Division D encourages the use of remote appearances by ZOOM. Jury Trials are in person; all other matters, including pretrials and evidentiary hearings, are on Zoom. Please be prepared to attend by audio and video. Here is a link to the Division D Zoom hearing room:
https://zoom.us/j/3058068636.
No password is required; you will be admitted from the waiting room. In the case of multi-case dockets (DCM, UMC) you should expect to go to a breakout room designated for your case, and the Judge or JA will assist you in that process. To call into a zoom meeting, the phone is 1-786-635-1003, ID 305-806-8636.

Parties who want an in-person hearing may contact the JA at gencivdivd@fljud13.org to request the same for non-jury trials or lengthy evidentiary matters.

15,30 and 60 minute hearings are to be set by attorneys through JAWS. Pro Se litigants may email the JA for hearing availability. Anyone requesting a hearing of longer than 60 minutes must contact the JA for availability.
gencivdivd@fljud13.org

UMC hearings are set via JAWS, this is a multi-case docket for uncontested matters that can be heard within 5 minutes

In all notices of hearing, please put the date filed and docket number of the Matter being called up for hearing.
Cross-Noticing: Matters may be Cross-noticed for hearing times only if both parties agree to both matters being heard at the same hearing time, and that there is sufficient time for the Court to consider multiple matters at one hearing.

Proposed Orders must be uploaded in pdf. Proposed Orders uploaded in WORD are rejected by the eportal. Parties must ensure they are associated to the case in JAWS and have selected recipients for rejection Notices.
Uploading Orders & Exhibits to E-Filing Portal - provides instructions for uploading documents through the E-Portal for Electronic Signature.

Proposed orders that are agreed upon by the parties are to be uploaded through the portal in PDF format. Please include a reminder of the date of the hearing in the cover letter, and if the Order is agreed to by the parties.

In the case of orders NOT agreed to, please submit one email to the JA at gencivdivd@fljud13.org containing a cover letter which describes the differences in the Orders, a reminder of the hearing date, and WORD versions of the competing orders for the Court’s review and editing; the Court will upload and sign an order on the hearing.

Please email the JA at gencivdivd@fljud13.org and copy all other parties with your request or message. The JA will respond as efficiently as possible.

Please email courtesy copies to the JA at gencivdivd@fljud13.org. Please ensure the email includes the case number and hearing date and time. Documents that are viewable in the court file do not need to be provided. Hearing binders should be provided as bookmarked pdfs. Documents cannot be accepted via sharefile links.

After the motion is filed with the clerk and properly flagged as an emergency pursuant to Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 19 (B), please email the JA with a courtesy copy so the Court is aware of the need to act on the Motion.
gencivdivd@fljud13.org

Canceling hearings within 24 hours of the hearing: Please email the JA a copy of the notice of cancellation; if it is moments before the scheduled time of the hearing, please also phone the JA, Jessica, at 813-307-4751 so we know not to expect your attendance at the hearing.

If you are canceling more than 24 hours in advance and the hearing was scheduled through JAWS, you may cancel it also through JAWS. If you scheduled it by Emailing the JA, please email a notice of cancellation to her at gencivdivd@fljud13.org.
You may not cancel a pretrial or trial unless the matter has been completely settled. If so, please upload an Order approving the voluntary dismissal, and also email the notice of settlement, NVD or other paperwork to the JA to confirm the cancellation

In all notices of hearing, please include the date filed and docket number of the Matter being called up for hearing.

Please refer to the administrative order. Please refer to the Clerk of Courts Trial Exhibits Memorandum for Jury/Non-Jury trial exhibits. https://hillsclerk.com/Court-Services/Circuit-Civil
Exhibits for Evidentiary hearings should uploaded via the eportal: proposed documents, exhibits

The Court uses the Circuit Civil Uniform Order Setting Case for Trial and Pre-Trial (revised Apr. 30, 2021) and the Uniform Pre-Trial Conference Order. Please refer to the forms page for additional documents and Orders. https://www.fljud13.org/Forms.aspx

Pretrial will occur via Zoom. At least one trial counsel per party must appear at the pretrial conference.

• Cases will be reviewed prior to the DCM hearing. Cases deemed ready to be set for trial will receive an Order Regarding DCM, setting the matter for pre-trial and trial in the presumptive period indicated in the DCM Order. Parties will be responsible for uploading the Circuit Civil Uniform Order Setting Case for Trial and Pre-Trial (revised Apr. 30, 2021) by the Wednesday before the DCM hearing. Uploading the Order will excuse parties from the DCM hearing. Parties that feel the trial date is unreasonable must attend the DCM hearing.

 

• Prior to the DCM hearing parties may agree to the trial being set on or before the presumptive period in the Differentiated Case Management Order, however they must contact our office first to confirm agreement and then to be set on the Pre-Trial Conference docket prior to uploading the Circuit Civil Uniform Order Setting Case for Trial and Pre-Trial (revised Apr. 30, 2021). Uploading the Order will excuse parties from the DCM hearing. Parties that feel the trial date is unreasonable must attend the DCM hearing.

Parties may submit proposed Orders on Motions to Compel Discovery- Without Hearing

The parties may agree that the Court may rule on the pleadings for particular motions. If the parties agree, e-file motions and responses and advise the judicial assistant via email of the title(s) of the specific motions you want the Judge to resolve without a hearing. gencivdivd@fljud13.org Parties should submit proposed orders in accordance with the “Submitting Proposed Orders” instruction.