Judge Panayotta Augustin-Birch
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Video Conference
Chambers
Letter Ecf
Intake Unit
Detailed Drafting Rules
Contact Chambers at (954) 769-5460 to schedule discovery hearings.
If, after conferring, the parties are unable to resolve a discovery dispute without Court intervention, then a party may seek a hearing by contacting Chambers at (954) 769-5460 to place the matter on the Court's calendar.
Parties must confirm hearing availability with opposing counsel before finalizing with Chambers.
The Court will provide the telephoning party with available dates and times for a hearing. That party shall confer with opposing counsel to confirm availability and then contact Chambers again to finalize the hearing date and time.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredconfirm availability with opposing counsel first
Make multiple attempts to reach opposing counsel within 3 business days before finalizing hearing date.
The Court expects a party seeking to schedule a hearing to make multiple attempts to reach opposing counsel to confirm availability. However, should opposing counsel fail to respond to those attempts within three business days, the party may contact Chambers to finalize a hearing date and time that comports with the party's own availability.
Phone
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredmake multiple attempts to reach opposing counsel within 3 business days
First discovery hearings typically held via Zoom unless otherwise requested.
Unless a party requests otherwise, the Court typically will hold the first discovery hearing in a case via Zoom Video Teleconference.
Video Conference
Direct to: Chambers
- Advance Notice Requiredunless party requests otherwise
Discovery motions limited to 3 pages.
party shall file through the Court’s electronic filing system (CM/ECF) a concise discovery motion of no more than three pages.
Response to discovery motion limited to 3 pages.
The responding party shall file a response of no more than three pages within two business days of receiving the discovery motion.
Reply to discovery motion limited to 2 pages.
The initiating party may file a reply of no more than two pages within one business day of receiving the response.
Written judge authorization required for specific electronic device access.
A. A written request signed by a judge or other designated authority, forwarded to the United States Marshal for verification, allowing a specific person access to the courthouse with a specific electronic device for a specific purpose and period of time; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
Federal courthouse employees with valid ID may bring electronic devices.
B. Any federal courthouse employee (United States Probation, Clerk's Office, Chambers Staff, and United States Marshals Service) with valid permanent government employee identification; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
Federal prosecutors and defenders with valid ID may bring electronic devices.
C. Any attorney or employee of the United States Attorney's Office, the Federal Public Defender's Office or the United States Bankruptcy Trustee with a valid identification card issued from that office; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
Law enforcement officers with valid ID may bring electronic devices.
D. Any Special Agent for the United States Government or other law enforcement officer authorized to enforce the law within the Southern District of Florida, having official business within the courthouse facility and possessing a valid agency/department issued identification badge; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
Attorneys with valid Florida Bar ID or pro hac vice order may bring electronic devices.
E. Any attorney permitted to practice law within the Southern District of Florida with a valid Florida Bar identification card or pro hac vice order having business within the facility. This applies to attorneys only and precludes staff, investigators, clients, etc.; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
Jurors and witnesses with subpoenas may bring phones and e-readers.
F. Prospective jurors and seated jurors and witnesses with subpoenas shall be permitted to bring in their cellular phones (with or without their integrated cameras) and electronic book readers of any kind, including but not limited to Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and any type of electronic tablet reading device; or,
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request
News reporters may bring devices with written agreement to use only text mode and no recording.
G. Upon application and approval, news reporters may bring into courthouses cellular phones, mobile electronic devices and laptops, and may utilize the wireless capabilities of those devices, as long as the news reporters agree in writing to use their electronic device inside the District's courtrooms only in text function mode consistent with this Order. Reporters also must agree in writing to not record or transmit in any way audio, still photography, or video from anywhere inside courthouses nor from inside courtrooms, and agree to not transmit a live feed of any of the aforementioned at any time. Nor may they create a verbatim record of any proceeding. They must acknowledge in writing that a knowing or willful violation of the agreement will result in contempt of court. The Clerk of Court shall keep the list of reporters who have signed such agreement and make that list
Letter via ECF
Direct to: Intake Unit
- Advance Notice Requiredwritten_request