Judge John D.W. Beamer
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Hearing Request, Motion
- Email • With Hearing Request
Motion
- Email • At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing
Motion, Exhibits
- At Least 3 Business Days Before Hearing
Adjournments
- Pretrial deadlines may not be extended by stipulation and may be modified only by a timely motion and court order.
- A request for continuance should be made immediately and must be written, signed, identify opposing counsel's position, explain necessity, state trial-readiness timing, and comply with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.460.
- Stipulated motions to continue are not permitted, and a continuance does not become effective unless the motion is set and heard by the court.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Clerk
Document Format Requirements7 rules
All exhibits and demonstrative aids must be exchanged, initialed by counsel, and tagged for identification before trial begins.
- Exhibits
- Demonstrative aids
Formatting
- •Exchange all exhibits and demonstrative aids before the first day of trial
- •Initial each item by counsel for all parties
Court's wording
11. Exhibits and Demonstrative Aids: All exhibits and demonstrative aids (including Power Point Presentations and Trial Exhibits) must be exchanged, initialed by counsel for all parties, and tagged and marked for identification PRIOR to the first day of trial.
Demonstrative aids may NOT be used during Opening Statement without agreement or prior (before the first day of trial!) court order.
23. Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms - File the originals with the Clerk and provide a copy in MS Word (in Times New Roman font – 14 pt. double spaced) - to the Judge – either via USB flash delivered to the Court or via email to the JA at 33orange@ninthcircuit.org
- File type
- Word
- Font
- Times New Roman
- Font size
- 14 points
- Line spacing
- Double
- Jury instructions
Proposed Order in Microsoft Word format (please do not title the order as “Proposed Order…” simply note in the cover letter that the submission is a proposed order.
- File type
- Word
- Proposed order
Any objections must be separately noted and brought to the attention of the Court.
Formatting
- •Separately note objections
Submit the deposition together with a chart identifying the page and line number, the objection, and leaving a place for the court to rule in chambers
- Deposition objections
Formatting
- •State the objection in the chart
- •Leave a place for the court to enter its ruling in chambers
Please note that all Orders in the Ninth Circuit are electronically filed, therefore the Certificate of Service should not be formatted for the signature of the JA, or that U.S. Mail copies are being served by the JA.
Document Filing Requirements33 rules
You must comply with Division 33’s Standing Order on Motions in Limine, found at www.ninthcircuit.org
Counsel with full authority to resolve the matter shall confer before the filing of the motion to attempt to resolve or otherwise narrow the issues raised in the motion, and include a Certificate of Conferral required by Rule 1.202.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Counsel with full authority to resolve the matter shall confer before scheduling the hearing on the motion to attempt to resolve or otherwise narrow the issues raised in the motion, and include a Certificate of Compliance in the Notice of Hearing filed with the Court.
Parties should note that ALL motions filed on or after January 1, 2025 are required to have a “Certificate of Conferral” in the format and placement outlined in FRCP Rule 1.202, even those motions which do not require the parties to confer. Failure to do so will result in the Judicial Assistant being unable to set the motion for hearing.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Hearing time in excess of 1 hour must be approved by Judge Beamer either by appearing during Short Matters for a case management conference or by the filing of a Motion for Extended Hearing Time explaining the reason(s) for the extra time needed.
Please do not cross-notice additional motions without prior approval of all opposing counsel/pro se parties, and the Judicial Assistant.
If Counsel is seeking more than 30 minutes of hearing time for a Motion to Dismiss or a Motion for Summary Judgment, a separate Motion for Extended Hearing Time must be filed and submitted via email to chambers, along with a cover letter explaining the reason(s) for the extra time. The judge will then either approve or limit the hearing time.
Motions should be set during ex-parte with notice to all parties if client consent has not been obtained and filed with the motion.
The body of the proposed order and certificate of service must include the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the client to whom the pleadings will be sent.
file with the court at the time of filing of the motion, a statement certifying that counsel has conferred or attempted to confer with opposing counsel/pro se parties, but has been unable to resolve the dispute.
- Document
- Discovery motion
Include
- •Certificate of conference
A motion to compel or enforce discovery must include certification of a good-faith attempt to resolve the matter without court action.
Court's wording
All motions to compel and/or enforce discovery must comply with the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure including, but not limited to, including a certification of a good faith attempt to resolve the matter without court action.
If the parties disagree as to the form of the Order, competing orders shall be submitted as outlined above.
Copies of any motions or accompanying documentation for the Court’s review.
1) E-filed cover letter indicating whether: a. The date and time of the hearing held, if applicable b. Whether all opposing counsel/pro se parties agree to the content and form of the order
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a motion with a detailed explanation constituting the emergency as well as the substance of the motion must be filed and either hand-delivered or e-mailed to the Court prior to a hearing being set.
Pursuant to the Uniform Trial Order, mediation must be completed prior to the Pre-Trial Conference. The Plaintiff is charged with timely submitting the Mediation Order to the Court for signature.
The parties must also make certain the Mediator files a final mediation report in the court file.
Prior to the Pre-Trial Conference, witness and exhibit lists must be exchanged, and all pretrial motions, except motions in limine, must have been heard.
Parties shall provide to the Court at least three (3) business days before the Pre-Trial Conference a completed copy of the Pre-Trial Check List.
