Judge Susan L. Alspector
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- 1 copy
Motion
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email
Motion for Rehearing
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email • Upon Filing
Notice of Change of Plea
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Before filing a motion to continue, counsel must confer with opposing counsel and state the conferral results in the motion.
- Continuance motions after trial is set are highly discouraged and must be supported by good cause and supporting documentation.
- Continuance motions must be submitted with an attached order by the Wednesday before Calendar Call; only emergency written motions are addressed afterward (applies to both defense and State).
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Fax
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements1 rule
IF A HEARING TAKES PLACE AND THE JUDGE RENDERS AN ORAL RULING, SHE WILL DESIGNATE A PARTY TO PREPARE THE ORDER. THE ORDER SHALL BE EMAILED TO THE JUDGE’S OFFICE IN BOTH WORD AND PDF FORMATS.
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
A victim seeking to modify or vacate a No Contact Order must send a written request (email preferred) that includes the case number, both parties' phone numbers and email addresses, and all reasons for the request.
- Document
- Victim request to modify or vacate no contact order
Must include
- •Case number
Court's wording
The Judge must receive from the victim a written request (email is preferred to: divfv@17th.flcourts.org) to modify or drop a No Contact Order, which shall include the following information: a.) Case Number b.) Victim’s and Defendant’s phone numbers & email addresses c.) Be sure to include all reasons for a for request to modify or vacate the no contact order
Proposed exhibits must be reviewed with opposing counsel in advance and pre-marked with letters starting with 'A'.
Court's wording
All proposed exhibits (evidence) for trial or any evidentiary hearing shall be reviewed with the opposing counsel/party in advance of the scheduled trial/hearing date and pre-marked for admission with LETTERS, starting with “A.”
Substitution of counsel not done ore tenus requires submitting the signed stipulation, the defendant's signed consent, and a proposed order to the Division email, with new counsel's required certification included in the stipulation.
- Document
- Stipulation for substitution of counsel
Must include
- •Proposed order
Court's wording
If not occurring ore tenus in open court with the defendant present, either counsel may submit the signed Stipulation, signed consent of defendant/client, and proposed order with the below referenced wording to the Division email address. New counsel shall include in the Stipulation a certification stating, "I have reviewed the Court docket in this file and have spoken with all counsel of record. I am aware of all pending hearings, depositions, and other deadlines that are set in this case."
You MUST first file your motion indicating your requested relief or motion for status hearing with the Clerk of Court. The moving party must coordinate with the opposing counsel/party prior to setting the hearing.
Motions to Withdraw: must include a certificate of service to all other parties and the Notice of Hearing must include the same. The Court will not hear any motion to withdraw where the Defendant/other parties are not properly noticed.
- Document
- Motion to withdraw
Must include
- •Certificate of service
The Notice shall include the date and time of the hearing and the length of time set aside for the hearing. Hearings WILL NOT be set without a Notice of Hearing from the parties.
You MUST first file your motion with the Clerk of Court.
All proposed exhibits (evidence) for trial shall be reviewed with the opposing counsel/party in advance of the scheduled trial and pre-marked for admission with LETTERS, starting with "A." If a party objects to any proposed exhibit, he/she shall file a motion in limine with respect to same prior to the trial and request a court hearing in advance of the trial from the Judicial Assistant.
Agreed Orders: Proposed Agreed Orders shall be submitted with Agreed Motions and must contain the title “Agreed Order on…”.
The notice of hearing shall certify that the other party has received notice via email.
A Notice of Appearance filed by new counsel is NOT sufficient to request a hearing if another attorney is already designated of record.
The movant shall confer with the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve the motion and narrow the issues to be addressed by the court.
Special Set Trials should be requested by the filing of a motion requesting a special set date.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders must be submitted to the Division FV email, and the CMS workbench may be used only for agreed orders submitted with the motion and opposing counsel's written response/agreement attached.
