Requirements and Information
December 15, 2022
Local Rules and the Standards of Professionalism are available online. State and defense counsel shall comply with the 12th Judicial Standards of Professionalism and be familiar with the rules outlined therein. If you do not have internet access, you may contact the Manatee County Bar Association (941-741-4091).
You can obtain monthly court calendars for Criminal Division V on our Criminal Division webpage. NOTE: Calendars are subject to change. Please check back regularly for possible amended calendars.
Hearings are limited to the time reserved. The party opposing the motion is entitled to equal time; therefore, the party reserving and scheduling the hearing should determine how much hearing time he/she needs and then double the estimate. In the alternative, the scheduling party should confer with opposing counsel and agree regarding the total time required.
Once a motion is scheduled via JACS or the Judicial Assistant, subsequent motions shall not be "cross noticed," absent prior approval of the Court and opposing counsel.
Once a particular motion is scheduled via JACS or the Judicial Assistant, another motion shall not be "substituted" in the event the original motion is cancelled absent prior approval by the Court or opposing counsel.
Any party wishing to add a case or hearing to the docket after JACS has closed must contact the JA no later than 11:00 a.m. the day prior to the scheduled hearings. Cases may not be added on without the express consent of opposing counsel and the Court. For example, to place an additional case on the Tuesday docket the requesting party shall contact the Judicial Assistant no later than 11:00 a.m. on Monday. The requesting party must have the approval of opposing counsel prior to contacting the Judicial Assistant. Do not contact the Clerk's office to add-on cases. If approved, the Court will contact the Clerk.
Pursuant to Fla.R.Jud.Admin. 2.530(d)(2), telephonic appearances will be permitted upon written request and only on non-evidentiary hearings of 15 minutes or less unless stipulated by the parties and approved by the Court. A written request must be made at least 5 days prior to the hearing. The court will call the party appearing via telephone at a number supplied to the court in advance of the hearing. If the telephoning party is citing case authority, same must be provided to the Court and opposing parties 5 days prior to the hearing.
Please cancel hearing time thru JACS as soon as you are aware the need for the time no longer exists. If unable to cancel the hearing through JACS, please contact the Judicial Assistant so she can make the time available for other cases. The attorney cancelling the hearing is responsible for notifying the bailiff's office that an inmate will not be needed.
All Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration, Arrest of Judgment and/or New Trial must be submitted directly to the judge, along with a cover letter. After review, the judge will determine if a hearing is required.
Motions for Release of Uncharged Defendants shall be filed with the clerk and a clerk’s date/time stamp copy delivered to the judge’s chambers and to the ASA. Defense shall obtain hearing time from the judicial assistant for the next scheduled video bond hearing or at any motion time cleared with the ASA. Should the ASA file charges before the hearing, the ASA shall deliver a clerk’s date/time stamped copy of the Information to the Defense and the judge’s chambers, in order to cancel the hearing. These hearings may be set during the Video Bond time.
Upon receipt of a pro se Motion to Modify or Terminate Probation, the Court will take the following action:
The Court requires all cases be set for a case management conference. Case management will be scheduled on a weekly basis by the Clerk at the arraignment and will be at least 21 days from the arraignment.
Defendants in custody will be brought to the courtroom. Defendants not in custody shall remain in the courtroom until excused by the Court. At the case management conference, trial dates will be set, as well as cutoff dates for discovery, depositions, filing of motions and hearing time for motions. Parties are encouraged to enter into stipulations for trial dates on the Court approved form found in the courtroom of available for download on the Criminal Division page. Only the division-approved form will be accepted. If the parties cannot agree on a trial date, the Court will select one. Pleas will be accepted at case management.