As of September 21, 2022, ALL CONTESTED EVIDENTIARY MATTERS (I.E., final hearings, Temporary Relief Motions, Motions for contempt; Order to Show Cause HEARINGS, Contested TPR hearing, And MOTIONS to Compel) and pretrial conferences WILL Be conducted in person at 800 East Twiggs Street, Courtroom 510, Tampa, FL 33602.

Uncontested matters (I.E. Case management conferences, UNCONTESTED hearings) will take place via zoom.

Adoptions can be heard in person or via zoom.

Dismissal dockets will take place via zoom.

ALL EXHIBITS AND/OR CASE LAW, FOR ANY EVIDENTARY HEARINGS OR TRIALS SET WITH JUDGE HOOI, NEED TO BE SENT TO THE DOWNTOWN COURTHOUSE (800 E. TWIGGS ST, ROOM 314, 3rd FLOOR) NO LESS THAN 2 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING, 3 BUSINESS DAYS IS PREFERRED.

For hearing taking place electronically, Division E is using the Zoom videoconference platform.  You do not need an account to use Zoom and the service is free. The Zoom Meeting ID for Judge Hooi is 917-102-0630.  Please include the Court’s Zoom information on Notice of Hearing. The court is able to swear in witnesses and parties over Zoom; please have a picture identification with you to show the Court.
ZOOM LINK: https://zoom.us/j/9171020630
Zoom Meeting ID: 9171020630

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER: THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT CANNOT answer your legal questions, and will not explain your situation to the Judge. Your opportunity to speak to the Judge happens in Court only. If you are a pro se litigant, meaning you represent yourself, please email famlawdive@fljud13.org for assistance with scheduling.

COMMUNICATION WITH THIS OFFICE: The preferred form of communication for setting and cancelling hearings is by e-mail at famlawdive@fljud13.org. The following should be included in the email: case number, case name, what you are asking to be set, copy of the motion or document filed (timestamped copy) and how long you will need for the hearing. Please include all parties on all communications with this office.

SCHEDULING HEARINGS

If you are a pro se litigant, meaning you represent yourself, please email famlawdive@fljud13.org for assistance with scheduling.

The preferred method for scheduling by attorneys in Division E is by JAWS. Anything more than 30-minutes the preferred method for availability is e-mail. For any scheduling request, the requesting party shall e-mail the Judicial Assistant for hearing time(s) and copy the opposing party.  The Judicial Assistant shall provide a minimum of two available dates/times to the requesting party, also with a copy to opposing party by “replying to all.”  IF the requesting party sends the dates to the opposing party or attorney (whichever is applicable) by e-mail, that responding party or the attorney’s office is responsible for responding with his/her availability within two business days of receiving the request.  If the responding party or attorney fails to respond within two business days of the request, the requesting party may pick the hearing date and time of his/her choice per the Administrative Order.

The ability of the requesting party to choose a hearing date of his/her choice is an option only if:

• There has been no response from the responding party or attorney within two business days of the request or,
• The requesting party is not attempting to clear the date with the other party or attorney by telephone, as there will not be a paper trail of the scheduling attempts.

Only after the court confirms date in the e-mail, then you may file and serve the Notice of Hearing.  If the parties cannot agree on any of the offered dates, ask (once) for new set of dates.  If the parties cannot choose from the second set of dates, notify the court of the scheduling impasse. When the party’s impasse, the court sets the hearing without regard to the schedules of either party or attorney. Please only notify the Judicial Assistant once the parties have coordinated a date/time.

NOTICE OF HEARINGS:
Notices of hearing must include in the body of the notice the following elements in addition to those required by the applicable rules of procedure and local administrative orders:

1. The specific TITLE of the motion to be heard;
2. The DATE the motion to be heard was filed;
3. The LENGTH OF TIME of the hearing;
4. The LOCATION or Zoom information, if applicable (including meeting ID, password, and a copy of a link to the Zoom meeting).

Please email the JA a timestamped copy of the Notice of Hearing to famlawdive@fljud13.org.

CANCELLATION OF HEARINGS: DO NOT CANCEL A HEARING WITHOUT NOTIFICATION AND AGREEMENT OF ALL PARTIES. A Notice of Cancellation MUST be immediately e-filed with the Clerk of Court AND a courtesy copy of said Notice of Cancellation sent to the division e-mail address at famlawdive@fljud13.org.

Continuances:
If a continuance is agreed upon by all parties, contact the Judicial Assistant to remove the hearing and/or trial from the docket. Upload the AGREED proposed Order for continuance to E-portal for electronic signature. Before uploading to E-portal, please ensure that the e-mails of all parties associated with the case is listed on JAWS under ‘Associated Parties’. The parties will receive an electronically signed conformed copy of the document.