Judge Susan Stacy
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Amended Notice of Hearing, Cross Notice of Hearing
Court-wideMotion
Court-wide- Within 10 Days After Service
Notice of Hearing
Court-wideObjection to Order of Referral to General Magistrate
Court-wide- 1 copy • Email
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements5 rules
If there is an Evidentiary hearing or Trial to take place the parties MUST Premark all their exhibits for ID in letter format i.e. “Plaintiff’s Ex A” or “Defendant’s Ex B”
ALL proposed Orders should be submitted through the e-portal (in Word format) along with a separately filed cover letter (in PDF format).
- File type
- Word
- Proposed order
If there is an Evidentiary hearing or Trial to take place the parties MUST Premark all their exhibits for ID in letter format i.e. “Plaintiff’s Ex A” or “Defendant’s Ex B”
Jury instructions shall be in 12-point type with Times New Roman font and follow the format of the Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases.
- Font
- Times New Roman
- Font size
- 12 points
- Jury instructions
Please highlight the differences in the competing orders so the judge may ascertain them without difficulty.
Formatting
- •Highlight differences between competing proposed orders
Document Filing Requirements17 rules
The docket number for the Motion should be included in the Notice of hearing.
The proposed Order allowing withdrawal of counsel must reflect the following: a) The client's name, address, telephone number, and e- mail address
Please make sure the motion and notice of hearing have a certificate of service that indicates they were mailed to the client.
- Document
- Motion to withdraw as counsel and notice of hearing
Include
- •Certificate of service
A notice of hearing must specifically state the matter(s) to be heard. A notice of hearing that states "All Pending Motions" is a nullity.
If the parties are represented by counsel and/or all parties (including pro se) are listed in the e-portal for e-service, the Order does not require and should not contain a certificate of service, but rather state the following
Every proposed order must include the specified DDDD date and JJJJ judge-signature placeholders for electronic population.
Court's wording
ORDERED and ADJUDGED on this DDDD(for the date the court signed it to be electronically populated) JJJJ(for the Judge’s signature to be electronically populated)
Copies have been furnished via the Florida Courts E-filing portal to the following: CCCC (for the service list to electronically populate in the order)
**** You must add all 4 letters in all caps and both fields, DDDD and JJJJ for the order to be signed, or it will be rejected for resubmission once corrected
For the Order to be electronically signed in ICMS the format of the order MUST NOT have the actual date, “Circuit Judge” or “Judicial Assistant” signature line within the order, and MUST contain the following language on EVERY ORDER:
Therefore, if the defendant has not yet waived speedy trial and the defendant files a written Motion to Continue in the court file, a signed waiver by the defendant must also be included.
Any motion for continuance must be made in writing, signed by counsel for the parties, and shall state when the cause will be ready for trial.
Please do not send a copy of the Notice of hearing to the Judge; just file the original Notice in the court file.
If you have a court reporter, please place the name and email address on the notice or order setting the hearing in the body of the email.
If the matter was heard and the court ruled, the cover letter should confirm that opposing counsel has reviewed the order and has no objection to the form of the order.
**If all parties on the service list are in the e-portal, a certificate of service is not necessary; if they are not, then please provide the following certificate of service:
If the parties agreed upon the order without a hearing, the cover letter should confirm that opposing counsel has reviewed the order and has no objection to the form of the order.
In the alternative, you may submit the order without a cover letter and title the order Agreed Order to indicate the order was agreed upon by both parties.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Amended notices and cross notices of hearing must be e-filed.
Please make sure that Amended Notices and/or Cross Notice of Hearings are e-filed.
Page 4 | CROSS NOTICING/PIGGY BACKING/CHANGING MOTION(S)
Do not drop off or fax an emergency motion to the Judge because it will not be reviewed before the hearing.
EMERGENCY HEARING: DO NOT drop off or fax your emergency motion to the Judge. It will not be reviewed before the hearing.
Page 6 | ORDERS
Submit proposed orders through the e-portal in Word format with a separately filed cover letter in PDF format.
