DIVISION “A” PROCEDURES
CIRCUIT JUDGE BARBARA TWINE THOMAS
Judicial Assistant: Christen Redding
Courtroom: 18; Chambers: Annex #230
Division A -email: FELONYDIVISIONA@FLJUD13.ORG
Office Phone Number: (813) 272-6874
ZOOM CONFERENCE ROOM
Meeting ID: 656 204 7464
Password: 1908
Topic: DIVISION A, JUDGE TWINE THOMAS’S DOCKET
Time: 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
One tap mobile
+17866351003,,6562047464#,,,,,,0#,,1908# US (Miami)
+12678310333,,6562047464#,,,,,,0#,,1908# US (Philadelphia)
Dial by your location
+1 786 635 1003 US (Miami)
+1 267 831 0333 US (Philadelphia)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 470 250 9358 US (Atlanta)
+1 470 381 2552 US (Atlanta)
+1 646 518 9805 US (New York)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 651 372 8299 US (St. Paul)
+1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 602 753 0140 US (Phoenix)
+1 669 219 2599 US (San Jose)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 720 928 9299 US (Denver)
+1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)
Circuit Criminal Division A Procedures
- WHERE HEARINGS ARE SET IN DIVISION “A” AS IN PERSON HEARINGS, ALL PARTIES MUST APPEAR IN PERSON.
- NO REMOTE APPEARANCES ARE PERMITTED WHEN IT IS AN IN-PERSON PROCEEDING.
- REMOTE HEARINGS CAN BE SET AS REQUESTED AND APPRROVED BY THE COURT.
- THERE ARE NO HYBRID PROCEEDINGS.
- PROCEEDINGS ARE EITHER IN PERSON OR REMOTE AS STATED AT THE TIME THE HEARING IS SET AND NOTICED.
- WHEN EMAILING THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT REGARDING A CASE, PLEASE INCLUDE THE ASSIGNED STATE ATTORNEY TO THE EMAIL. DO NOT USE THE STATE ATTORNEY’S PROCESSING EMAIL ADDRESS.
- Interpreter: If an interpreter is needed for a defendant or witness, the attorney representing that party or calling that witness MUST contact the Court Interpreter’s Office at (813) 272-5947 or via email at interpreterrequest@fljud13.org prior to the hearing to reserve an interpreter for the hearing.
- Arraignments: All Arraignments for both in-custody and out-of-custody Defendant’s will be conducted in person with attorneys. In custody defendants may not be present at arraignment. Pretrial Conferences and Jury Selection Trial dates are set at arraignment for all matters, giving counsel ample time to conduct discovery in the matter.
- Motions to Set Bond:
Bond Motions with witnesses are heard every Friday at 10:00am during a docket week. Counsel shall contact the Division “A” Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org to receive the next available bond motion date. Motions to Set Bond that can be heard (both sides) within five minutes, may be heard during the regular docket.
All Motions to Set Bond must be filed prior to requesting a hearing date. Once the motion is filed and a date assigned by the Judicial Assistant, the attorney setting the hearing MUST file a Notice of Hearing in all instances, prior to the hearing, to have the matter placed on the court’s docket.
All Motions to Set Bond are in person proceedings.
- Changes of Plea:
A change of plea for an incarcerated Defendant or a Defendant that is not in-custody will be conducted in person and can be conducted at the scheduled Disposition hearing or at the schedule Pre-Trial date. If counsel would like a sooner date, Counsel shall contact the Division A Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org for the first available date.
Attorneys: Attorneys are required by the terms of the plea form, the DNA form, score sheet and other related forms to discuss each form line by line with the Defendant in a private, confidential setting that allows for meaningful question and answer discussions. Please note the plea form indicates that the Defendant has seen and agrees with the scoresheet as prepared by the State. Thus, attorneys must also go over the score sheet with the Defendant as well as be prepared to answer questions regarding the same.
If an interpreter is needed, attorneys MUST contact the Court Interpreter’s Office at (813) 272-5947 or via email at interpreterrequest@fljud13.org to reserve an interpreter for the hearing, prior to the hearing.
For your convenience, the following links below give access to the forms that MUST BE REVIEWED WITH THE DEFENDANT PRIOR TO A CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING DATE:
Plea form – felony bilingual
Plea form DNA Addendum
- Timing of Motions: Attorneys MUST file and set for hearing All motions prior to the Pre-trial Conference. (NOTE: Pre-trial Conferences are individualized, detailed hearings, including the plea colloquy, that are held just prior to Trial. All final plans for Trial are disclosed to the Court. Trial counsel and the Defendant MUST be present. Appearances cannot be waived.) All motions not heard prior to the Pre-Trial Conference shall be deemed waived and such motions shall not be grounds for a continuance of the Trial date.
