Judge John B. Bowman
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Mail • At Least 10 Days Before Hearing
Motion
- Email • Upon Filing
Notice of Trial
Motion for Rehearing
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email • Upon Filing
Adjournments
- Continuances require good cause by motion before calendar call and must be placed on UMC at least 7 days prior to the calendar call; no motions are heard at the calendar call.
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Chambers
Chambers
Document Format Requirements10 rules
WE DO NOT ACCEPT PLEADINGS PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PAPER. ALL MUST HAVE PRINT ON FRONT PAGE ONLY OR YOU WILL RECEIVE IT BACK
Trial exhibits over 4 pages must be consecutively paginated and copied for both parties and the witness, or they will not be allowed at trial.
- Exhibits
- More than 4 pages
Formatting
- •Consecutive pagination required (bates-stamp method or otherwise)
Court's wording
Any exhibit either party desires to use at trial exceeding four (4) pages in length must be consecutively paginated (by bates-stamp method or otherwise), with sufficient copies of such consecutively paginated exhibit so that both parties and the witness can refer to the exhibit at the same time during trial. Any exhibit not meeting these two requirements will not be allowed for use at trial.
The Court does not review exhibits on cell phones or laptops. Hard copies must be brought to the hearing, or the Court will not consider them.
Each exhibit that has multiple pages must be stapled or securely bound together. A paperclip or rubber band is not acceptable.
- Binding
- Securely bound
- Exhibits
Composite exhibits that cannot be stapled must be marked as a composite with sequential labels (e.g., '1 of 6', '2 of 6') on the back of each item.
Court's wording
If the exhibit is a composite (consists of more than one) and cannot be stapled together, they should be marked as a composite and be labeled (EX: Exhibit: A Group of 6 photos: Please write at the back of first photo, “1 of 6”, then the back of second photo,“2 of 6”, the back of the third photo,“3 of 6,” and so forth).
Please write the Case number and Exhibit number on each label of the exhibit that has been AGREED TO by both Defendant and Plaintiff’s Attorneys.
All Exhibits to be offered at Trial shall be initialed by both counsels, pursuant to the Pre-Trial Order.
Exhibit labels must be placed on the back of the last page in the lower right corner, including on the last page of a binder.
Court's wording
Large documents may be placed in a binder. If exhibit is in a binder the label may be placed on the back of the LAST page in the binder on lower right corner. Labels are to be placed on the back of the last page in the lower right corner.
Attorneys: Please write in Case number, Exhibit NUMBER and/or ID LETTER (as is necessary) on each exhibit label.
Non-agreed exhibits are letter-marked in the ID section; the clerk assigns the next consecutive number when admitted and signs and dates labels once exhibits are agreed to (parties should not sign or date).
Court's wording
If you have any items that are NOT AGREED TO by both sides, they should be marked with a letter rather than a number (EX: A, B, C, and so forth in the “ID” section of label). If the item marked as ID comes into evidence, then the clerk will give it the next consecutive number. The clerk will sign and date each exhibit label once they are AGREED TO (Please do not sign and date).
Document Filing Requirements5 rules
Parties using self-scheduling MUST certify they consulted with all other parties in obtaining the hearing time in the notice of hearing.
Ex-parte orders and materials for the Judge must be submitted directly to chambers by U.S. mail, overnight, or hand-delivery with conformed courtesy copies, self-addressed stamped envelopes for all parties, and a cover letter.
- Document
- Ex parte proposed order
Must include
- •Proposed order
Court's wording
Any EX-PARTE ORDERS must be submitted as follows : Written Proposed Orders, correspondence and any other material to be considered by the Judge must be submitted directly to Chambers (via USMail, overnight delivery or hand-delivery) with courtesy copies to conform, return self-addressed stamped envelopes for all parties and a cover letter; package must be complete for a return.
Please do not email the Court stating that you have an emergency. You must comply with the requirements of Administrative Order 2021-51-CO, “Circuit and County Civil and Probate Emergency Matters,” including the submission “Request for Emergency Relief.” Hand-delivered to chambers for consideration.
Substitution of counsel requires the client's written consent and a new-counsel certification that they have reviewed the docket and are aware of all pending hearings, depositions, and deadlines.
Court's wording
The Court will not grant a substitution of counsel unless client’s written consent is obtained, and new counsel certifies, “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.” See Rule 2.505(e)(2)
If Local Rule 11 is triggered, please use the standard form attached hereto. Do NOT add any additional language.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Unrepresented parties who have not registered an email address must submit their requests and proposed orders directly to chambers.
If any party in the case is not represented by counsel, and does not register an email address, they must submit their request/proposed order directly to chambers.
Page 5 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders, Judgments and General Paperwork
Agreed orders or agreed language following a hearing may be uploaded through the Judge's workbench.
Any AGREED ORDER or language that has been agreed to by the parties after a hearing can be uploaded through the Judge’s workbench.
Page 5 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders, Judgments and General Paperwork
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A motion must be filed with the clerk before it can be set for hearing.