ALL proposed Orders should be submitted through the e-portal (in Word format) along with a separately filed cover letter (in PDF format).
Page 6 | ORDERS
Self-represented litigants are instructed to register for the EPortal to receive and file documents electronically.
Please register for the EPortal so you can electronically receive and file documents.
Page 4 | FLORIDA SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS (PRO-SE)
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
When there are more than 50 premarked exhibits, provide them to the Clerk at least a day before the hearing or trial begins.
provide them to the Clerk at least a day before the hearing or s trial is scheduled to commence if the pre-marked exhibits number more than fifty(50) exhibits.
Page 3 | Evidentiary hearing or Trial Exhibits
When there are 50 or fewer premarked exhibits, provide them to the Clerk at least one hour before the hearing or trial begins.
provide them to the Clerk at least an hour before the hearing or trial is scheduled to commence if the pre-marked exhibits number fifty(50) exhibits or less
Page 3 | Evidentiary hearing or Trial Exhibits
The order must be filed within one week after the hearing date when the court has ruled.
After a hearing is completed and the court has ruled, you MUST file the order within one week of the date the hearing took place.
Page 9
When there are more than 50 premarked exhibits, they must be provided to the Clerk at least a day before the hearing or trial begins.
and at least a day before the hearing or s trial is scheduled to commence if the pre-marked exhibits number more than fifty(50) exhibits.
Page 9 | TRIALS
The pro se party must submit any objections in writing to the court within five days.
stating that the pro se party must voice any objections in writing to the court within 5 days.
Page 9
When there are 50 or fewer premarked exhibits, the exhibits must be provided to the Clerk at least one hour before the hearing or trial begins.
provide them to the Clerk at least an hour before the hearing or trial is scheduled to commence if the pre-marked exhibits number fifty(50) exhibits or less
Page 9 | TRIALS
Draft jury instructions must be provided to the Court by noon on the Friday before trial.
All draft jury instructions should be provided to the Court by noon on the Friday before trial.
Page 10 | TRIALS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
If the attorney cannot obtain signed client consent to withdraw, the motion must be set for hearing with at least five days’ notice to the parties.
If a signed consent is unable to be obtained, then the motion MUST be set for hearing with at least 5 days’ notice to the parties.
Page 4 | MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL
A party scheduling a hearing must notify the other parties, including parties who have been defaulted by the court.
Any party scheduling a hearing MUST provide notice to the other parties even if defaulted by the court.
Page 4 | NOTICE OF HEARING
Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless the communication is legally authorized to be ex parte.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
Page 5 | COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUDICIAL OFFICE
When the other party is self-represented, send the proposed order simultaneously to that party and the court with a cover letter.
If the other party is pro se, a copy of the proposed order is to be sent simultaneously to the pro se party and to the court with a cover letter
Page 8 | Proposed Orders
A hearing may be canceled pending proper notice if an appointed Guardian Ad Litem was not notified.
If a Guardian Ad Litem appointed in the case is not given notice of the hearing, the hearing may be subject to cancellation by the court pending proper notice to the Guardian Ad Litem.
Page 4 | NOTICE OF HEARING
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Do not set a rehearing or reconsideration hearing without prior approval.
Do NOT set a hearing unless you receive approval first.
Page 5 | MOTION FOR REHEARING/RECONSIDERATION
A party adding a motion to an existing hearing without needing additional time must obtain permission from the party who set the hearing to share that time.
If you wish to add a motion to a previously set hearing date and do not need more time, you must contact the party who set the hearing and obtain permission to share their time.
Page 4 | CROSS NOTICING/PIGGY BACKING/CHANGING MOTION(S)
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
If the defendant has not submitted a signed written waiver with the motion, the defendant must testify to the waiver under oath before the court.
Otherwise, the defendant is required to testify to the waiver under oath before the court.
Page 9 | TRIALS
A defense request to continue trial requires a speedy-trial waiver on the record.