Proposed orders shall be submitted to the Division FV email. Judge Alspector uses the CMS workbench digital format ONLY FOR SUBMISSION OF AGREED ORDERS WITH THE MOTION AND WRITTEN RESPONSE/AGREEMENT OF OPPOSING COUNSEL AS ATTACHED DOCUMENTS.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ORDERS
Commencing October 1, 2025, attorneys may use the CMS online system to submit agreed orders. Until further notice made in these procedures, all other proposed orders shall continue to be submitted via email to divfv@17th.flcourts.org.
Commencing October 1, 2025, attorneys may use the CMS online system to submit agreed orders. Until further notice made in these procedures, all other proposed orders shall continue to be submitted via email to divfv@17th.flcourts.org.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | NEW!! CMS ONLINE SUBMISSION OF AGREED ORDERS
Pro se litigants with email access are encouraged to file an email designation form with the Clerk so orders can be emailed rather than mailed.
Pro Se litigants that have access to email are encouraged to fill out and file with the Clerk an email designation form. This will allow the Court to submit orders to the parties via email instead of sending in the U.S. Postal Service, which will greatly reduce the time for receipt of all communications by the Court and all parties.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Pro Se (Self-Represented) Litigants
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Motions in limine and proposed jury instructions must be provided to the Court at least 2 business days before trial unless another deadline was set.
The Attorneys shall provide the Court with any motions in limine and proposed jury instructions at least 2 business days prior to the date of trial unless the Court has previously designated another deadline.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Proposed Jury Instructions and Motions in Limine
Exhibit objections must be raised by a motion in limine filed before the trial/hearing date, with a hearing requested in advance from the Judicial Assistant.
If a party objects to any proposed exhibit, he/she shall file a motion in limine with respect to same prior to the trial/hearing date and request a court hearing in advance of the trial/hearing date from the Judicial Assistant.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Proposed Exhibits (Evidence) for Trials and Evidentiary Matters
All discovery, including reciprocal discovery, must be completed 7 days before Calendar Call unless extended by the Judge.
All discovery, including reciprocal discovery, shall be completed 7 days prior to Calendar Call, unless the deadline has been extended by the Judge.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Jury Trials
For a Zoom change-of-plea hearing, the defendant must upload a notarized plea form and acceptable fingerprint card before the hearing.
If permitted to take place on Zoom, the Defendant must upload a fully executed and notarized plea form and an acceptable fingerprint card. These documents must be uploaded prior to the Zoom hearing on the change of plea.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Negotiated Pleas
Interpreter requests for languages other than Spanish or French/Creole must be received at least 7 days before the scheduled proceeding.
Requests for spoken language court interpreters, other than Spanish or French/Creole, must be received at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled proceeding.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Interpreters
If a proposed agreed order is not signed or rejected within 2 working days of submission, the filer must notify the Judicial Assistant that it is awaiting review.
If your proposed agreed order has not been signed or rejected within 2 working days following submission, please advise the Judicial Assistant that your proposed agreed order is awaiting review.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | NEW!! CMS ONLINE SUBMISSION OF AGREED ORDERS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The moving party must serve the non-moving party and email the Division/Judicial Assistant a copy of the notice of hearing; the Judicial Assistant will not confirm the non-moving party received notice.
Upon confirming the availability of the non-moving party, the moving party shall prepare and serve the non-moving party, and email the Division/Judicial Assistant a copy of the notice of hearing on your motion.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Special Set Hearings (15 minutes or longer)
After a hearing date is confirmed, the moving party must file the notice of hearing with the Clerk and serve copies on all other parties and the Judicial Assistant.
Once a date is confirmed by the Judicial Assistant, the moving party shall file a notice of hearing with the Clerk’s office, and serve copies via email or other type of service, if required, to all other parties and the Judicial Assistant.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ALL HEARING REQUESTS
A copy of the written motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with proper service on all parties.
Please email the Judge’s Judicial Assistant a copy of the written motion setting forth the requested relief, with proper service of copies to all parties.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Special Set Hearings (15 minutes or longer)
When a written continuance is granted, the filing attorney must notify opposing counsel.
