PROCEDURES FOR JUVENILE DEPENDENCY DIVISION D
All Hearings (with the exception of trials) will be conducted through ZOOM Conferencing or in person and may be conducted in a hybrid fashion.
The Court’s Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/6544457465 and the Zoom Meeting ID is 654 445 7465. No additional password is required.
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You will be placed in a Zoom “waiting room” and then will be admitted into the hearing when your case is called.
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When signing in through Zoom via the Zoom link, please take a moment to rename yourself using your first and last name, the organization you are with and the case number you are here for; (i.e.), Jane Doe, Mother, case 55DP12345 Doe; CM DEV John Smith, case 55DP11345 Doe.
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Must proceedings with the exception of Dependency/TPR Trials and other hearings where the Court requires in person attendance, parties and participants are permitted to appear by Zoom, but are required to have the video on and remain visible.
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If you do not have video conferencing capabilities, you may appear telephonically via Zoom by dialing 1 786 635 1003 and entering the Meeting ID 654 445 7465, or APPEAR IN PERSON.
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The Zoom app is available for free for IOS and Android devices, and it may also be accessed via a desktop computer. This is a free service. The Zoom help center is at http://support.zoom.us.
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Lawyers are responsible for providing their clients the procedure for each hearing and to ensure the client’s virtual equipment is tested in advance.
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If you do not have video conferencing capabilities or unstable internet or wifi, you may contact the Judicial Assistant and request to use the Zoom Rooms A or B that are located on the 3rd floor of the Edgecomb Courthouse in the lobby outside Courtroom 310 or you may appear in person. You must contact the Judicial Assistant PRIOR to your hearing at least 3 days in advance of your hearing to reserve a Zoom Room.
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Please understand that just as matters sometimes run long for in-person hearings, hearings in the VIRTUAL COURTROOM may run longer than anticipated. If you hang up, there is an increased likelihood your case will be delayed. Please be patient and remain on the call and/or mute yourself as you enter a VIRTUAL COURTROOM and you are waiting for the judge to address your case.
DEPENDENCY AND TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS TRIALS
Trials shall be conducted in person unless otherwise instructed by the Court.
Any Zoom trial hearing shall be set by the Court on a case by case basis.
All witness lists shall be provided to all parties and a copy to the Court five days prior to trial.
Exhibits shall be premarked and provided to all parties three business days prior to the evidentiary hearing or trial. A courtesy copy will be emailed to the Court and a copy filed with the Clerk. Counsel shall also submit a Notice of Filing and attach an exhibit list with each proposed exhibit to be introduced into evidence during the hearing and/or trial. All exhibits shall be numbered sequentially; for example: Guardian’s exhibit 1, Mother’s exhibit 1, composite a-e.
All parties must be available to testify in person unless an exception has been addressed and granted by the Court prior to trial, please make sure any testifying witness has a photo ID to show the Court.
Any case law shall be provided electronically to all parties with courtesy copies to the Court the day of trial.
CONSENTS: The Parent and attorney shall complete and sign the appropriate consent form (forms found under the FORMS section on the Judges’ Profile page ) and provide them to the Court via email (jackeline.bermudez-rodriguez@fljud13.org) prior to the scheduled hearing along with a copy of the Parent’s photo ID; (i.e., driver’s license, state ID). The Parent shall appear via Zoom video to be sworn in by the Court or if the Parent cannot appear via video, the Parent may appear via Zoom or telephonically for the hearing or reserve in advance of the hearing a Zoom Room A or B by notifying the Judicial Assistant at least 3 days prior to the hearing or appear in person in Courtroom 310.
SURRENDERS: Counsel shall obtain the surrenders executed by their client and submit those documents to the Court using the email jackeline.bermudez-rodriguez@fljud13.org prior to the hearing. At the hearing the Parent shall have a photo ID/ Driver’s license/ Passport to confirm identity. Alternatively, if a Parent does not have a smart phone or access to an electronic device with Zoom video capability, they can appear by Zoom telephonically, but then shall appear with a notary to be sworn in or the parent may appear in person in Courtroom 310.
ORDERS:
Counsel may also agree to submit stipulated orders to JAWS via the statewide e-portal for the Court’s review and ruling in lieu of a hearing. If an attorney has problems or questions regarding the statewide e-portal and its use, please contact the Helpdesk at 813-272-6513 and they will provide you with the instructions for uploading orders via the e-portal.
After a hearing, if an order needs to be submitted to the Court, the order shall be circulated among the Parties for approval. Once approved or after a reasonable period of time has elapsed for a party to voice an objection to the proposed order, it shall be the responsibility of the proponent of the hearing/motion to submit the proposed order to the Court via email for signature. If there remains disagreement among the parties as to any of the terms of an order after a proposed order has been circulated, the proponent of the hearing/motion shall submit the proposed order along with an email outlining which areas where there was a disagreement so the Court can determine the appropriate language before signing the order. The Court will not conform and distribute copies of orders until further notice.
Any Parent, Child Advocate, Guardian ad Litem, caregiver, provider, participant or interested party with questions regarding these procedures is urged to call, e-mail, or text their lawyer. The Judge’s Judicial Assistant may also be able to assist with general questions, but Parties should consult with their counsel first.