

(863) 534-4686; TDD (863) 534-7777; Florida Relay Service 711

People seeking disability-related assistance should contact the Office of the Court Administrator at least 7 days before the appearance, or immediately if they receive notice less than 7 days beforehand; hearing- or voice-impaired people may use TDD or Florida Relay.

Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call TDD (863) 534-7777 or Florida Relay Service 711.

WARNINGCourt notice

Contact

Phone

Phone

1-863-225-4022

If you are unable to access the virtual courtroom, you may call in to the court session by dialing 1-863-225-4022 and entering the telephone conference ID 683 120 842# when prompted to do so to notify the Court of the difficulty of signing on virtually.

If you are unable to access the virtual courtroom, you may call in to the court session by dialing 1-863-225-4022 and entering the telephone conference ID 683 120 842# when prompted to do so to notify the Court of the difficulty of signing on virtually.

WARNINGCivil cases

Contact

Email

Before using a method other than email to transmit virtual prehearing materials, contact Ms. Reiley by email at the specified address.

B. Prehearing materials may be submitted in electronic format and attached to an email forwarded to areiley@jud10.flcourts.org and copied to all other parties. C. Each submitted item should be submitted as a separate attachment with a file name including the case number and a brief description clearly delineating the nature of the item. Example: “00DR000000 Pet. Fin. Aff.” D. Please contact Ms. Reiley by email before using a method other than email to transmit virtual prehearing materials.

WARNINGCivil cases

The chat feature should not be utilized without express authorization from the Court.

The chat feature should not be utilized without express authorization from the Court.

WARNING

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

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

WARNING

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.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If the judicial office requests it, send a follow-up email after a telephone communication.

The judicial office may request a follow up e- mail to any telephonic communication.

WARNING

Parties may contact the judicial office only in accordance with these practices and procedures.

Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.

WARNING

Do not contact the judicial office by text message.

The judicial office does not accept text messages.

WARNING

If represented, contact your attorney directly with questions or concerns.

If you are represented by an attorney, you must contact your attorney directly with any questions and/or concerns.

WARNING

The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.

Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.

WARNING

Notify the judge’s office as soon as possible if the length of a hearing is shortened so that the portion of the hearing time not needed may be offered to other litigants.

Notify the judge’s office as soon as possible if the length of a hearing is shortened so that the portion of the hearing time not needed may be offered to other litigants.

WARNING

The filer should contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain hearing times for the Order to Show Cause packet.

Thus, contact the Judicial Assistant for hearing times to include in OTSC packet.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

Phone

(863) 534-4686

A person needing disability accommodations should contact the Office of the Court Administrator at least seven days before the court appearance or immediately upon receiving the notice.

Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, 255 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, Florida 33830, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification