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Court Rules
Judge

Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Motion Requesting Relief From Page LimitationCourt-wide
2 pgs
ResponseCourt-wide
3 pgs
Opposing Statement of Material FactsCourt-wide
12 pgs
MotionCourt-wide
4 pgs
Statement of Material FactsCourt-wide
12 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Exhibits

Courtesy copies

Court-wide
  • 1 copy

Motion

Court-wide
  • 1 copy • Email

Motion for Rehearing

Court-wide
  • 1 copy • Email • Upon Filing

Adjournments

  • Unopposed continuances may be handled by emailing the e-filed motion and a proposed agreed order to the Judicial Assistant with an explanation of how far out the reset should be.
  • Continuance motions are scheduled for a hearing when a party objects or depending on the type of hearing.

Request must include

Reason for RequestProposed Rescheduled Date

Communication

Email

Chambers

divfe@17th.flcourts.org
SchedulingStatus Inquiries
Phone

Chambers

954-831-7671
Emergencies
Email
Court-wide
calendar@17th.flcourts.org
Technical Issues
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements3 rules

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCriminal cases

Hearing requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied, the e-filed motion attached, estimated hearing time and witness information, and the case number and defendant name in the subject line.

Document
Hearing request email

Include

  • Case number

Court's wording

Kindly send an email request via the division email with the opposing party copied and a copy of the e-filed motion to be heard to the Judicial Assistant, for a hearing, please also note the length of time needed for each side, (depending on the hearing) if witnesses will be involved and how many on each side. In the email request to the Judge's Office, kindly include the case number and the name of the defendant in the subject line.

Broward:e0fed8ba42f0d6d2d6c9aab8|SectionHearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance
Filing RequirementsMandatoryCriminal cases

For motions that do not require a hearing eg: Motions that are agreed upon by both parties. These Orders are submitted via email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing side being copied and a copy of the motion and proposed agreed order attached.

Broward:e0fed8ba42f0d6d2d6c9aab8|SectionSubmission of Orders/Judgments
Filing RequirementsImportantCriminal cases

Orders/Judgments for hearings held in Court are usually presented to the Clerk of Courts immediately after the hearing while in Court for the Judge to enter.

Broward:e0fed8ba42f0d6d2d6c9aab8|SectionSubmission of Orders/Judgments

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Emergency motions must first be e-filed as an Emergency, then copies provided by email or in person to the Judge's Office with copies to the opposing party.

Your "Emergency Motion" MUST first be e- filed with the Clerk's Office as an Emergency. Kindly provide copies of your (true) emergency via email or in person to the Judge's Office, with copies to the opposing party. The Judge will then make a determination or request a hearing.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Emergency/Urgent Hearings

All motions to be heard must be e-filed with the Clerk's Office.

All motions to be heard by the Judge, MUST be e-filed with the Clerk's Office.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

VF and MVC division hearings are held only on Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m., with the same procedures as the regular felony division.

Judge Merrigan also presides over the Veterans Felony (VF) and the Misdemeanor Veterans Court (MVC) Divisions, hearings for these divisions are conducted ONLY on Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. and all the same procedures for the regular felony division also applies

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Division VF/MVC

Courtesy Copy Requirements

Hard copies of all exhibits for evidentiary hearings must be provided approximately 5 days before the hearing, and all exhibits must be properly marked.

Kindly provide hard copies of all documents/exhibits/Disc…etc to be used in the evidentiary hearing approximately 5 days prior to the hearing for the court to review as well as the opposing side. All exhibits shall be properly marked so all parties may refer to the documents at the same time.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Unopposed continuances may be handled by emailing the e-filed motion and a proposed agreed order to the Judicial Assistant with an explanation of how far out the reset should be.

If there are no objections from either side, a copy of the e-filed motion and a proposed "AGREED ORDER" continuing the case may be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for the Judge to enter. Kindly explain in the body of the email how far out the requested reset should be, eg: 30/60/90 days out.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

Continuance motions are scheduled for a hearing when a party objects or depending on the type of hearing.

Motion for Continuance may also be scheduled for a hearing, when one party objects or depending on the type of hearing being asked to be continued.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

Chambers Communication Rules

Court personnel may not relay ex parte information to the Court.

Please note: Court personnel are not allowed to relay ex-parte information to the Court.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Communication with the Judicial Office

Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Communication with the Judicial Office

Hearing cancellations require an email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied stating the reason.

Canceling a hearing will also require an email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied, outlining the reason for the cancellation.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

Non-urgent inquiries involving both parties will be redirected to email with the opposing side copied.

