Judge Shannon Hankin
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than 3 Days Before Hearing
Exhibits
- Chambers Drop Off • Before Hearing
Adjournments
- A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without the defense attorney appearing if the attorney filed the Pretrial Conference Request Form with the Clerk and it was imaged before the scheduled conference.
- A request to continue the pretrial conference must be unopposed and the conference must not have been continued more than twice; counsel need not appear, the court will continue it to the next available date at least four weeks later, and the defendant waives speedy trial.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Before the hearing begins, have in your possession the following: A Table of Exhibits. Each exhibit labeled “Plaintiff 1” or “Defendant A” and so on
DocumentExhibits
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
Civil evidentiary hearings generally must occur in the courtroom, and the hearing notice must say the hearing is live and not remote.
With the exception of hearings on a claim of exemption, absent an order from the Court permitting an evidentiary hearing to occur by Zoom, evidentiary hearings shall take place live in the courtroom and the notice shall include language that the hearing is taking place live in the courtroom and not by remote means.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The motion shall contain certification that the attorney has personally spoken with opposing counsel, or has made diligent attempts to contact opposing counsel, in an effort to resolve the disputed issue(s) and recite opposing counsel’s position prior to requesting an emergency hearing.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The Court will not consider an email to be a motion. If any party wants the Court to take action, the party must file a motion and set it for hearing when appropriate.
DocumentMotion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
A hearing notice must identify the exact title of the matter and its filing date; JACS “unlisted motion” entries must name the motion in Additional Information, and remote-hearing notices must include Zoom access details.
All notices of hearing shall list the exact title of the motion or other document that is to be heard and shall note the date of filing. If a hearing is scheduled in JACS and “unlisted motion” is selected, the exact name of the motion being scheduled must be added in the “Additional Information” section of JACS. Notice of Hearings for remote appearances must include the Meeting ID, Password, and information about how to access and utilize Zoom.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Mandatory
The listed criminal proceedings generally must occur live in the courtroom and be noticed as in-person proceedings unless the Court permits Zoom.
Arraignments, trials, evidentiary hearings, open pleas, docket soundings, trial status, public defender and pro se pretrial conferences, violation of probation hearings and non-evidentiary hearings expected to last longer than fifteen minutes will take place live in the courtroom and shall be noticed as such absent a court order permitting an appearance by Zoom.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
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
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026Important
Confer with opposing counsel to determine what exhibits are stipulated and what evidentiary objections each side is maintaining and avoid duplicate exhibits.
DocumentExhibits
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Non Evidentiary hearings less than thirty minutes in length and hearings on claims of exemptions may be noticed as a Zoom hearing without prior authorization from the Court as long as the Notice of Hearing includes the Meeting ID, Password, and information about how to access and utilize Zoom.
Summary: Notices for qualifying civil Zoom hearings must include the Meeting ID, password, and Zoom access and use information.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The motion shall be accompanied by a cover letter that must include an estimate of the amount of hearing time required.
DocumentMotion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
The lead attorney must be present in all cases demanding a jury trial. The parties must have complied with all requirements for pretrial conference provided in the Trial Order.
DocumentPretrial Conference
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
Appearance in person is required at Small Claims Pretrials, unless a Court Order has been entered referring the case to mediation, which will only be done upon a motion that shows good cause.
DocumentMotion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Once a hearing is scheduled, no additional motions are to be added or substituted absent prior approval of opposing counsel and the Court. If multiple motions are being scheduled all motions shall be specifically listed.
DocumentNotice Of Hearing
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
Do not send the completed forms to the Judicial Assistant. Forms are available on the Criminal Division page and in the courtroom. An attorney can hand this form to the Clerk at the Pretrial Conference and the attorney may then leave without waiting for the Court to call his or her case.
DocumentPretrial Conference Request Form
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Rule 2.516.
Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Mandatory use of the Portal
File the form electronically with the Clerk or hand it to the Clerk at the scheduled hearing; do not email it to the Judicial Assistant.
*** Please efile this form with the Clerk or hand it to the Clerk at the scheduled hearing. Please do NOT email it to the Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | JUDGE HANKIN’S PRETRIAL CONFERENCE REQUEST FORM
Attorneys may submit proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant by hard copy, but must not submit the same order through more than one method.
However, attorneys may send proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant by hard copy. Do not sent orders in more than one way. For example, if you use the portal, do not also send in a hard copy to the Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Attorneys are strongly encouraged to use the statewide Portal to submit proposed orders.
Attorneys are strongly encouraged to use the statewide Portal as is described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2, as it will result in the quickest turnaround time by the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Interpreter requests must be made five days in advance.
Requests must be made 5 days in advance.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Interpreters
Service and Proof of Service Rules
If the plaintiff has not served all defendants, the case remains open without the plaintiff appearing, and the plaintiff must obtain another summons to schedule another court date.
If a plaintiff has not been able to serve all the defendants in the case, the Court will leave the case open without the necessity of the plaintiff appearing. It will be the responsibility of the plaintiff to obtain another summons in order to schedule another court date.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences — Small Claims Pretrial Conferences
Whenever a self-represented litigant files something with the Clerk or provides the Judge a copy, they 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.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Self-Represented Litigants (pro se)
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies are routinely unnecessary, but 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.
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. 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
For remote evidentiary hearings, deliver hard copies of a table of exhibits and individually labeled exhibits to Judicial Chambers before the hearing.
Before the hearing, ensure hard copies of the following are delivered to the Judicial Chambers: A Table of Exhibits. Each exhibit labeled “Plaintiff 1” or “Defendant A” and so on
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings — Remote Evidentiary Hearings
Filing Bundling Requirements
Cross-noticing or piggybacking motions is prohibited unless all parties and the Court consent.
