DIVISION “H” INJUNCTIONS FOR PROTECTION

All hearings in Family Law Injunction for Protection Division “H” take place in-person.

Any motions must be filed in writing through the e-portal or directly with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. 

If the Court special sets a hearing to take place via Zoom, please contact the Court’s Judicial Assistant no later than one week prior to your hearing to receive the unique Meeting ID for your Zoom hearing.  Please plan to WAIT PATIENTLY until your hearing is called. 

If your hearing is special set via Zoom and you do not have access to a computer with camera and speakers or a smart phone with video capability, you must still appear for the hearing by phone.  At the scheduled time of your hearing, you may access the hearing by calling 1 (929) 205-6099.  When prompted, enter the Meeting ID provided by the Court’s Judicial Assistant.  Please note, if you appear by phone and are unable to confirm your identity, your hearing may be rescheduled for another date where you will be directed to appear by video or in-person at the courthouse. 

The phone dial-in and Meeting ID may be utilized from any landline, cellular or internet phone. 

YOU MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN AN INJUNCTION FOR PROTECTION HEARING BY ZOOM UNLESS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO DO SO BY THE COURT. 

If you have any questions, please contact the office, (813) 272-7138.

 

DIVISION “K” COUNTY CIVIL

SETTING MATTERS FOR HEARING IN COUNTY CIVIL DIVISION “K”

Lawyers may coordinate all hearings one hour or less to take place via Zoom.  The following two paragraphs of Zoom information shall be included on the notice of hearing.  Any hearing scheduled to last more than one-hour should be coordinated through the Judge’s office and specific information regarding in-person or Zoom shall be included on the notice of hearing. 

(NOTICE OF HEARING LANGUAGE)

“If your hearing is scheduled to take place via Zoom, please participate using the Zoom video feature using the following link: https://fljud13-org.zoom.us/j/8659943022.  Alternatively, you may enter the Meeting ID: 865 994 3022.  Please make sure to activate the audio settings so you can hear and speak during the hearing.  Please plan to WAIT PATIENTLY until your hearing is called. 

If you do not have access to a computer with camera and speakers or a smart phone with video capability, you must still appear for the hearing by phone.  At the scheduled time of your hearing, you may access the hearing by calling 1 (929) 205-6099.  When prompted, enter the Meeting ID: 865 994 3022.  Please note, if you appear by phone, your hearing may be rescheduled for another date where you will be directed to appear by video or in-person at the courthouse. “

 

The phone dial-in and Meeting ID may be utilized from any landline, cellular or internet phone. 

 

You are REQUIRED to appear by video, or in the alternative, by phone.

 

If you have any additional questions, please contact the office, (813) 272-7138.

 

SCHEDULING HEARINGS AND CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS:

• A motion must be filed with the Clerk of Court before setting the matter for hearing in JAWS or requesting hearing time from the Judicial Assistant.
• All matters requiring 15 minutes or less of hearing time must be scheduled through JAWS on a UMC calendar.
• Any matter requiring more than 15 minutes of hearing time must be scheduled through Judicial Assistant Tawanda Streater by emailing civdivk@fljud13.org to obtain available hearing times.
• UNILATERAL SCHEDULING IS ONLY PERMITTED WITH A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS NOTICE IF OPPOSING COUNSEL IS NON-RESPONSIVE.
• After obtaining a hearing time either through JAWS or the Judicial Assistant, and clearing the time with opposing counsel, a Notice of Hearing must be filed through the e-portal or, if one does not have access to the e-portal, directly with the Clerk of Court and a copy mailed or emailed to the Judge’s office (800 East Twiggs Street, Suite 313, Tampa, FL 33602; civdivk@fljud13.org ).
• Any cross-noticed hearing must be cleared with opposing counsel and the Judicial Assistant.  Once cleared, a notice of hearing including all matters set to be heard should be filed through the e-portal with a copy mailed or emailed to the Judge’s office. 
• Any hearing cancellation must be made in writing and emailed to civdivk@fljud13.org.

PLEASE NOTIFY THE COURT ASAP IF HEARING TIME IS NOT NEEDED SO THAT THE TIME MAY BE UTILIZED FOR ANOTHER CASE.

