Judge Jacqueline B. Steele
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Exhibits
- Hand Delivery
Legal Authority
- At Least 3 Days Before Hearing
Notice Of Cancellation
Adjournments
- A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without defense counsel appearing if the defense attorney filed the continuance request form before the scheduled conference.
- A third continuance requires filing a stipulation that states the reason for the continuance.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Fax
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements5 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
All proposed orders should be emailed in word format to CoDivision3@jud12.flcourts.org.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
The State shall use numbers to denote their exhibits. The Defense/Defendant shall use letters.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
For PowerPoint presentations, please have a printed version as well as an electronic version for clerk submission.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Parties shall provide proposed jury instructions and a verdict form by email (in word format) no later than the Friday before the start of the trial period to CoDivision3@jud12.flcourts.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
State to use numbers; Defense to use letters.
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
If opposing counsel has an objection, the aid shall not be displayed and/or played before a jury until the Court has ruled on the objection.
DocumentDemonstrative Aid
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.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
In document intensive cases the Court requires the parties to confer with the Clerk of Court prior to trial and present the Clerk with an exhibit list as well as the exhibits.
DocumentExhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
To have a clear record, parties using a demonstrative aid shall be prepared to have the aid marked as an exhibit and entered into the record, regardless of whether the aid will be introduced into evidence.
DocumentDemonstrative Aid
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Counsel shall confer with the Trial Clerk and pre-mark all exhibits.
DocumentTrial Exhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Prior to trial, counsel shall confer with opposing counsel and show opposing counsel the demonstrative aid.
DocumentDemonstrative Aid
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
A request to redact any portion of an exhibit must be made to opposing counsel at least five business days before trial.
If any party requests that any portion of an exhibit, i.e., recordings, cell phone records, text messages, email messages, transcripts, etc., be redacted, the request for redaction shall be made to opposing counsel no less than five (5) business days before trial.
DocumentExhibit
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Any emails sent for communication purposes should be sent to the judicial assistant. Please include the case number and case name in the subject line of the email.
DocumentEmail
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
For a Zoom plea, the plea form must be submitted and e-filed 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
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A party seeking pretrial redaction of an exhibit portion must make the request to opposing counsel at least five business days before trial.
If any party requests that any portion of an exhibit, i.e., recordings, cell phone records, text messages, email messages, transcripts, etc., be redacted prior to trial, the request for redaction shall be made to opposing counsel no less than five (5) business days before trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
All parties must exchange trial exhibits at least five business days before trial.
Trial exhibits shall be exchanged between all parties, not less than five (5) business days prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
Motions to suppress, Stand Your Ground motions, and other applicable evidentiary motions must be filed and heard before the plea cut-off date, unless the opportunity did not exist or the defendant was unaware of the grounds.
Motions to Suppress, Stand Your Ground Motions or any other evidentiary motion applicable to the case, shall be filed and heard prior to the plea cut-off date unless opportunity did not exist, or the Defendant was not aware of the grounds for the Motion.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
If the parties cannot stipulate to a requested redaction, a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing before trial.
If the parties cannot stipulate to the redaction a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
Proposed jury instructions and a verdict form are due by the Friday before the trial period begins.
Parties shall provide proposed jury instructions and a verdict form by email (in word format) no later than the Friday before the start of the trial period to CoDivision3@jud12.flcourts.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 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.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance
Acknowledgement and Waiver of Rights forms and Pleas in Absentia must be filed with the Clerk before the hearing, 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
The pretrial conference continuance form must be filed with the Clerk three business days before the hearing and must not be 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
An untimely motion may not be heard.
Failure to timely file the Motion may result in it not being heard.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Whenever you file something with the Clerk or provide the Judge a copy, you must send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.
Please remember that whenever you file something with the Clerk or provide the Judge a copy, you must send a copy to all the attorneys or parties at the same time.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Please read if you do not have an attorney
If a party will use an exhibit in a different form or format from the one prepared and produced in discovery, an exact copy must be delivered to opposing counsel at least five business days before trial.
If either side is going to use an exhibit that is in a different form/format than has been prepared and submitted with discovery the Court requires an exact copy of the exhibit to be delivered to opposing counsel no less than five (5) business days before trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings Including Trial
For a Zoom plea, the State must, if applicable, notify the victim of the hearing and provide the ability to participate.
Should a plea via Zoom occur, the State shall, if applicable, ensure that the victim has notice of the hearing and the ability to participate in the hearing.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | Pleas by Zoom
A copy of the legal authority must be provided to opposing counsel within the same three-day period.
A copy of the same shall be given to the opposing counsel within the same time frame.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A party asking the Court to consider legal authority must submit a hard copy to Chambers at least three days before the hearing.
For any hearing, the party wishing the Court to consider legal authority shall submit their authority in hard copy format to Chambers at least three days prior to the hearing.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Courtesy copies are requested only for notices of cancellation; other notices and motions need not be provided as courtesy copies if they are in the court’s file.
Courtesy Copies are only requested for Notice of Cancellations, all other Notices/Motions are not needed as long as they are in the Court’s file.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
The parties must provide opposing counsel and the Court paper courtesy copies of the exhibit list and marked exhibits.
Additionally, the Court requires the parties to provide courtesy paper copies of the exhibit list and marked exhibits to opposing counsel, as well as the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings Including Trial
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
For a court-scheduled hearing, the moving party must obtain opposing counsel’s agreement on the date and time before contacting the judicial assistant to schedule.
The moving party must first get the agreement of opposing counsel for the date and time, then contact the judicial assistant to schedule.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures
If the parties cannot agree to a requested redaction, a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing before trial.
If the parties cannot stipulate to the redaction a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing prior to trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings Including Trial
Before scheduling a special-set plea or motion, the moving party must confer with opposing counsel about witness availability.
The moving party must first confer with opposing counsel to ensure all witnesses are available for the designated time slot.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A third continuance requires filing a stipulation that states the reason for the continuance.
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.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences
A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without defense counsel appearing if the defense attorney filed 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
Chambers Communication Rules
Parties must email proposed jury instructions and a verdict form in Word format to the listed address by the Friday before the trial period begins.
Parties shall provide proposed jury instructions and a verdict form by email (in word format) no later than the Friday before the start of the trial period to CoDivision3@jud12.flcourts.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 2 | STANDING TRIAL ORDER FOR COUNTY CRIMINAL DIVISION 3
Do not contact the judicial assistant to ask for a hearing outcome or confirm whether an order has been signed; consult the Clerk’s website instead.
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 and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Please read if you do not have an attorney
The division email address may be used only to submit documents, not to communicate with the Judge’s office.
The division email address is to be used solely for the submission of documents, not for communication with the Judge’s office.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
The judicial assistant may be contacted by email at pdavidson@jud12.flcourts.org.
Please email Petrina Davidson at: pdavidson@jud12.flcourts.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Please read if you do not have an attorney
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 Steele’s Judicial Assistant about the motion, and (2) hand deliver or email a copy to the Judge Steele’s Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
The fax number 941-749-3677 is for emergencies only.
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 — Please read if you do not have an attorney