You may reach the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at 954-831-7671 If your call and inquiry is not urgent and involves both parties, you will be directed to correspond via email with the opposing side being copied.

Criminal cases

Page 1 | Communication with the Judicial Office

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 99 rules apply across Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 31
  • Applies to
    Motion
    Must include
    case number

    Motions must state the facts with specificity, list all of the defendant's cases, the charges for each case, and the legal reason for custody; boilerplate motions are not allowed.

  • Applies to
    Notice of change of plea

    For agreed in-custody pleas, defense counsel must file a notice of change of plea that clearly indicates the terms of the plea.

  • Applies to
    Notice of change of plea

    Defense counsel must file the notice of change of plea and clearly indicate the terms of the plea in it.

Communication

All 13

  • When setting a hearing, counsel must give the Division Judge's judicial assistant a good-faith estimate of the anticipated hearing length.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Out-of-jurisdiction bond and change-of-plea matters are heard by Judge Andrew Siegel and must be set through Sabrina Albert at Salbert@17th.flcourts.org.

  • Contact
    Phone to chambers

    Counsel must notify the Division Judge's judicial assistant in advance if an interpreter is needed so arrangements can be made.

E-Filing

All 11
  • Applies to
    Motion

    A copy of the motion must be e-filed with the Clerk's office.

  • Applies to
    Notice of change of plea

    The notice of change of plea must be e-filed with the Clerk's office.

  • Applies to
    Motion

    For motions seeking to exceed page limits, proposed orders may be uploaded to CMS, the motion must be uploaded as a supporting document, and no hearing is required.

Formatting

All 9
  • Margins
    top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in

    All motions and responses must be double-spaced with at least one-inch margins and a font size of at least 12 points.

  • Uploaded orders must not duplicate header and footer content because CMS inserts that content automatically.

  • Pursuant to the Uniform Pretrial Order, please review and mark all trial exhibits prior to the beginning of trial.

More categories

View all Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County rules
About Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.

Edward H. Merrigan Jr. is a district judge in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, serving Broward County. The circuit court handles matters in circuit and county court divisions.

Practitioners will find a single published procedure document titled 'division-fe'.

Common questions about Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.'s rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for exhibits. Hard copies of all exhibits for evidentiary hearings must be provided approximately 5 days before the hearing, and all exhibits must be properly marked.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings

What must be included with agreed order filings before Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.?

The rule requires proposed order. Agreed orders on motions not requiring a hearing are submitted by email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing side copied and the motion and proposed agreed order attached.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Submission of Orders/Judgments

What must be included with hearing request email filings before Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.?

The rule requires case number. Hearing requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied, the e-filed motion attached, estimated hearing time and witness information, and the case number and defendant name in the subject line.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

How may parties contact Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.'s chambers?

The rule lists email Divfe@17th.flcourts.org. Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Communication with the Judicial Office

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.?

The request must include reason for request and proposed rescheduled date. Unopposed continuances may be handled by emailing the e-filed motion and a proposed agreed order to the Judicial Assistant with an explanation of how far out the reset should be.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

Is electronic filing required before Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All motions to be heard must be e-filed with the Clerk's Office.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Hearing Procedures/Motions for Continuance

What filing deadlines does Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr. set?

VF and MVC division hearings are held only on Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m., with the same procedures as the regular felony division.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Division VF/MVC
Complete rules summary for Judge Edward H. Merrigan Jr.

Should you have a question, please email the Judicial Assistant Marlene Henderson at Divfe@17th.flcourts.org Before sending your email, kindly ensure the other party is also copied on the email as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.

Non-urgent inquiries involving both parties will be redirected to email with the opposing side copied.

Unopposed continuances may be handled by emailing the e-filed motion and a proposed agreed order to the Judicial Assistant with an explanation of how far out the reset should be.

Hearing cancellations require an email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied stating the reason.

All motions to be heard must be e-filed with the Clerk's Office.

Emergency motions must first be e-filed as an Emergency, then copies provided by email or in person to the Judge's Office with copies to the opposing party.

VF and MVC division hearings are held only on Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m., with the same procedures as the regular felony division.

Agreed orders on motions not requiring a hearing are submitted by email to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing side copied and the motion and proposed agreed order attached.

Court personnel may not relay ex parte information to the Court.

Continuance motions are scheduled for a hearing when a party objects or depending on the type of hearing.

Hard copies of all exhibits for evidentiary hearings must be provided approximately 5 days before the hearing, and all exhibits must be properly marked.

Hearing requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with the opposing party copied, the e-filed motion attached, estimated hearing time and witness information, and the case number and defendant name in the subject line.

Orders and judgments from in-court hearings are presented to the Clerk immediately after the hearing.

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