Adjournments
- A continuance will be granted only for good cause; successive continuances are highly disfavored, and lack of due diligence is not a sufficient ground.
- A continuance motion must specify the basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, readiness actions and dates including required participants' availability, and the proposed ready date and whether all parties agree.
Request must include
- A continuance motion must be submitted at least 3 days before the scheduled court date, absent exigent circumstances, and generally must be signed by the requesting party.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements1 rule
All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format
Document Filing Requirements5 rules
All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judge's Zoom videoconferencing credentials.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a copy of the related motion/petition.
Each proposed order must include a cover letter certifying agreement by all parties or identifying any disagreement.
Court's wording
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
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).
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders may also be submitted by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.
Proposed orders may also be submitted to the court by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.
Page 1 | Submission Method
Proposed orders may be submitted to the court by email at the listed address.
Proposed orders may be submitted to the court by e-mail to: vaughn.melanie@jud3.flcourts.org
Page 1 | Submission Method
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The court must receive all hearing materials at least 5 business days before the hearing.
The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than 5 business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Submission Deadlines
A notice of hearing must be filed immediately after hearing time is reserved.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
A notice of cancellation must be filed immediately.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 2 | Cancelling Hearings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
A notice of hearing must be served immediately after hearing time is reserved.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
A notice of cancellation must be served immediately on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 2 | Cancelling Hearings
A copy of each proposed order must be provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
a copy provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | Format
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance motion must specify the basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, readiness actions and dates including required participants' availability, and the proposed ready date and whether all parties agree.
Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for the continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant; (2) whether the motion is opposed; (3) the action and specific dates for the action that will enable the movant to be ready, including, but not limited to, confirming the specific date any required participants are available; and (4) the proposed date by which the case will be ready to proceed and whether that date is agreed by all parties.
Page 1 | Continuance Procedure
A continuance motion must be submitted at least 3 days before the scheduled court date, absent exigent circumstances, and generally must be signed by the requesting party.
Motions for continuance must be submitted at least 3 days prior to the scheduled court date for which the continuance is sought, barring exigent circumstances. Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Page 1 | Continuance Procedure
A continuance will be granted only for good cause; successive continuances are highly disfavored, and lack of due diligence is not a sufficient ground.
Motions for continuance will be granted only upon good cause shown. Successive continuances are highly disfavored. Lack of due diligence is not grounds for granting a continuance.
Page 1 | Continuance Procedure
Chambers Communication Rules
Hearings must be canceled by notifying the judicial assistant immediately.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately.
Page 2 | Cancelling Hearings
Communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3, including its restrictions on ex parte and other off-the-record communications about pending or impending proceedings 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.
Page 1 | Ex parte Communications
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.
Page 1 | Ex parte Communications
Communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the Judicial Assistant.
All communications to the Taylor County Circuit Judge's office must be submitted by e-mail to the Judicial Assistant at vaughn.melanie@jud3.flcourts.org.
Page 1 | Judicial E-mail
The scheduling party should email the judicial assistant to coordinate a hearing and copy opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
The scheduling party should e-mail the judicial assistant, copying opposing counsel and any self- represented litigant, to coordinate scheduling the hearing.
Page 1 | Scheduling Hearings
Hearings must be requested by email to the listed address.
Hearings must be requested by e-mail to vaughn.melanie@jud3.flcourts.org
Page 1 | Scheduling Hearings
Emails sent to or from the judicial office may be public records subject to disclosure.
Any e-mail sent to or from the judicial office may be a public record subject to disclosure.
Page 1 | Other Communication Procedures
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may contact the judicial office by telephone at (850) 838-3520.
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to (850) 838-3520.
Page 1 | Telephone
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
Page 1 | Unsolicited Communications
The judicial office does not accept communications by text message.
The judicial office does not accept text messages.
Page 1 | Telephone
Parties may contact the judicial office only in accordance with its stated practices and procedures.
Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
Page 1 | Unsolicited Communications
Contact the judicial assistant to obtain the platform meeting ID.
Contact the judicial assistant to obtain the platform meeting ID#.
Page 1 | Platform Meeting ID
If a substantive response cannot be provided within one business day, the judicial assistant will acknowledge the message and indicate when to expect a response and whom to contact for immediate assistance.
If the judicial assistant is unable to substantively respond within one business day, your message will be acknowledged as received with an indication of when to expect a substantive response and alternate contact for immediate assistance.
Page 1 | Response to Inquiries
The judicial assistant aims to provide a substantive response to inquiries within one business day.
The judicial assistant strives to substantively respond to all inquiries within one business day.
Page 1 | Response to Inquiries
When the judicial assistant is out of the office, the message will be acknowledged with an expected response time and an alternate contact for immediate assistance.
When the judicial assistant is out of the office, your message will be acknowledged as received with an indication of when to expect a substantive response and an alternate contact for immediate assistance.
Page 1 | Response to Inquiries
The judicial assistant cannot provide legal advice.
The judicial assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
Page 1 | Response to Inquiries
Use the form below to contact the Judge’s office for scheduling or general inquiries.
For scheduling or general inquiries to the Judge's office, please fill out the form below.
Page 1 | Preferences and Procedures