Judge Heather Doyle
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Notice Of Hearing, Motion, Supporting Material, Case Law
- No Later Than 3 Days Prior To Hearing
Adjournments
- A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without defense counsel appearing if the defense attorney files the continuance request form before the scheduled conference.
- After two prior continuances, a third requires a Stipulation to Continue stating the reason; if the Court denies it, the parties may schedule a Motion to Continue for hearing.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Fax
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Any motion requesting emergency hearing time must explain the emergency, the anticipated time needed, and, where appropriate, good faith efforts to resolve the matter without Court intervention.
DocumentEmergency Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Submit a proposed order when all parties agree on its form; if there is disagreement or no timely response, submit it with a concise explanation, and the opposing attorney may simultaneously submit an alternate.
The Court expects that you will only submit a proposed order when all attorneys or parties agree on its form. If there is a disagreement on the form, or an attorney does not respond within a reasonable time, you may then send the proposed order with a concise statement identifying the disagreement and the specific steps you took. The opposing attorney may submit at the same time an alternate proposed order through the Portal.
DocumentProposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A defendant pleading by Zoom must submit and e-file the plea form before the plea.
If a defendant is pleading by Zoom, please submit and e-file the plea form prior to the plea.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | Pleas by Zoom
Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal.
All Proposed Orders shall be submitted to the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2, as it will result in the quickest turnaround time by the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders (Criminal and Small Claims)
Parties may submit third copies of legal authority in person at the hearing.
Parties may also submit third copies of the legal authority in-person at the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — 6. Case Law and Other Legal Authority
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
For a plea in absentia, the appropriate forms must be filed with the Clerk three business days before the hearing and not sent to the Judicial Assistant.
If pleading in absentia, please file the appropriate forms with the Clerk three business days in advance of the hearing. Please do not email or send the Plea in Absentia documents to the judicial assistant.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures — Pleas in Absentia
Acknowledgment and waiver forms and pleas in absentia must be filed with the clerk in advance, not sent to the Judicial Assistant.
Please do not email or send Acknowledgement and Waiver of Rights forms and Pleas in Absentia to the judicial assistant. Instead, file these documents with the clerk in advance of the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders (Criminal and Small Claims)
The plea form must be filed with the Clerk three business days before the hearing and must not be sent to the Judicial Assistant.
Please file the plea form with the Clerk three business days in advance of the hearing. Please do not email or send the plea form to the judicial assistant.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures — Pleading by Zoom
The Pretrial Conference Continuance Form must be filed with the Clerk three business days before the hearing, not sent to the Judicial Assistant.
The Pretrial Conference Continuance Form should not be sent to the judicial assistant but rather filed with the Clerk three business days in advance of the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences — Criminal Pretrial Conferences
Documents normally filed with the clerk, including the listed forms and exhibits, must be filed three business days before the hearing.
Any documents that would normally be filed with the clerk shall be filed with the clerk 3 business days in advance of the hearing. This includes, but is not limited to, plea in absentia forms, acknowledgment and waiver of rights forms, exhibits, etc.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance
When a remotely appearing party has an exhibit to introduce, paper documents must be filed with the clerk at least three days before the hearing.
In the rare circumstance where a party is appearing remotely and has an exhibit to enter in evidence, please file all paper documents with the clerk at least 3 days prior to the scheduled hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The party submitting legal authority to the Court must provide the same authority to opposing counsel before the hearing.
Please provide opposing counsel with the same authority prior to the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — 6. Case Law and Other Legal Authority
Courtesy Copy Requirements
For hearings involving many pages or documents, the Court encourages text-searchable electronic copies of the specified materials no later than three days before the hearing.
For hearings involving a high number of pages or documents, the Court encourages text searchable electronic copies of the notice of hearing, motion(s), supporting material, and any directly relevant cases, which must be delivered no later than three days prior to the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
The Court routinely does not need courtesy copies because it reviews motions and responses in the electronic Court file.
The Court reviews motions and responses directly from the electronic Court file, and for that reason, the Court routinely does not need a courtesy copy.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A party intending to offer video or other material stored on an electronic device must confer with the IT department before trial.
If you intend to offer any video, or other material that is stored in a cell phone or other electronic device, you must confer with the IT department prior to the trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
After two prior continuances, a third requires a Stipulation to Continue stating the reason; if the Court denies it, the parties may schedule a Motion to Continue for hearing.
If you have continued the case twice before, you cannot continue it a third time without filing a Stipulation to Continue which sets forth the reason for the continuance. The Court will review the stipulation and indicate whether it is granted or denied, in which case the parties may schedule a Motion to Continue for hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences — Criminal Pretrial Conferences
A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without defense counsel appearing if the defense attorney files the continuance request form before the scheduled conference.
Criminal pretrial conferences can be continued twice without the need for defense counsel to appear, provided the defense attorney has filed the pretrial conference continuance request form prior to the scheduled pretrial conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences — Criminal Pretrial Conferences
Chambers Communication Rules
Self-represented litigants should, whenever possible, email the Judicial Assistant to schedule a motion or hearing, copy the opposing party, and identify the matter and estimated time needed for both sides.
Self-represented litigants should contact the Judicial Assistant via email at CoDivision5@jud12.flcourts.org, whenever possible, to schedule a motion or other hearing. The opposing party should be copied on the email, and you should advise what motion or hearing you are attempting to schedule and the time you believe will be needed for the hearing/motion, considering how much time you will need and how much time you estimate the opposing party will need.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — 3. Self Represented Litigants
For a small claims hearing requiring at least 45 minutes, contact the Judicial Assistant by email to specially set it, but only after conferring with the opposing party about the time needed.
If you are requesting 45 minutes or more, please contact the Judicial Assistant to specially set it at CoDivision5@jud12.flcourts.org. Do not email the Judicial Assistant until you have conferred with opposing party on how much time is needed for the hearing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — 2. Small Claims Hearings
Self-represented litigants may not seek case advice or messages from the Judge or Judicial Assistant, or ask the assistant for hearing outcomes or order status.
The Judge must apply the same rules to all parties, regardless of whether you have an attorney. The Judge may not talk to you about your case outside of the courtroom, so please do not call to speak with the Judge. The Judicial Assistant may not help you with your case or send information to the other party or attorney for you. The Judicial Assistant may not “give the Judge a message.” Please do not ask the Judicial Assistant for the outcome of a hearing or verify that an order has been signed; you may review the Manatee County Clerk website for details about your case.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
The filer of an emergency-hearing motion must phone the Judicial Assistant and hand-deliver or email a copy of the motion.
The attorney or party filing the motion must (1) phone Judge Doyle’s Judicial Assistant about the motion, and (2) hand deliver or email a copy to Judge Doyle’s Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
A party asking the Court to consider legal authority must email it to the specified address three days before the hearing, including the case number, caption, and hearing date.
For any hearing, the party wishing the Court to consider legal authority shall submit their authority via email to CoDivision5@jud12.flcourts.org 3 days prior to the hearing. The email shall include the case number, caption and date of hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — 6. Case Law and Other Legal Authority
The Court cannot discuss pending cases with the public and considers only authorized courtroom arguments and properly filed documents.
Notice to the public: The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the Judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit to discuss pending cases with the public. Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. The Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in the courtroom and in documents properly filed by actual parties in the case as authorized by law and the Rules of Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Requirements & Information
The fax may be used only for emergencies.
Fax 941-749-3677; The fax is to be used for emergencies only.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court