STEP 1: FILE YOUR MOTION WITH THE CLERK. Judge Bowman will not permit any motion to be set for hearing without it first being filed with the clerk.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
In-person hearing requests must be in writing (hand-delivery, overnight, or regular U.S. mail) and made at least 10 days before the hearing.
In-person hearing requests must be placed in writing via hand-delivery; overnight delivery or regular U.S. mail and must be made at least ten (10) days prior to hearing.
Page 4 | Procedure C: Remote Appearances - In Person Hearing Requests
Exhibit labels must be requested before or on the first day of trial.
Please request labels before or on the first day of Trial.
Page 6 | Procedure G: Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Appellate matters must be filed with the clerk by appropriate motion and electronic courtesy copies must be emailed to appeals@17th.flcourts.org.
Matters to be brought before the Court’s attention must be filed with the clerk by appropriate motion and providing electronic courtesy copies by email to appeals@17th.flcourts.org.
Page 2 | Appellate Procedures
Courtesy copies are preferred at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing; if upload is not possible, deliver by U.S. mail, overnight, or hand-delivery — courtesy-copy emails are not read or accepted.
Generally, the Court does prefer courtesy copies at least ten (10) days before the scheduled hearing; if the system does not allow for uploading, then this must be done via US Mail, overnight delivery, or hand-delivery. No emails regarding courtesy copies will be read or accepted; this also includes general paperwork.
Page 5 | Procedure E: Courtesy Copies
A copy of the Notice for Trial must be mailed by U.S. mail (no emails) or delivered to the Judicial Assistant when the notice is filed.
When filing a Notice for Trial, you MUST mail by US Mail (no emails) or deliver a copy of the Notice for Trial to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 7 | Procedure I: Setting Case for Trial
Filing Bundling Requirements
Add-ons, cross notices, exchanged motions, and amended notices are prohibited without written Court approval delivered by U.S. mail, overnight, or hand-delivery.
NO “ADD-ONs”, “Cross Notices” or “Exchanging of Motions” or “Amended Notices” will not be permitted without approval of the Court in writing and to be sent via USMail, overnight or hand-delivery.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Motions for reconsideration must be submitted by hand-delivery, overnight, or UPS Ground with an accompanying letter.
Please submit Motions for Reconsiderations via hand-delivery, overnight or UPS Ground with accompanying letter and we will get back to you.
Page 8 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A law firm, including all affiliated attorneys, may not set more than two motions on a single day unless the motions involve separate cases.
NO LAW FIRM (INCLUDING ALL ATTORNEYS AFFILIATED WITH THE FIRM) may set more than two (2) motions on any single day, unless the Motions involve separate cases.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Double-booking or back-to-back hearings are prohibited at any time, and sanctions may be imposed for non-compliance.
NO DOUBLE BOOKING or “BACK TO BACK” of any hearing is permitted at any time. Sanctions may be imposed for non-compliance.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Any motion set without following the hearing procedures will be cancelled and sanctions may be imposed.
ANY MOTION SET WITHOUT FOLLOWING THESE PROCEDURES WILL BE CANCELLED AND SANCTIONS MAY BE IMPOSED.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
All parties must consult regarding each attorney's availability before scheduling a hearing.
STEP 2: CONSULT WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL. IT IS MANDATORY that all parties consult regarding availability of each attorney.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Court-set pretrial conferences must be attended by the parties or counsel; failure to attend results in sanctions.
Any pretrial conference set by the Court must be attended by the parties or legal counsel. Failure to attend will result in sanctions.
Page 7 | Procedure H: Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Case management conferences are mandatory appearances with no motions heard, and cancellations are permitted only if the case has settled or been dismissed.
Are mandatory appearances. No motions will be heard at that time. Cancellations of case management hearings - if the case has settled or has been dismissed.
Page 8 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Only one special-set time slot per case per day may be booked; on the 5-minute Motion Calendar one slot covers two motions per case per day and they must be set simultaneously.
Special Sets - You can only book one (1) time slot per case per day = Motion Calendar (5 minute hearings) - 1 slot, 2 motions per case, per day - must be set simultaneously.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Any party may request a pretrial conference at any time, and at-issue cases not set for trial must either agree on a trial setting or seek a pretrial conference.
Any party may request a pretrial conference at any time by making a request to the Court. The Court may also set a pretrial conference at any time. If your case is not set for trial and is “at issue”, the parties must either 1) agree on a trial setting; or 2) seek a pretrial conference.
Page 7 | Procedure H: Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
If the opposing party fails to provide reasonable deposition dates within two business days, the requesting party may unilaterally set the deposition.
If the opposing party does not provide reasonable dates within two business days of the request, you may unilaterally set the deposition. The burden will then be on the opposing party to move for protective order and explain why no reasonable dates were provided.
Page 8 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Appellate matters have no hearings unless ordered by the Court, and all motions are decided on the papers.
There are no hearings for appellate matters unless ordered by the Court. All motions are decided on the papers.
Page 2 | Appellate Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Parties may not use agreed orders to continue court-ordered hearings.