“Piggybacking” or cross noticing of motions or substitute motions is not permitted absent the consent of all parties and the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Cross Noticing Hearings
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A criminal pretrial conference may be continued twice without the defense attorney appearing if the attorney filed the Pretrial Conference Request Form with the Clerk and it was imaged before the scheduled conference.
Criminal Pretrial Conferences can be continued two times without the need for the Defense Attorney to appear provided that the Defense Attorney has filed with the Clerk the Pretrial Conference Request Form and it has been imaged by the Clerk 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
A request to continue the pretrial conference must be unopposed and the conference must not have been continued more than twice; counsel need not appear, the court will continue it to the next available date at least four weeks later, and the defendant waives speedy trial.
Continue the Pretrial Conference. The undersigned attorney certifies that the request to continue the Pretrial Conference is unopposed and the Pretrial Conference in this case has not been continued more than twice. Both the State Attorney and the undersigned understand that at the currently scheduled Pretrial Conference, the undersigned attorney need not appear and the Court will continue the Pretrial Conference until the next available Pretrial Conference date no less than four weeks from the currently scheduled pretrial conference. It will be the responsibility of the attorney to ensure he/she is aware of the next scheduled date. The Defendant waives speedy trial.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | JUDGE HANKIN’S PRETRIAL CONFERENCE REQUEST FORM
Chambers Communication Rules
To request emergency hearing time, first file an emergency motion with the Clerk, then email a copy to the Judicial Assistant for the Judge, and include a cover letter estimating the hearing time needed.
All requests for emergency hearing time must be made by first filing an emergency motion with the Clerk and then providing a copy of the motion for the Judge’s review, by emailing the Judicial Assistant. The motion shall be accompanied by a cover letter that must include an estimate of the amount of hearing time required.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
Use JACS to cancel a hearing when possible; otherwise, if JACS blocks cancellation because notice would be short, the moving party must email the e-filed cancellation notice to the Judicial Assistant and include all parties.
JACS should be used to cancel hearings when possible. However, JACS will not authorize a cancellation when it results in short notice to the parties. When JACS does not permit a cancellation, the moving party may cancel the hearing only by emailing a copy of the e-filed Notice of Cancellation to the judicial assistant. Include all parties in that email. The judicial assistant will acknowledge receipt of the notice, cancel the hearing, and inform all parties the hearing has been cancelled.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Cancellations
Schedule hearings through JACS, except hearings requiring more than 60 minutes, which must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant; hearings are limited to reserved time and motions must be filed before reserving hearing time.
All hearings shall be scheduled through the JACS. However, any hearings that require more than sixty (60) minutes shall be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant. Hearings are limited to the time reserved. All motions shall be filed prior to reserving hearing time.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Scheduling
Do not call to inquire about an order’s status; after 30 days without a ruling, the movant may call the Judicial Assistant to report that period, measured from the Court’s receipt of the last post-hearing submission.
Please do not call to ask about the status of the order. If 30 days have elapsed without a ruling, the movant may call the Judicial Assistant to advise that the matter has been under advisement for 30 days. The 30 days begins upon the Court’s receipt of the last post-hearing submission (e.g., transcripts, supplemental briefs, or legal authority).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures — Orders under advisement
Self-represented litigants should email the Judicial Assistant to schedule a motion or hearing when possible, copy the opposing party, and identify the matter and estimated hearing time for both sides.
Self-represented litigants should contact the Judicial Assistant via email at CoDivisionC@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 | Pro Se Scheduling
Self-represented litigants may contact the Judicial Assistant for hearing scheduling but may not ask the Judge to discuss their case or ask the assistant for case advice, hearing outcomes, or order-signing status.
The Judge may not talk to you about your case outside of the courtroom, so please do not call to speak with the Judge. My Judicial Assistant can help you schedule a hearing. The Judicial Assistant may not help you with your case or send information to the other party or attorney for you. 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 Sarasota County Clerk’s website for details about your case.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court — Self-Represented Litigants (pro se)
Contact the Judicial Assistant if no hearing time is available or more than 60 minutes are needed.
If there is no hearing time available or if you need more than sixty (60) minutes for your hearing please contact the Judicial Assistant.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Scheduling
The attorney or party must alert the Judicial Assistant at least 48 hours before a hearing if an in-custody defendant needs transport or a Zoom appearance.
It is the attorney/party’s responsibility to alert the Judicial Assistant of any Defendant that is in custody and needs to be transported for a hearing or needs to appear via Zoom. This must be done at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Inmates
If the parties settle after a case is set for trial, they must immediately notify the Judicial Assistant and contact the next attorneys on the trial lineup, even on the weekend.
If the parties settle after the case is set for trial, not only must the parties immediately notify the Judicial Assistant, the parties must also immediately contact the attorneys next in order on the trial lineup (even over the weekend).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures — Settlement
Do not schedule rehearing, reconsideration, or new-trial motions without prior Court approval; submit them directly to the Judicial Assistant for review of whether a hearing is warranted.
Do not set for hearing. Hearings set without the Court’s prior approval will be cancelled. All Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or for New Trial shall be filed and submitted directly to the Judicial Assistant. The judge will review the motion to determine whether a hearing is warranted.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or New Trial
The Court will not discuss pending cases with the public by phone or email and will consider 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. The Court cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case. Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judges.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Notice to the public
Contact the Judicial Assistant with questions about whether a hearing may be held by Zoom or requires an in-person appearance.
If, after reviewing the guidelines below, you are unsure about whether a hearing can occur by Zoom or whether you are supposed to appear in person, please contact the Judicial Assistant.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance