Court Rules
Judge

Judge Don T. Hall

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota)

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Filings < 15 pages

  • Email

Hearing Binder

  • No Later Than One Week Before Hearing

Notice Of Hearing, Motion

  • At Least 5 Days Before Hearing
  • No Later Than One Week Before Hearing

Communication

Email

Chambers

abowles@jud12.flcourts.org
Scheduling
Phone

Chambers

(863) 993 4644, Ext. 426
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory

Requests for emergency hearing time must be submitted to Judge Hall in writing with a copy of the motion.

DocumentEmergency Hearing Time Request

Fl Twelfth:b0a045a559e6202cafc9d70c|SecF. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
Filing Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important

Notices of cancellation of hearing should be filed with the Clerk of the Court, and a copy emailed to Anita as soon as possible.

DocumentNotice Of Cancellation Of Hearing

Fl Twelfth:b0a045a559e6202cafc9d70c|SecE. Courtesy Copies
Filing Requirements

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?

Please indicate in the email that the orders were not agreed upon.

DocumentProposed Order

Fl Twelfth:b0a045a559e6202cafc9d70c|SecD. Submission of Orders

Filing & Service rules

Courtesy Copy Requirements

The scheduling attorney must furnish the judge with a hearing binder no later than one week before the hearing.

No later than one week prior to hearing date, it is required that scheduling attorney furnish the judge with a hearing binder.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings

The scheduling attorney must provide the judge’s office with copies of the hearing notice and scheduled motion.

The scheduling attorney must provide the judge’s office with a courtesy copy of the notice of hearing as well as a copy of the motion being scheduled for hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies

The scheduling attorney must furnish the judge with the hearing notice, motion, and supporting case law no later than one week before the hearing.

No later than one week prior to hearing date, it is required that scheduling attorney furnish the judge with copies of: Notice of Hearing; Motion; and any supporting case law.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies

The hearing notice and motion should be furnished to the judicial assistant at least five days before the hearing.

These documents should be furnished to the judicial assistant at least 5 days prior to the date of the hearing.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies

Notices and motions totaling fewer than 15 pages may be emailed to Anita.

Notices and Motions under a total of 15 pages may be emailed to Anita.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies

Chambers Communication Rules

Hearings lasting more than 60 minutes must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant by email to Anita Bowles.

Hearings of more than 60 minutes must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant. Please email Anita Bowles.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures

All criminal motions must be scheduled through Anita Bowles.

The scheduling of all criminal motions shall be done through Anita Bowles.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures

The Judicial Assistant may be contacted by email at the stated address.

Email the Judicial Assistant, Anita, at abowles@jud12.flcourts.org.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026

Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court

The Court’s phone number is (863) 993 4644, extension 426.

Phone number is (863) 993 4644, Ext. 426.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 113 rules apply across Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota). Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 31
  • Applies to
    County civil complaint

    County civil complaints must be filed with the Standing Order and Case Management Report, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.

  • Applies to
    County civil complaint or petition

    The clerks must require the Standing Order and Case Management Report to be attached to county civil complaints or petitions, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.

  • Applies to
    County civil complaint or petition

    The clerk must reject a new county civil complaint or petition that omits the Standing Order or Case Management Report, except an eviction or other summary proceeding.

Adjournments

All 18

  • Attorneys should cooperate on reasonable rescheduling, cancellation, extension, and postponement requests when they will not prejudice the client or unduly delay a proceeding.

  • Attorneys should ordinarily grant a first reasonable extension to respond to a litigation deadline when it will not prejudice the client, unduly delay a proceeding, or when time is not of the essence.

  • Additional extension requests should be evaluated by balancing expediency, deference to the adversary, and the likelihood that the court would grant the extension.

Service

All 15

  • Plaintiffs must serve the Standing Order and Case Management Report on all defendants with the initial process.

  • Service
    Email to all parties

    When the Case Management Report is filed, the parties must email a copy to the assigned judge’s designated email and copy all parties.

  • Applies to
    Complaint

    For all small claims PIP cases, serve a copy of the Civil Cover Sheet and the Addendum with the Complaint.

E-Filing

All 12
  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    Judges and magistrates may accept proposed orders through the Portal for review and signature without filing them in the court file.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    Judges and magistrates are encouraged to set Portal procedures, and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal if their requirements do not address them.

  • Applies to
    Proposed order

    The court allowed a three-month transition period before requiring attorneys to submit proposed orders through the Portal whenever feasible.

More categories

View all Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota) rules
About Judge Don T. Hall

- **Judicial Service:** County Court Bench, January 1995 - **Judicial Service:** Circuit Court Bench, June 2016 - **Education:** JD, St. Thomas University School of Law

- **Division Assignment(s):** Circuit Court - Civil; Circuit Court - Criminal; Circuit Court - Family; Circuit Court - Juvenile Dependency - **Chamber:** DeSoto County Courthouse - **Judicial Assistant:** Anita - **Email:** abowles@jud12.flcourts.org - **Phone:** (863) 993–4644, Ext. 426 - **Physical Address:** 115 E. Oak St., Suite 201, Arcadia, FL 34266 - **Mailing Address:** 115 E. Oak St., Suite 201, Arcadia, FL 34266 - **Office Hours:** 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed for lunch Noon-1 p.m. - **Courtroom:** Proceedings are held in Courtroom 201

Common questions about Judge Don T. Hall's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Don T. Hall?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for notice of hearings and motions. The scheduling attorney must provide the judge’s office with copies of the hearing notice and scheduled motion.

View ruleSource: page 1, section E. Courtesy Copies

What must be included with emergency hearing time request filings before Judge Don T. Hall?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. An emergency hearing-time request must be submitted in writing with a copy of the motion.

View ruleSource: page 1, section F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters

What must be included with notice of cancellation of hearing filings before Judge Don T. Hall?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A hearing cancellation notice should be filed with the Clerk and emailed to Anita as soon as possible.

View ruleSource: page 1, section E. Courtesy Copies

How may parties contact Judge Don T. Hall's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Don T. Hall's chambers. Hearings lasting more than 60 minutes must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant by email to Anita Bowles.

View ruleSource: page 1, section K. Other Division Procedures
Complete rules summary for Judge Don T. Hall

The scheduling attorney must provide the judge’s office with copies of the hearing notice and scheduled motion.

The hearing notice and motion should be furnished to the judicial assistant at least five days before the hearing.

Notices and motions totaling fewer than 15 pages may be emailed to Anita.

The scheduling attorney must furnish the judge with the hearing notice, motion, and supporting case law no later than one week before the hearing.

A hearing cancellation notice should be filed with the Clerk and emailed to Anita as soon as possible.

An emergency hearing-time request must be submitted in writing with a copy of the motion.

The scheduling attorney must furnish the judge with a hearing binder no later than one week before the hearing.

The Judicial Assistant may be contacted by email at the stated address.

The Court’s phone number is (863) 993 4644, extension 426.

An email submitting proposed orders that the parties have not agreed upon must indicate that they were not agreed upon.

Hearings lasting more than 60 minutes must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant by email to Anita Bowles.

All criminal motions must be scheduled through Anita Bowles.

More Judges in Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota)

Andrea DeCanio
Judge
Andrea M. Johnson
Judge
Charles E. Williams
Judge
Charles Sniffen
Judge
D. Ryan Felix
Judge
Dana Moss
Judge
Danielle Brewer
Judge
Diana Moreland
Judge