- Motion Hearings 10 minutes or less without witness testimony:
All non-evidentiary motions that require 10 minutes or less of hearing time shall be heard in person or virtually on Zoom on available dates during a docket week, generally during the morning docket.
These hearings do not include hearings that require witness testimony.
These hearings are restricted to legal argument only.
All motions must be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to obtaining a hearing date from the Judicial Assistant. You may contact the Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org to obtain potential hearing dates for the motion after the motion has been filed with the Clerk of Court. When emailing for a hearing date you must include opposing counsel in your email. You must include a copy of the motion, the case number, case name, and length of time being requested for the hearing in the email sent to the Judicial Assistant when requesting a hearing date. The email address for the Judicial Assistant is felonydivisiona@fljud13.org.
To formally place the matter on the docket, the party requesting the hearing MUST file a Notice of Hearing with the Clerk of Court with the agreed upon hearing date, sending a copy to opposing counsel as well to the Court via the felonydivisiona@fljud13.org email address. Failure to properly and timely file a Notice of Hearing, will result in the motion not being heard.
If an interpreter is needed for the hearing, please contact the Court Interpreter’s Office at (813) 272-5947 or via email at interpreterrequest@fljud13.org to reserve an interpreter for the hearing, prior to the hearing date.
- Motion Hearings 10 minutes or more in length or other evidentiary motions with witnesses:
All motion hearings requiring witness testimony, or greater than 10 minutes in length shall be heard in person on available dates during a docket week, generally in the afternoon.
The motion must be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to contacting the Judicial Assistant for a hearing date. When contacting the Judicial Assistant via email for a hearing date, you must include opposing counsel in your email, a copy of the motion, the case number, case name, and length of time being requested for the hearing. The email address for the Judicial Assistant is felonydivisiona@fljud13.org.
To formally place the matter on the docket, the party requesting the hearing MUST file a “Notice of Hearing” with the Clerk of Court with the agreed upon hearing date, sending a copy to opposing counsel as well as emailing a copy of the Notice of Hearing to the Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org. Failure to properly and timely file a Notice of Hearing, will result in the motion not being heard.
- Attendance at Pretrial and Jury Trial Dates: All Pretrial Conferences will be conducted “In Person” AND THE DEFENDANT’S PRESENCE IS REQUIRED at said hearing as the Court conducts an extensive colloquy with both counsel of record and the Defendant regarding the following issues:
Any offers extended by the State to the Defendant to resolve the case and the revocation of such offer at the Pretrial Conference.
No negotiated pleas are accepted on Jury Selection day.
All negotiated please must be entered before jury pick day.
The only pleas on jury selection day shall be open and at the discretion of the Court.
Whether or not the Defendant has had sufficient time to discuss the case with his attorney and the offer that has been extended by the State to resolve the case.
Whether Counsel for the Defendant has reviewed the Criminal Punishment Code Scoresheet with the Defendant.
The number of witnesses each side intends to call at the trial.
The length the trial is expected to last.
The deadline for counsel to inspect opposing counsel’s exhibits.
Any scheduling issues for witnesses, counsel, or the Defendant.
The tentative date for jury selection and the subsequent trial.
- Attendance at Pretrial Conference by Counsel of Record on the case: COUNSEL OF RECORD WHO WILL BE TRYING THE CASE is required to attend the Pretrial Conference on the matter. At this hearing, the Court will address witnesses expected to be called, length of the trial, scheduling issues, exhibit lists, jury instructions, and the tentative jury selection date/time as well as the jury trial date/time.
- Jury Trials: All jury instructions, witness list, and exhibit list must be emailed to the Judicial at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org no later than noon the Friday prior to the jury trial.
- Motion to Continue Pretrial Conference and/or Trial: Motions to Continue Pretrial and or Trial are heard every Monday at 11:00am (unless a court Holiday or the Division is closed). Counsel shall contact the Division A, Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org to receive the next available motion date. The Motion must be filed prior to requesting a hearing date.
- All Motions to Continue Pretrial and or Trial are via Zoom.
- Pro Se Litigants: If you are representing yourself and need assistance in appearing at a videoconferencing hearing or have questions you may contact the Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org.
- Motions To Modify/Terminate Probation/Community Control:
The Court does require a hearing on this matter; therefore, a hearing date needs to be secured for the Notice of Hearing. You may contact the Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org or (813)272-6874 to obtain a hearing date.
A copy of the Motion to Modify/Terminate Probation and Notice of Hearing shall be mailed or forwarded via email to the Division A Judicial Assistant at felonydivisiona@fljud13.org, while the original motion and Notice of Hearing is filed with the Clerk’s Office.
You can obtain the forms needed for your Motion to Modify/Terminate Probation form your probation officer or from the 13th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s website.