Judge Sherri L. Collins
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
All Motions
Exhibits
- Before Hearing or Trial If Necessary
Verdict Forms, Pretrial Stipulations, Jury Instructions
- 1 copy • Email • No Later Than Noon Friday Prior to Trial Week
E Filed Document
Court-wide
Adjournments
- A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and discovery date, opposition, remedial actions and dates, and the proposed ready date and party agreement.
- Unless the requesting party shows good cause, the continuance motion must be signed by that party.
- Continuance motions are disfavored and may be granted only for good cause.
- +3 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Court-widePhone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-wideDuty Judge
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Agreed verdict forms, pretrial stipulations, and jury instructions must be submitted in Word format using Times New Roman 12-point font.
- File type
- Word
- Font
- Times New Roman
- Font size
- 12 points
- Verdict forms
- Pretrial stipulations
- Jury instructions
Court's wording
The parties shall communicate and submit one set of agreed verdict forms, pre-trial stipulations, and jury instructions (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font) mailed in WORD format to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org no later than noon on Friday prior to trial week.
The Court prefers all orders to be submitted in WORD format through Online Services with service to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
- Preferred format
- Word
- Proposed order
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: Insert label preference (e.g., "Petitioner/Plaintiff/State 1" or "Respondent/Defendant 1").
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance any evidentiary hearing or trial status hearing must be made by motion.
An emergency-hearing motion must state the issues, reasons emergency treatment is necessary, and time needed for each party's presentation.
Court's wording
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: (1) the issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party's presentation.
Every proposed order must have a cover letter certifying unanimous agreement or identifying the parties' disagreement.
Court's wording
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
Original exhibits to be brought to Court for hearing.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the Division Zoom link.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Must include
- •Division Zoom link
Every notice of hearing must include the required ADA notification.
Court's wording
All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540 and the language that counsel has complied with Local Rule 4.
If the parties are not able to come to agreement on jury instructions, one set should be submitted with objections, modifications or competing instructions juxtaposed with each instruction.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit proposed orders in Word by e-mail, U.S. mail, or hand delivery to the judicial office.
Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit proposed orders to the court in WORD format by email to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org, U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after hearing time is reserved.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
All hearing materials, including case law, must be received at least three business days before the hearing.
The Court must receive all materials for the hearing, including case law, no later than three (3) business days before the hearing.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Unless the court states otherwise, proposed orders are due no later than one week after the hearing.
Proposed orders must be submitted no later than one week after any hearing unless otherwise stated by the Court.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Service and Proof of Service Rules
All parties must be copied on judicial-office e-mails unless law authorizes an ex parte communication.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Service of a notice of hearing must occur immediately after hearing time is reserved.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The settling party must notify the attorneys for the next case in the trial order of the settlement.
Notify the attorneys for the next case in the Order of Trials to inform them of the settlement.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
A civil-case notice of cancellation must be filed and served immediately on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Attorneys and self-represented litigants generally must make and receive service by e-mail through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by e-mail, which is generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Proposed orders submitted through Online Services should be served on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
The Court prefers all orders to be submitted in WORD format through Online Services with service to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The parties shall communicate and submit one set of agreed verdict forms, pre-trial stipulations, and jury instructions (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font) mailed in WORD format to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org no later than noon on Friday prior to trial week.
The parties shall communicate and submit one set of agreed verdict forms, pre-trial stipulations, and jury instructions (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font) mailed in WORD format to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org no later than noon on Friday prior to trial week.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies of motions for a hearing or trial must be e-mailed to the division account.
Courtesy copies of Motions must be submitted to the Court by email to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org for any hearing or trial.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, court, and each party when needed at a hearing or trial.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial, if necessary.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Unless the requesting party shows good cause, the continuance motion must be signed by that party.
Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Except in emergencies, the referring division judge must hear a continuance motion before the first day of trial.
Absent an emergency, all motions for continuance must be heard by the referring Division Judge prior to the first day of trial.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and discovery date, opposition, remedial actions and dates, and the proposed ready date and party agreement.
Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for the continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant; (2) whether the motion is opposed; (3) the action and specific dates for the action that will enable the movant to be ready, including, but not limited to, confirming the specific date any required participants are available; and (4) the proposed date by which the case will be ready to proceed and whether that date is agreed by all parties.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Continuance motions are disfavored and may be granted only for good cause.
Motions for continuance are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Successive continuance requests are highly disfavored.
Successive continuances are highly disfavored.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Lack of due diligence cannot justify granting a continuance.
Lack of due diligence is not grounds for granting a continuance.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
In civil cases, hearing cancellation requires immediate notice to the judicial assistant.
For Civil Cases only: A party must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Hearing requests must be submitted by e-mail to the division account.
Hearings must be requested by e-mail to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
All communications to the judicial office must be sent to the dedicated division e-mail account.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org, the dedicated division e-mail account.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their registered e-service e-mail address whenever it changes.
It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603, email designation form, any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Criminal hearings may be cancelled or rescheduled only with court permission.
Hearings in Criminal cases may only be cancelled or rescheduled with permission of the Court.
Page 1 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A party on the trial list must immediately notify the trial-division judicial assistant by email upon reaching a settlement.
Settlement:If you are anywhere on the trial list, please immediately notify the trial division Judicial Assistant upon reaching a settlement (CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org).
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Judicial-office e-mails must identify the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 CF 001234 AMB State v. Smith – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties.
Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The judicial assistant aims to substantively respond to inquiries within one business day.
The judicial assistant strives to substantively respond to all inquiries within one business day.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may contact the judicial office by telephone.
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to 561-355-7881.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office