Family Law Judicial Preference Chart

Family Law Judicial Preference Chart

DivisionABCDEFIJL
JudgeMatthew FelixJoseph TompkinsWendy DePaulKelly AyersMichael HooiMark KiserJeffrey RichRobert BaumanMichael C. Baggé-Hernández
Courtroom number411400408401413410403402416
Office number (Edgecomb courthouse)312420426422429428424423421
JA nameEllen CourtemancheCarmen JonesPatty CooneDwauna “DeeDee” HeywardDenisse RiveraYarimar AyalaMerissa ClarkDebra StanteYoland DeVesta
Phone Number813-272-6992813-272-5496813-272-5777813-276-2059813-276-2060813-276-2099813-276-3968(813) 272-5816813-276-2014
E-mailfamlawdiva@fljud13.orgfamlawdivb@fljud13.orgfamlawdivc@fljud13.orgfamlawdivd@fljud13.orgfamlawdive@fljud13.orgfamlawdivf@fljud13.orgfamlawdivi@fljud13.orgFamlawdivJ@fljud13.orgfamlawdivl@fljud13.org
Best way to contact JAE-mailPhone, e-maile-maile-mail/phoneEmailEmaile-mailemaile-mail
Zoom hearing linkLinkLinkLinkLinkLinkLinkLinkLinkLink
Type of hearings allowed by ZoomNon-evidentiary hearings that are less than 30-minThe Court allows uncontested final hearings & UMC matters (10 minutes or less) to appear via Zoom. The Court also allows non-evidentiary hearings 30 minutes or less to appear via Zoom.Non-evidentiary hearings 30 minutes or less, Attorney CMC30 minutes or less/ Court approval The court has a zoom only docket on MondaysNonevidentiary hearings that do not involve a discovery dispute lasting up to 30 minutes30 min. or less hrgs, Pre-Trials, Adoption, TPR & UMC docket. Otherwise will need to file a motion to ask for permission. More than 30 min. will be in-person.10 minutes or lessUMC/CMC and less than 30 minutes/non-evidentiaryNon-evidentiary hearings 30 minutes or less, Attorney CMC
Are half zoom/half in person hearings allowed?No, unless approved by JudgeNo, unless the Court gives express prior approval.Yes, but not preferredYes, with court approvalGenerally noNo.No, unless motion granted by Judge. Motion must explain why the Hearing must be hybrid. If granted, all exhibits must be provided to party appearing over Zoom prior to the hearing.RarelyYes, but not preferred
Can witnesses appear by zoom?Yes by OrderAll witnesses are to appear in person unless otherwise allowed by Judge Tompkins.YesYes with advance notice to the courtYes, subject to the opposing party’s objection and the Court’s directions. If you want a witness to appear by Zoom, file a motion that explains why the witness cannot appear in person and discusses the logistics for the remote appearance. Be prepared to discuss the logistics at a pretrial or case-management conference.Yes, attorney must email our office to let know.No, unless motion granted by Judge to allow witness to appear by Zoom. Motion must explain why witness cannot appear in person. If granted, all exhibits must be provided to witnesses prior to hearingNoYes
Temp relief – how much time allowedNo time restrictions1-2 hours1 hours, up to 2 hours on motion filed and heard1 hour on each motion filedUp to 1 hourUp to 2hrs. If more, need to schedule CMCUp to 1 Hour2-hours max.1 hours, up to 2 hours on motion filed and heard
Temp relief – how to scheduleE-mailJAWS for hearings 1 hour or less; contact JA for hearings greater than 1 hour.Contact JA if for more than 1 hourContact Judicial AssistantEmail the judicial assistant immediately after you file the temporary-relief motion and follow her instructions on scheduling.Via emailContact JA for hearing times via emailContact JA for hearing timesContact JA if for more than 1 hour
Temp relief – mediation requirementsAll issues must be mediated prior to TRHYesMust mediate after filing the Motion or requesting temp relief in the Petition, and prior to scheduling hearingMust mediate after filing of Motion and before scheduling hearing unless court approval is obtained to schedule mediation or mediation is waived by the courtThe parties must go to mediation before a temporary-relief hearing unless excused by court order.Yes, case must be mediated before hrg.Yes, must mediate prior to scheduling hearingMust Mediate prior to having Motion heardMust mediate after filing the Motion or requesting temp relief in the Petition, and prior to scheduling hearing
