Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 721 rules apply across Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Hillsborough County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 259
  • Applies to
    Waiver of jury trial

    A defendant electing a non-jury trial must personally sign and file a Waiver of Jury Trial form with the court.

  • Applies to
    Notice of related cases form

    A petitioner must complete and file a Notice of Related Cases form, using Form 12.900(h), when related cases are pending and known or reasonably ascertainable, except in the Domestic Relations I Family Law Divisions.

  • Applies to
    Notice of related cases

    Petitioners in the Domestic Relations I Family Law Divisions must complete and file a Notice of Related Cases form using Form 12.900(h), even when no related cases exist.

Filing Timing

All 122

  • All motions and notices of hearing must be filed by noon on the business day before the hearing.

  • An attorney of record may not withdraw unless a motion to withdraw is filed, heard, and granted at least 30 days before trial.

  • Deadline
    10 calendar days

    An objection to referral must be filed within 10 days of service of the order of referral.

Service

All 91
  • Deadline
    2 business days
    Applies to
    Case law
    Service
    Electronic service to court

    A party using case law in support of or opposition to a filed motion must provide an electronic copy of the case law, the notice of hearing, and the motion to the presiding judge's office and opposing counsel or party at least two business days before the hearing.

  • Service
    Court service to all parties

    After obtaining a hearing time, the clerk must notify all necessary parties.

  • Applies to
    Motion
    Service
    Email

    The clerk must email motions filed by self-represented defendants to the presiding judge and judicial assistant.

E-Filing

All 68
  • Applies to
    Probable cause application

    Law enforcement agency attorneys must submit the probable-cause application by email to the County Criminal Division C judicial assistant for filing in the Clerk's Administrative File.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    The law enforcement agency attorney must submit the proposed order through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal using the assigned Clerk's Administrative File number.

  • Applies to
    Motion

    Except for Motions for Discharge and Motions for Speedy Trial, an attorney must e-file a motion for hearing simultaneously with a Notice of Hearing after coordinating the hearing time with the opposing attorney or party.

More categories

View all Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Hillsborough County rules
About Judge Christopher C. Sabella

The Honorable Christopher C. Sabella --- The Honorable Christopher Sabella is the Chief Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida. The Thirteenth Circuit is comprised solely of Hillsborough County, which includes the City of Tampa. Judge Sabella was born here in Hillsborough County, becoming the third generation of his family to live in Hillsborough. Judge Sabella grew up in Tampa, where he graduated from Jesuit High School. Judge Sabella continued his education at Florida State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree. After becoming a proud alumnus of Florida State, Judge Sabella returned to the Tampa Bay area, where he attended Stetson University College of Law and received his J.D. Degree. While at Stetson Law, Judge Sabella traveled across the nation competing with Stetson Law’s Mock Trial Team. After graduating law school, Judge Sabella began his professional career as a legal advisor for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Judge Sabella briefly left the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida. Representing the United States of America was a special experience for Judge Sabella but the pull of service to his local community brought him back to the Sheriff’s Office where he was made Deputy Chief Legal Advisor to the Hillsborough County Sheriff. Judge Sabella’s service to Hillsborough County evolved in 2006 when he was appointed Circuit Court Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida by Governor Jeb Bush. During his tenure as Circuit Judge, Judge Sabella has presided over a variety of divisions, in both civil and criminal law. Judge Sabella is best known for presiding over one of the Circuit’s Felony Trial Divisions, where many high-profile criminal trials have occurred. Judge Sabella’s training as a Felony Judge has included becoming death certified, meaning that he is qualified by the State of Florida to sentence guilty defendents to death. Judge Sabella has presided over multiple Capital Cases during his time in the Felony Trial Division and many of his high-profile cases have been featured on national television. Such cases include Florida v. Trevor Summers, Florida v. Steven Lorenzo, Florida v. Michael Keetley, Florida v. Tyrone Johnson, Florida v. Nicole Nachtman, and Florida v. Matthew Terry. Besides serving as a Judge, Chief Judge Sabella has traveled as a guest lecturer, presented on various panels, and has taught as a law school professor. One of Judge Sabella’s most favorite experiences has been teaching trial skills to law students here in Hillsborough County at WMU-Cooley Law School, where he has been an adjunct professor since 2014. Judge Sabella has found it particularly rewarding to ensure the next generations of legal professionals are well trained and prepared to advocate for their future clients. Chief Judge Sabella was elected by his fellow Judges to be the Chief Judge for the Thirteenth Circuit; his first term began July 1st, 2023.

**Edgecomb Courthouse** - 800 E. Twiggs St., Room #602 - Tampa, Florida 33602 - Judicial Assistant: Christina Novia - Phone: (813) 272-5022 - Email: cornelcm@fljud13.org

Common questions about Judge Christopher C. Sabella's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

Judge Christopher C. Sabella's formatting rule includes file format PDF. Proposed orders should be submitted through the Florida E-Portal in PDF format.

View ruleSource: page 3, section D. Submission of Orders and Judgments

What must be included with notice of hearing filings before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A notice of hearing involving a remote appearance must include the judge’s Zoom credentials.

View ruleSource: page 2, section B. Scheduling Procedures

What must be included with remote appearance request motion filings before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Requests to appear remotely using communication technology must be made by motion.

View ruleSource: page 3, section C. Remote Appearance

How may parties contact Judge Christopher C. Sabella's chambers?

All parties must be copied on email sent to the judicial office unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law, and communications must comply with Canon 3.

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Communications with the Judicial Office

Is electronic filing required before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All proposed orders must be submitted through the proposed-order section of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

View ruleSource: page 4, section D. Submission of Orders and Judgments

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after hearing time is reserved.

View ruleSource: page 2, section B. Scheduling Procedures

What rule applies to e-service before Judge Christopher C. Sabella?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: e-service. Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused.

View ruleSource: page 2, section A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Complete rules summary for Judge Christopher C. Sabella

Communications to the judicial office should be submitted by email to cornelcm@fljud13.org.

All parties must be copied on email sent to the judicial office unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law, and communications must comply with Canon 3.

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

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused.

Parties must separately register each entitled email address in JAWS for each case to receive electronically signed orders, judgments, notifications, and court correspondence.

The judicial assistant seeks to respond substantively to inquiries within one business day but may not provide legal advice.

Email sent to or from the judicial office may be disclosed as a public record.

Hearing requests must be emailed to the judicial assistant, and the requesting party should copy opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after hearing time is reserved.

A notice of hearing must be served immediately after hearing time is reserved.

A notice of hearing involving a remote appearance must include the judge’s Zoom credentials.

Requests to appear remotely using communication technology must be made by motion.

The judicial assistant provides the remote-appearing platform meeting ID and password by email.

Proposed orders should be submitted through the Florida E-Portal in PDF format.

All proposed orders must be submitted through the proposed-order section of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Self-represented litigants excused from email service may submit proposed orders by U.S. mail or hand delivery to the judicial office.

When competing proposed orders are submitted, the parties must simultaneously email the Word-format competing order to the court email address with the required subject line and case number.

Competing proposed orders must be emailed in Word format with “Competing Order” and the case number in the subject line.

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