If the defense requests a continuance of a trial, a waiver of speedy trial is required by the court to be made on the record.
Page 9 | TRIALS
The court will consider the continuance motion after the speedy-trial waiver is completed in writing or on the record.
Once a waiver of speedy trial is completed in writing or on the record, the court will consider the motion.
Page 9 | TRIALS
Chambers Communication Rules
Only the party that scheduled a hearing may cancel it, and the scheduling attorney must email the judicial assistant.
Only the party that scheduled the hearing may cancel the hearing. The attorney who scheduled the hearing must email the Judicial Assistant.
Page 3 | CANCELING
If an emergency hearing is needed within 24 hours, email the Judicial Assistant and attach the emergency motion for the Court’s review.
If you feel that your motion is an emergency (An example of an emergency issue is a person “seriously” endangered) and need the Judge to stop what they are doing to hold a hearing within 24 hours, contact Judge Stacy’s Judicial Assistant at Anne.Brezina@flcourts18.org and attach your emergency motion for the Court’s review and determination.
Page 6 | ORDERS
A hearing lasting more than one hour must be confirmed with the Judicial Assistant.
IF YOU NEED A HEARING FOR MORE THAN ONE HOUR, YOU WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM IT WITH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.
Page 2 | HEARINGS
Do not send the judge a copy of an amended notice or cross notice of hearing.
Please do not send a copy of your Amended Notice or Cross Notice of Hearing to the Judge.
Page 4 | CROSS NOTICING/PIGGY BACKING/CHANGING MOTION(S)
If additional hearing time is needed, parties may seek another available hearing with the judicial assistant or have the original scheduling party cancel and reschedule for sufficient time.
If you need additional time, you may either set a new hearing with the Judicial Assistant for that same date and time, if available, or have the party who set the original hearing cancel theirs and reschedule it for a timeslot with sufficient time for both hearings.
Page 4 | CROSS NOTICING/PIGGY BACKING/CHANGING MOTION(S)
File the original notice of hearing with the clerk and do not send a copy to the judge.
Please do not send a copy of your Notice of Hearing to the Judge; just file the original with the clerk.
Page 4 | NOTICE OF HEARING
Have the case name and case number available when communicating with the Judicial Assistant by phone or email.
Please make sure to have the case name and case number to discuss in the telephone conversation or email.
Page 5 | COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUDICIAL OFFICE
A message to the Judicial Assistant must include the case name, case number, and a valid callback number.
If you leave a message, please state your case name, the case number you are calling about, and a valid contact phone number to respond.
Page 5 | COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUDICIAL OFFICE
Parties may contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for scheduling needs.
Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for your scheduling needs.
Page 1 | Scheduling Hearings
Retrieve and schedule 15-, 30-, or 60-minute hearings by emailing the Judicial Assistant.
15, 30, or 60-minute hearing times are to be retrieved and scheduled by emailing the Judicial Assistant – Anne.Brezina@flcourts18.org
Page 2 | HEARINGS
While waiting for a Teams hearing, parties should email the judicial assistant rather than call.
The Judicial assistant is available by email during the Teams videoconference hearings. Please attempt to email rather than call her while you are waiting for your hearing.
Page 3 | Remote Hearings
After filing a rehearing or reconsideration motion, a copy may be emailed to the Judicial Assistant for review; the Judge may rule without a hearing or the Judicial Assistant may direct counsel to set one.
Once a Motion for Rehearing/Reconsideration is filed with the Clerk’s office, a copy can be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant for review. The Judge will either make a ruling on the motion, without a hearing, and copies will be sent out, or the JA will contact your office to let you know to set a hearing.
Page 5 | MOTION FOR REHEARING/RECONSIDERATION
Communications may be made by phone or email to the Judicial Assistant using the listed contact information.
All communications may be by phone or email with Judge Stacy’s Judicial assistant, Anne Brezina, at (407) 665-4939 or by email at Anne.Brezina@flcourts18.org.
Page 5 | COMMUNICATIONS WITH JUDICIAL OFFICE