How to set trial:For trials over 1 day, schedule case management conference, e-mail copy of the Notice of Hearing once CMC is scheduled.e-mail JA for datesSchedule CMC to request an order to set trial, e-mail copy of order directing parties to schedule trial to JA to request datese-mail JA to request trial and pre-trial conference datesfile and serve a notice for trial, e-mail the JA for available trial and pre-trial datesVisit the judge's website at www.fljud13.org under Judge Kiser to find available trial weeks and pre-trial dates, e-mail the JA with agreed trial date and JA will assign the pre-trial dateContact JA for pretrial and trial datesContact JA for trial and pre trial conference datesSchedule CMC to request an order to set trial, e-mail copy of order directing parties to schedule trial to JA to request dates
Exhibits – preferred formatPaper with Bates numbersHard copiesElectronic/uploaded through the e-filing portal, with a cover page on each exhibit with the exhibit number and style of the caseHard copies with exhibit list and tabbed exhibitsElectronicBothHard Copies10 pages or less can email; more than 10 pages paper - Indexed, 3-hole punched with dividers between each exhibit and placed in 3-ring binderElectronic/uploaded through the e-filing portal, with a cover page on each exhibit with the exhibit number and style of the case
Exhibits – when due to the court for trial3 business days prior5 days priorElectronic- 3 business days prior to assure they are received. Paper exhibits day of the in-person hearingZoom (3 business days prior) In Person (day of)Exhibits are due when the trial starts. The parties must upload the exhibits electronically. Please do not submit any paper or other tangible exhibits in advance. Have them with you on your trial date. The Court will surrender any admitted exhibits to the Clerk. Unless the Court directs otherwise, the parties must take back any unadmitted paper or other tangible exhibits at the end of the trial day or they will be recycled. Neither the Court nor the Clerk may hold unadmitted exhibits for a party.5 days prior5 days prior5-business days priorElectronic- 3 business days prior to assure they are received. Paper exhibits - day of the in-person hearing
Exhibits – when due to the court for evidentiary hrg3 business days prior3 days prior to the hearingElectronic exhibits or for zoom hearings - 3 business days prior to assume they are received. Paper exhibits - day of the in-person hearing, or 3 business days prior for zoom hearingsZoom (3 business days prior) In Person (day of)Exhibits are due when the trial starts. The parties must upload the exhibits electronically. Please do not submit any paper or other tangible exhibits in advance. Have them with you on your trial date. The Court will surrender any admitted exhibits to the Clerk. Unless the Court directs otherwise, the parties must take back any unadmitted paper or other tangible exhibits at the end of the trial day or they will be recycled. Neither the Court nor the Clerk may hold unadmitted exhibits for a party.5 days prior5 days prior5-business days priorElectronic exhibits or for zoom hearings - 3 business days prior to assume they are received. Paper exhibits - day of the in-person hearing, or 3 business days prior for zoom hearings
Contempt motion – mediation requirementsYes unless waived by after the filing of a motionPost-judgment contempt motions do not require mediation.NoNoUnless excused by court order, the parties must attend a mediation on a contempt motion to the extent required under the applicable law, including Administrative Order S-2024-057.NoYes, must mediate; or post-judgment referred to GMYes, must mediate; or post-judgment referred to GMNo
Case law - deadline for trial3 business day prior5 days prior to Trial3 business days prior to avoid delaying the final ruling - notify JA of trial dateZoom (3 business days prior) In Person (day of)You may bring caselaw to the trial or submit it in advance.5 days prior5 days prior5-business days prior3 business days prior to avoid delaying the final ruling - notify JA of trial date
Case law – deadline for evidentiary hrg3 business days prior3 days prior to the hearing3 business days prior to avoid delaying the final ruling - notify JA of hearing dateZoom (3 business days prior) In Person (day of)You may bring caselaw to the hearing or submit it in advance.5 days prior5 days prior5-business days prior3 business days prior to avoid delaying the final ruling - notify JA of hearing date