Judge Bertila Soto
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements1 rule
When submitting your proposed order, the title of the order must be typed in the title box provided by courtMAP
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
If you are submitting a proposed order after a hearing, you must submit a cover letter that includes the hearing details and the Court's oral ruling.
Please be aware that the checklist contains a certification of compliance which must be signed by the lawyer.
- Document
- Checklist certification form
Must include
- •Local rule certificate
All Motions for Telephonic Appearance must indicate the reason why a telephonic hearing is needed and submitted 5 days prior to hearing date.
Emergency Petition/Motions MUST contain a statement indicating that opposing counsel has been notified in an attempt to resolve the matter in an amicable manner.
Hearing requests from attorneys must state whether other parties are involved, whether they were consulted, whether they agree to the hearing date, and include affirmative confirmation from all parties.
Court's wording
attorneys are required to assert whether other parties are involved in their request for a hearing; whether the other party or parties have been consulted regarding scheduling the hearing; whether the other party or parties agree to the hearing date, and an affirmative confirmation from all parties regarding the scheduling of the hearing.
As of September 1, 2020, filings of petitions with proposed orders in CourtMap must include established checklist certification forms as supporting documents with your submissions.
Your Petition/Motion must contain a certification that the matter is a true emergency and cannot wait to be heard during a motion calendar.
All hearing require a checklist.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders must not be submitted on contested matters or matters already set for hearing.
Do not submit proposed orders on matters that are contested and/or already set for hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders via courtMAP
The petition/motion to be heard at a Special Appointment Hearing must be e-filed and appear on the Clerk of Court's docket.
Please ensure that the Petition/Motion to be heard at the Special Appointment Hearing has been e-filed and appears on the Clerk of Court's docket.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Emergency petitions must be e-filed and appear on the Clerk of Court's docket before being uploaded to courtMAP.
The Emergency Petition must be e-filed and appear on the Clerk of Court's docket prior to uploading to courtMAP.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Emergency Petition/Motions)
All proposed orders must be submitted through courtMAP.
As of March 16, 2020, all proposed orders must be submitted via courtMap.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders via courtMAP
Add-on petitions/motions to special set hearings are not permitted without leave of Court.
ADD-ON Petitions/Motions to special set hearings are not permitted without leave of Court.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Walk-in filings of motions, pleadings, and proposed orders are not allowed.
No walk in's motions/pleadings and proposed orders are allowed
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders via courtMAP
Checklist certification forms must be filed through the e-filing portal and uploaded to CourtMAP with the petition, and omission results in summary rejection.
The checklist certification forms must be filed through the e-filing portal and also uploaded as a supporting document to the petition through CourtMap. Failure to include the checklist certification form will result in summary rejection of your submission.
Civil cases
Page 1 | REQUIRED CHECKLIST CERTIFICATION FORMS
Responses to special appointment calendar matters must be e-filed with the Clerk and submitted via CourtMAP under the Special Appointment case number and hearing date.
Parties wishing to submit a response to a matter set on the Special Appointment Calendar must e-file said Response with the Clerk of Court's and submit the Response via CourtMAP under "Special Appointment" case number and hearing date, 10 days prior to the hearing date.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
To cancel a special set hearing, the movant must e-file a Notice of Cancellation and cancel the hearing on courtMAP.
If you need to cancel a special set hearing, Movant cancelling a hearing must e-file a Notice of Cancellation, cancel the hearing on courtMAP and email chambers at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org to inform the court of cancellation.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Motions for Telephonic Appearance must be e-filed and then submitted for the Court's approval through the proposed orders option on courtMAP.
A Motion for Telephonic Appearance must be e-filed then submitted for the Court's approval via the proposed orders option on courtMap.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
DNR petitions/motions must be filed as an Emergency Hearing.
DNR Petition/Motions need to be filed as an Emergency Hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Emergency Petition/Motions)
Please do not email your documents to the judicial assistant.
Please do not email your documents to the judicial assistant.
Civil cases
Page 1 | REQUIRED CHECKLIST CERTIFICATION FORMS
Special sets under 1 hour may be self-scheduled on courtMAP; hearings needing more time require an email to the judicial assistant.