 

SUBMITTING ORDERS:

• Attorneys should submit and upload proposed orders (in PDF format) to the Court for review via the e-filing portal.  Click here if further assistance is needed re: e-filing. Please include date of hearing in proposed order.
• If at least one party is proceeding as a pro se litigant or a self-represented litigant, proposed orders, along with copies for conforming shall be submitted to the Court on paper.  Please also include addressed envelopes with postage for each party due to receive a copy of the order.
• Please submit proposed orders to the Court within ten (10) days of the hearing and/or ruling.
• The party directed to submit the order must circulate the order with all parties within seven (7) calendar days of the hearing and make a concerted effort to agree on proposed language. 
• If the order is contested, both parties shall upload a proposed order with a cover letter indicating the lack of agreement between the parties. 
• If a proposed order is filed through the e-portal, please do not send an additional, hard copy to the Court. 
• Parties may stipulate to an order. E-file the motion and stipulation and then upload an AGREED ORDER with a copy of the stipulation to the work queue through E-Portal.
• All proposed Final Judgments including a damages award shall attach Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Form 1.977, Fact Information Sheet. 

 

CASE LAW AND LEGAL AUTHORITY:

Please provide case law and any legal authority to the court at least two (2) business days prior to a scheduled hearing. 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER S-2022-003 GOVERNS COUNTY CVIL OPERATIONS.  PLEASE ALSO REVIEW THIS ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. https://www.fljud13.org/Portals/0/AO/DOCS/S-2022-003.pdf

 

CONTACTING THE JUDGE’S OFFICE

Please note the Judicial Assistant is happy to assist with the Court’s cases and docket.  However, the Judicial Assistant may not provide legal advice or discuss specific case details.

 

ATTIRE FOR COURT

Please dress in business attire for court appearances.

 

 

 

SCHEDULING TRIALS

JURY TRIAL AND NON-JURY TRIAL WEEKS

The Court has designated weeks throughout the year for jury trials and non-jury trials. Parties scheduling either non-jury or jury trials must also schedule the designated final pretrial conference one month prior to the trial date. Attendance to the pretrial conference is mandatory and in person.

 

UNUSED TRIAL WEEKS

Any “non-jury trial” or “jury trial” week whose trials have been cancelled may be used for any type of motion, small claims, or landlord/tenant hearing, with appropriate scheduling and notice. Parties are encouraged to check with the division for cancellations.

SCHEDULING PROCEDURE

In order to schedule a jury trial or non-jury trial date, parties must send an email to the division’s email, CIVDIVK@FLJUD13.ORG, requesting final pretrial and trial dates. ALL PARTIES MUST BE INCLUDED IN ANY EMAIL SENT TO THE COURT.

 

The parties shall submit the desired trial month, and the judicial assistant (JA) will provide dates for the final pretrial hearing and the date of week for either the jury trial or non-jury trial. After the parties have selected the final pretrial and jury trial or non-jury trial dates, they will notify the JA via email of the agreed upon date. It is the responsibility of the parties to ensure that all JAWS notifications, hearing notices, trial orders, and any other paperwork are properly filed; and failure to do so may result in the trial hearing being stricken. The first day of the trial week at 9:00 a.m., should be the date and time used for all notices, subpoenas, trial orders, and any other documentation relating to scheduling the trial. On the first day of the trial week at 9:00a.m., the Court will hold a “trial call.”

 

 

 

DAY OF TRIAL PROCEDURE

After the parties have announced their intention to go to trial at the mandatory final pretrial date, the Court will hold a “trial call” during the morning of the first day of the non-jury or jury trial week. Attendance at “trial call” is MANDATORY. Parties not at trial call will have the trial stricken from the trial calendar and may face other sanctions. At the trial call, the Court will take note of the parties ready for trial. The Court will call the parties, starting from earliest filed case and proceed to the latest filed case. Parties with older cases should expect to have their case tried first and shall be ready to try the case at the start of the trial week. All other parties may be on stand-by status, and do not have to remain at the courthouse after trial call, but must give the JA their cellular phone numbers, and they must be ready to be at the courthouse within 45 minutes or risk having their trial passed over. The JA will call the parties for the proceeding trial as soon as closing arguments have started in the previous trial. Witnesses are not required to attend the trial call, however, witnesses are expected to be ready to testify when they are called by their respective parties. Any case that is scheduled for a trial week but not tried will be continued to the following trial period.