**Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II** was appointed to the Southern District of Florida by President Donald Trump in 2019, confirmed by the Senate on May 2, 2019. Born in 1979, his father came to the United States through Operación Pedro Pan and his mother arrived through the Freedom Flights. He began his judicial career in 2012 when Governor Rick Scott appointed him as a Miami-Dade County Court Judge, and he later served as a Circuit Court Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. He clerked for Senior Judge Federico A. Moreno of this same court early in his legal career. **Education** - Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. - Duke University, B.S. in Economics **Career** - Circuit Court Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, 2014–2019 - County Court Judge, Miami-Dade County, 2012–2014 - Associate, White & Case LLP - Assistant County Attorney, Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office - Law Clerk, Hon. Federico A. Moreno, Southern District of Florida
**Division:** Miami **Courthouse:** Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, 400 N. Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128 **Courtroom:** 11-2 **Phone:** (305) 523-5730 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Graciela Gomez, (305) 523-5736 - Court Reporter: Ilona Lupowitz, (305) 523-5737
Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II's rules set a pre-motion procedure for rule 26, rule 37, and rule 45. Discovery disputes must be resolved through conference before filing motions; sanctions may be imposed for bad faith.
Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II's rule states these limits: 20 pages. Excludes caption, index, table of contents, table of authorities, signature blocks, certificates, exhibits, appendices, and attachments. Daubert motions limited to 20 pages; one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II's formatting rule includes exhibit list must be submitted by calendar call date, list must include pre-marked identification label (e.g., p-1 or d-1), list must include brief description of each exhibit, list must refer to specific items, not blanket statements, and exhibits omitted from list will not be allowed at trial. Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with P/D prefixes and listed with descriptions by calendar call.
The rule requires local rule 7 1 a 3 certification. Motions in limine limited to one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
The rule requires proposed order. Proposed jury instructions and verdict form must be submitted in Word format via email before Calendar Call with specific subject line format.
Parties may contact Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II's opposing counsel by phone only as allowed by the rule. Single email exchange does not satisfy good faith conferral requirement; parties must confer telephonically or in person.
Daubert motions limited to 20 pages; one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
Motions in limine limited to one per party; require Local Rule 7.1(a)(3) certification.
Proposed jury instructions and verdict form must be submitted in Word format via email before Calendar Call with specific subject line format.
All discovery matters referred to Magistrate Judge; parties may consent to trial by Magistrate Judge with specified deadline.
Single email exchange does not satisfy good faith conferral requirement; parties must confer telephonically or in person.
Discovery disputes must be resolved through conference before filing motions; sanctions may be imposed for bad faith.
Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with P/D prefixes and listed with descriptions by calendar call.
Parties may submit up to 5 voir dire questions by calendar call via email with specific format.
Counsel must prepare and file a concise, non-argumentative case statement for jury voir dire by calendar call.
Counsel must promptly notify court of settlement via phone or email and file stipulation.