If a written continuance is granted, it is the filing attorney’s responsibility to notice the opposing counsel.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions for Continuance
Hearing request emails to the Judicial Assistant must include a courtesy copy to the opposing party and state the amount of hearing time needed.
In order to obtain a hearing date, an email shall be sent to the Judicial Assistant with courtesy copy to the opposing party. Please advise how long you will need for the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ALL HEARING REQUESTS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the motion must be provided to the Court along with the notice of hearing.
Please provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the motion as well.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motion Calendar and Status Hearings
Filing Bundling Requirements
Agreed orders submitted through the CMS workbench must bundle the motion and the opposing counsel's written response/agreement as attached documents.
Judge Alspector uses the CMS workbench digital format ONLY FOR SUBMISSION OF AGREED ORDERS WITH THE MOTION AND WRITTEN RESPONSE/AGREEMENT OF OPPOSING COUNSEL AS ATTACHED DOCUMENTS.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ORDERS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuance motions must be submitted with an attached order by the Wednesday before Calendar Call; only emergency written motions are addressed afterward (applies to both defense and State).
Motions for Continuance: must be submitted to the Court with an attached order on or before the Wednesday PRIOR to Calendar Call.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions for Continuance
Before filing a motion to continue, counsel must confer with opposing counsel and state the conferral results in the motion.
Counsel is required to confer with opposing counsel prior to filing a motion to continue and must state in the motion the results of the conferral.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions for Continuance
Continuance motions after trial is set are highly discouraged and must be supported by good cause and supporting documentation.
Motions for continuance are highly discouraged once trial has been set and must be supported by good cause and documentation if needed to support the movant’s position.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions for Continuance
Chambers Communication Rules
This office does not accept ex-parte communication.
This office does not accept ex-parte communication.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Special Set Hearings (15 minutes or longer)
Judge Alspector does not utilize CMS online scheduling. Hearing requests for all types of hearings shall be made by sending a motion with the requested relief to the Judge’s chambers via email to: divfv@17th.flcourts.org.
Judge Alspector does not utilize CMS online scheduling. Hearing requests for all types of hearings shall be made by sending a motion with the requested relief to the Judge’s chambers via email to: divfv@17th.flcourts.org.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | ALL HEARING REQUESTS
The moving party must email the Judge a copy of the notice of hearing for the motion.
The moving party must prepare and email the Judge a copy of the notice of hearing regarding your motion.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motion Calendar and Status Hearings
The moving party must tell the Judicial Assistant the estimated hearing time and the number of witnesses for each side.
The moving party shall also notify the Judicial Assistant as to the estimated amount of time expected to be needed to complete the hearing and the number of witnesses for each side.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Special Set Hearings (15 minutes or longer)
Since hearing time is limited, please timely cancel any hearings by contacting the Judicial Assistant directly by email.
Since hearing time is limited, please timely cancel any hearings by contacting the Judicial Assistant directly by email.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motion Calendar and Status Hearings
In emergency situations only, such as exposure and/or illness from Covid-19, please notify the Court as soon as possible. You can do this by emailing the Court’s Judicial Assistant at: DIVFV@17TH.FLCOURTS.ORG
In emergency situations only, such as exposure and/or illness from Covid-19, please notify the Court as soon as possible. You can do this by emailing the Court’s Judicial Assistant at: DIVFV@17TH.FLCOURTS.ORG
Criminal cases
Page 1 | PLEASE EXPECT YOUR HEARING TO BE IN PERSON
Spanish or Haitian Creole interpreter requests are made by phone to the Court Interpreter's Office at (954) 831-7290.
To request a spoken language Spanish or Haitian Creole court interpreter, contact the Court Interpreter’s Office at: (954) 831-7290.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Interpreters
Interpreters for languages other than Spanish/Haitian Creole are requested by email to InterpreterRequest@17th.flcourts.org or fax to (954) 831-7279, at least 7 days in advance.
For all other spoken language interpreters, email the Court Interpreter’s Office at: InterpreterRequest@17th.flcourts.org or via fax to: (954) 831-7279.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Interpreters