PARTIES MAY NOT SUBMIT “AGREED” ORDERS ATTEMPTING TO CONTINUE COURT-ORDERED HEARINGS.
Page 5 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders, Judgments and General Paperwork
Continuances require good cause by motion before calendar call and must be placed on UMC at least 7 days prior to the calendar call; no motions are heard at the calendar call.
Pursuant to the Uniform Pretrial Order, continuances will only be considered for good cause on motion prior to calendar call. Any requests for continuances (including agreed motions) must be placed on UMC at least seven (7) days prior to the calendar call. No motions will be heard at the calendar call.
Page 8 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
Questions (other than procedural) may be emailed to div02@17th.flcourts.org or agranata@17th.flcourts.org, and the opposing party must be copied or no response will be given.
If you have any questions only (other than procedural questions), please email us at div02@17th.flcourts.org or agranata@17th.flcourts.org and remember to also copy the opposing party. (If your email omits opposing side, you will not receive a response).
Page 2 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
Parties must not email correspondence, pleadings, proposed orders, or supporting documents to the judicial office; such emails will not be read or received.
Email communication is limited. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, PLEADINGS, PROPOSED ORDERS or SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, THEY WILL NOT BE READ OR RECEIVED.
Page 2 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
All hearings and trials must be coordinated by the parties or they will be cancelled without notice; if the parties cannot agree, the Court will intervene.
ALL HEARINGS and TRIALS MUST BE COORDINATED BY THE PARTIES, OR WILL BE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT NOTICE - NO EXCEPTIONS. IF PARTIES CANNOT AGREE TO COORDINATE - THE COURT WILL INTERVENE.
Page 2 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
Special-set hearings longer than 60 minutes must be coordinated with the JA by conference call with all parties' scheduling representatives participating.
ALL SPECIAL SET HEARINGS GREATER THAN 60 MINUTES MUST BE COORDINATED WITH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT. When setting such hearings, all persons responsible for scheduling such hearings for each party must participate in a conference call to the Court’s Judicial Assistant in order to schedule a hearing.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Parties may not call or email judges, judicial assistants, or staff counsel for status reports on pending appellate proceedings.
DO NOT call or email judges, judicial assistants or staff counsel to request a status report regarding a pending appellate proceeding.
Page 2 | Appellate Procedures
The office will not confirm receipt of materials, hearings, pending orders, or procedures, so parties should not seek such confirmations.
WE DO NOT CONFIRM THE FOLLOWING: RECEIPT OF ANY MATERIALS SENT TO OUR OFFICE, HEARINGS, PENDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURES.
Page 2 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
To cancel an unnecessary special-set hearing, the scheduling party must immediately email the Judicial Assistant with the reason, and the hearing is cancelled only if the Court approves.
Should any scheduled special-set hearing become unnecessary, the scheduling party shall immediately send an email to the Judicial Assistant explaining the reason for the desired cancellation. If approved by the Court, the Judicial Assistant will cancel the hearing (see Local Rule 11).
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Do not contact the JA for additional hearing dates; instead check the online system for cancellations with the opposing side's agreement.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE JA TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL DATES. CHECK THE SYSTEM PERIODICALLY FOR CANCELLATIONS AS WE DO GET THEM - MAKING SURE THE OPPOSING SIDE AGREES.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
In-person appearances require advance coordination with the JA (preferably 5-10 days before the hearing), both sides' agreement to appear in person, and both sides actually appearing in person.
Persons desiring to instead appear in person should contact the judicial assistant and coordinate in advance (preferably 5 to 10 says ) of the hearing date for further information. However, prior to contacting the judicial assistant, both sides have to agree for an in person hearing and both sides have to appear.
Page 4 | Procedure C: Remote Appearances - In Person Hearing Requests
Do not call or email about the status of an order's signing; read orders carefully before uploading because the office does not intercept orders already uploaded to the workbench.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL AS TO THE STATUS OF THE SIGNING OF AN ORDER. PRIOR TO UPLOADING ORDERS - PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY AS THIS OFFICE DOES NOT INTERCEPT ORDERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN UPLOADED TO THE JUDGE’S WORKBENCH.
Page 5 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders, Judgments and General Paperwork
Judge Bowman's Judicial Assistant can be reached at (954) 831-6362.
You may reach Judge Bowman’s Judicial Assistant at (954) 831-6362.
Page 2 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
If opposing counsel does not respond within two full business days after a good-faith attempt to coordinate, the party may contact the Judicial Assistant for help setting the hearing.
If you have tried in good faith to coordinate a hearing, and have not received a response from opposing counsel within two full business days of your contact, you may contact the JA to assist in the setting of the hearing.
Page 3 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures
Questions about the exhibit rules go only to Judge Bowman's clerk, Vashti Ramnarine, at vxramnarine@browardclerk.org.
Only for questions regarding the above exhibit information - please contact Judge Bowman’s clerk, Vashti Ramnarine @ vxramnarine@browardclerk.org.
Page 6 | Procedure G: Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings