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Court Rules
Judge

Judge Nicole Saunders

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Trial or Hearing Set Memo

Court-wide
  • Email

Communication

Email

Chambers

awilliams4@coj.net
Email
crtintrp@coj.net
Email
Court-wide

Clerk

durhaml@clayclerk.com
Scheduling
Filters:

Document Filing Requirements1 rule

Filing Requirements

It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 anytime there is a change in the email address registered for an electronic device.

Division-DV-Procedures-(September-2026)-(1) · p. 4|SectionE. E-Filing Portal Contact Information

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

All parties must file motions and other requests for relief on the docket; motions not filed there will not be considered.

Please note that requests for relief (i.e. motions) are not “judicial communications.” All parties must file any request for relief on the docket. The judge will not entertain any motions not filed on the docket.

Page 4 | D. Communications with the Judicial Office

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts F-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 F-Filing Portal, unless excused.

Page 4 | E. E-Filing Portal Contact Information

Chambers Communication Rules

All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless law authorizes an ex parte communication.

All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless the law authorizes an ex-parte communication.

Page 4 | D. Communications with the Judicial Office

The court will not consider unsolicited communications submitted by non-parties.

The court will not consider any unsolicited communications from non-parties.

Page 4 | D. Communications with the Judicial Office

Unless authorized by law, communications with the judicial office must not be ex parte or outside the parties' presence.

All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex-parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law.

Page 4 | D. Communications with the Judicial Office

Email the judicial office at Awilliams4@coj.net, allow 48 hours (two business days) before following up, and include the case number, case name, and request subject in the subject line.

Communications with the judicial office must be submitted to Awilliams4@coj.net. Please allow 48 hours (2 business days) for a response before sending a follow up email. The subject line of any email to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and subject of the request (e.g,, 2020 DR 001234—Doe v. Doe—scheduling request).

Page 4 | D. Communications with the Judicial Office

A hearing- or voice-impaired person should call 711 to arrange accessibility assistance.

if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

Page 5 | G. Accessibility

A person with a disability who needs an accommodation must contact the ADA Coordinator by email or phone at least seven days before the scheduled court appearance, or immediately if fewer than seven days remain.

Please contact The ADA Coordinator at CRTINTRP@COJ.NET or (904) 255-1695 {identify applicable court personnel by name, address, and telephone number} at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

Page 5 | G. Accessibility

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 62 rules apply across Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 30
  • Applies to
    Motion to set for hearing

    A motion to set a hearing is required when the requested hearing will exceed one hour.

  • Applies to
    Notice of hearing

    The notice of hearing must satisfy Rule 2.530(b), including identifying the communication technology and providing access directions.

  • Applies to
    Remote hearing request

    A motion is required for remote non-evidentiary hearings over 30 minutes, evidentiary hearings, trials, and requests to present testimony through communication technology.

Filing Timing

All 13

  • Counsel may not file a notice of hearing until the court confirms the hearing by email.

  • Counsel must file a compliant notice of hearing within three days after hearing confirmation, identifying the communication technology and providing access directions.

  • A motion or order to cancel a sale must be received at least three days before the sale date.

Communication

All 7
  • Contact
    Email

    Proposed orders subject to this direction must be emailed directly to the judicial assistant.

  • The court will not consider ex parte communications by telephone, email, or mail.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Emergency motions may be emailed to the judicial assistant for court review.

Service

All 6
  • Service
    Electronic service

    The court cannot use electronic service as the sole method for a party who has not filed a Notice of Designation of Email Address.

  • Service
    Email

    All pro se parties must serve a designation of a primary email address, and may obtain the form from the clerk of court.

  • Applies to
    Papers and pleadings
    Service
    Mail to opposing party

    All further papers and pleadings shall be served by mail to Plaintiff’s designated email address(es) or, if none, to Plaintiff’s mailing address, pursuant to paragraph six above. Service shall be complete upon mailing or emailing.

More categories

View all Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties rules
About Judge Nicole Saunders

Nicole Saunders is a Circuit Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. On January 13, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Judge Saunders to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court. She assumed office on February 2, 2026, and currently serves in Division DV-A and on the Appellate Rotation for reviewing final administrative orders as permitted by law.

Judge Saunders grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While growing up, she spent many summers in the Jacksonville area visiting family. Upon her graduation from high school, Judge Saunders attended Jacksonville University, where she graduated in 2013, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, summa cum laude. She then matriculated at the University of Florida Levin College of Law (UF Law), where she participated in the school’s trial team and served as a mock trial coach for Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and the Southern Region of the Black Law Students Association.

In 2016, Judge Saunders graduated from UF Law and moved back to Jacksonville, taking a role as an attorney at a financial technology services corporation. She then worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourth Judicial Circuit from 2017 to 2019 before joining a commercial litigation firm, where she represented corporate clients in Federal court.

In September 2020, Judge Saunders moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Jamie R. Grosshans of the Florida Supreme Court, where she gained a deeper appreciation for rule of law and the faithful interpretation of legal texts. Then, from February 2022 to September 2023, Judge Saunders worked as a Deputy General Counsel at the Florida Department of Education where she managed litigation for the Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services, as well as public records. She also represented the Florida Department of Education before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) and in court.

Immediately before her appointment to the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Judge Saunders was an Administrative Law Judge with DOAH. At DOAH, she presided over disputes brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. She also conducted hearings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes, regarding child support establishment, modification, redirection, and termination; and student expulsion.

When not practicing law, Judge Saunders enjoys writing, serving at her church, and volunteering in her community through nonprofits dedicated to the service of underserved children. She is a member of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, the Family Law Inn of Court, and sits on the board of the Library Foundation of Jacksonville.

Division or court number: DV-A Court level: Circuit Courtroom or hearing room: 210/733 Address: 501 West Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 Judicial assistant: April Williams Email: Awilliams4@coj.net Phone: (904) 255-1695

Common questions about Judge Nicole Saunders's rules

What must be included with filings before Judge Nicole Saunders?

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their contact information whenever the email address associated with an electronic device changes.

View ruleSource: page 4, section E. E-Filing Portal Contact Information

How may parties contact Judge Nicole Saunders' chambers?

Unless authorized by law, communications with the judicial office must not be ex parte or outside the parties' presence.

View ruleSource: page 4, section D. Communications with the Judicial Office

Is electronic filing required before Judge Nicole Saunders?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All parties must file motions and other requests for relief on the docket; motions not filed there will not be considered.

View ruleSource: page 4, section D. Communications with the Judicial Office

What rule applies to service by email before Judge Nicole Saunders?

Details: method: service by email. Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts F-Filing Portal, unless excused.

View ruleSource: page 4, section E. E-Filing Portal Contact Information
Complete rules summary for Judge Nicole Saunders

All parties must file motions and other requests for relief on the docket; motions not filed there will not be considered.

Email the judicial office at Awilliams4@coj.net, allow 48 hours (two business days) before following up, and include the case number, case name, and request subject in the subject line.

Unless authorized by law, communications with the judicial office must not be ex parte or outside the parties' presence.

All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless law authorizes an ex parte communication.

The court will not consider unsolicited communications submitted by non-parties.

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts F-Filing Portal, unless excused.

Attorneys and self-represented litigants must use Form 2.603 to update their contact information whenever the email address associated with an electronic device changes.

A person with a disability who needs an accommodation must contact the ADA Coordinator by email or phone at least seven days before the scheduled court appearance, or immediately if fewer than seven days remain.

A hearing- or voice-impaired person should call 711 to arrange accessibility assistance.

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