You may schedule your Special Set on courtMap if it is less than 1 hour. If you require more time, please send email to JA.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Responses to special appointment calendar matters are due 10 days before the hearing date.
Parties wishing to submit a response to a matter set on the Special Appointment Calendar must e-file said Response with the Clerk of Court's and submit the Response via CourtMAP under "Special Appointment" case number and hearing date, 10 days prior to the hearing date.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Petitions/motions, case law, and proposed orders must be submitted for review within 48 hours of setting the hearing.
Submit Petitions/Motions, case law and Proposed Orders for review within 48 hours of setting hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Supporting documents must be uploaded to CourtMAP at least 5 days before the hearing or the hearing is subject to cancellation.
Please remember that supporting documents must be uploaded to CourtMAP at least 5 days prior to hearing. If supporting documents are not uploaded or hard copies not received within 5 days of the hearing, your hearing is subject to cancellation.
Civil cases
Page 1 | REQUIRED CHECKLIST CERTIFICATION FORMS
Motions for Telephonic Appearance must be submitted 5 days before the hearing date.
All Motions for Telephonic Appearance must indicate the reason why a telephonic hearing is needed and submitted 5 days prior to hearing date.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
For evidentiary hearings, all support documents must be added in courtMAP one week before the hearing date and exhibits/evidence must be arranged with the Clerk of Courts beforehand.
All support documents need to be added to the scheduled hearing in courtmap 1 week prior to the hearing date and exhibits and/or evidence submission need to be arranged with the Clerk of Courts prior to hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Specially set hearings are not scheduled until the Court approves the submission; rejected submissions receive a rejection notice and approved ones are confirmed by courtMAP email with an e-filed notice of hearing.
Specially set hearings are NOT scheduled until they are approved by the Court.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Filing Bundling Requirements
Pleadings needed to administer the estate must be filed at the same time as the Petition to Reopen a case dismissed or closed for inactivity.
Please note that if a case has been dismissed or closed due to inactivity, pleadings needed to administer the Estate must be filed contemporaneously with the filing of a Petition to Reopen the case.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders via courtMAP
Supporting documents such as petitions, motions, checklists, affidavits, and cover letters must always be submitted together with the proposed order.
Supporting documents (i.e.: petitions, motions, checklist, affidavits, cover letters, etc.) must always be submitted in support of your proposed order.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders via courtMAP
Chambers Communication Rules
Hearings longer than the 55-minute special set limit require a Special Set form with two dates all parties are available, emailed to chambers for approval.
If you are attempting to schedule a hearing for more than 55 minutes, you must fill out the Special Set form (located in the "Documents" section), with two possible dates that all parities are available and email request to chambers at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org for approval.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
Trial Hearing requests must be emailed to the judicial assistant, allowing 48 hours for a response.
Please email the Judicial Assistant at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org to request a Trial Hearing. Please allow 48 hours for response time.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions
Documents sent to chambers require coordination with the judicial assistant by email at least 10 days before the hearing date.
Due to COVID-19, If documents need to be sent to chambers, please coordinate with the Judicial Assistant 10 days prior to the hearing date by emailing mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
If you resolve your matter, please cancel the hearing in CourtMAP. If you do not have access to CourtMAP, cancel the hearing by emailing Maritza De Paul, the judicial assistant at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org
If you resolve your matter, please cancel the hearing in CourtMAP. If you do not have access to CourtMAP, cancel the hearing by emailing Maritza De Paul, the judicial assistant at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org
Civil cases
Page 1 | REQUIRED CHECKLIST CERTIFICATION FORMS
In-person hearings are scheduled by calling chambers at (305) 349-7086 so the judicial assistant can assist with scheduling.
If you would like to schedule an in-person hearing, please call chambers (305)349-7086 and the judicial assistant will help you schedule the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)
The movant cancelling a special set hearing must also email chambers to inform the court of the cancellation.
If you need to cancel a special set hearing, Movant cancelling a hearing must e-file a Notice of Cancellation, cancel the hearing on courtMAP and email chambers at mpaul@jud11.flcourts.org to inform the court of cancellation.
Civil cases
Page 1 | Additional Instructions (Special Set Hearings, Evidentiary Hearings, Telephonic Appearance, Cancellations)