All cases are required to have a completed Joint Pre-Trial Statement signed and filed in the court file, and a Pre-Trial Checklist and Order Controlling Trial signed and emailed to the Judicial Assistant, at least three (3) business days prior to the Pre-Trial Conference.
The first certificate-of-compliance option certifies a substantive pre-noticing conversation with opposing counsel regarding resolution of the motion.
Court's wording
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a lawyer in my firm with full authority to resolve this matter had a substantive conversation in person or by telephone with opposing counsel in a good faith effort to resolve this motion before the motion was noticed for hearing but the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a lawyer in my firm with full authority to resolve this matter attempted in good faith to contact opposing counsel in person or by telephone on:
14. Stipulations – Admissions – Waivers of Custodians: Must be in writing if seeking Court enforcement
If Counsel are asked to prepare an order, the order should be: A. Drafted and circulated within three (3) business days, and B. Submitted to the Court within ten (10) days of the hearing, with a copy to opposing counsel.
The Court does not hold orders waiting for approval or objection from opposing counsel/pro se parties. Please do not send proposed Orders to the Court until you
Counsel must advise the Court of opposing counsel’s approval as to the form of the proposed order, or any objection to the form of the proposed order, when the order is submitted.
All Orders must describe, in the caption, the subject and ruling of the court, i.e. “Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Liability.”
- Document
- Order
- Placement
- Caption
Both parties’ cover letter should CLEARLY indicated that competing orders are being submitted.
If you have written client consent (attached to the motion) you may submit a copy of the motion along with a proposed order to chambers.
If the client is a corporation or other legal entity, allow at least thirty (30) days to obtain substitute counsel, and outline in the proposed order that a corporate entity is required to be represented by counsel.
The competing order must use the proposed order and make the changes that the objecting party requests, as opposed to preparing a different order.
the moving party may submit a proposed order compelling the discovery, with the Motion.
- Document
- Discovery motion
May include
- •Proposed order
Counsel must index materials and ensure the index contains a hyper-link to the document/exhibit/case indexed. Cases should be highlighted.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Information, emergency matters, and requests of any nature must be submitted as written motions filed with the clerk through the Florida Courts e-filing portal, by hand delivery, or by U.S. Mail.
This means, all information, emergency matters, and requests of any nature will need to be put in the form of a written motion and filed with the Clerk of Court via the Florida Courts e-filing Portal, hand delivery or U.S. Mail.
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
An emergency-hearing motion must be delivered to the Court by hand or email before the hearing is set.
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a motion with a detailed explanation constituting the emergency as well as the substance of the motion must be filed and either hand-delivered or e-mailed to the Court prior to a hearing being set.
Page 10 | Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
The attorney must electronically file the cover letter, but not the proposed order, with the Clerk of Court.
The cover letter (but not the proposed order) must be e-filed by the attorney with the Clerk of Court.
Trial briefs are optional, but any submitted brief must be supplied digitally with linked case citations by USB flash or email at least five business days before trial.
16. Trial Briefs are not required, but if you choose to submit them, please provide a digital copy (case citations should be linked) either via USB flash delivered to the Court or via email to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org at least five (5) business days prior to trial to allow adequate time for review.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Trial Briefs
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Cross-designations are due 20 days before the pretrial conference.
• Cross designations are due: 20 days prior to the Pre-Trial Conference
Civil cases
Page 2 | Deposition Designations and Cross Designations
The rule asks whether motions in limine were filed before the pre-trial conference.
15. Motions in Limine: Filed prior to this pre-trial conference?
Civil cases
Page 2 | Motions in Limine
at least five (5) business days prior to trial to allow adequate time for review.
at least five (5) business days prior to trial to allow adequate time for review.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Trial Briefs
Motions in limine must be scheduled and heard no later than one week before trial begins.
Must be scheduled and heard no later than one week prior to the beginning of the trial period.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Motions in Limine
A party offering deposition testimony must disclose its designations in writing, with page and line citations, at least 30 days before the pretrial conference.
• By the party offering the testimony: 30 days prior to Pre-Trial Conference.
Civil cases
Page 2 | Deposition Designations and Cross Designations
Deposition objections must be ruled on before trial, and the submitted deposition must include a chart identifying the page and line, stating the objection, and leaving space for the court's ruling.
• Objections to portions of depositions must be ruled on PRIOR TO TRIAL – Submit the deposition together with a chart identifying the page and line number, the objection, and leaving a place for the court to rule in chambers
Civil cases
Page 2 | Deposition Designations and Cross Designations
Jury instructions and verdict forms must be submitted or received no later than three business days before the first day of trial.
• Submitted/received no later than 3 business days prior to the first day of trial
Civil cases
Page 3 | Jury Instructions and Verdict Forms
A competing order must be submitted within five business days after the proposed order is submitted.
The competing order must be submitted within five (5) business days after the proposed order is submitted.
Page 7 | Submission of Orders and Instructions on Motions
Trial cannot commence until mediation is completed when mediation is absent or occurred more than one year before the pretrial conference.
If the case has not been mediated or if the mediation occurred more than a year before the Pre-Trial Conference, the parties will not be permitted to commence trial until after mediation is completed.
Page 13 | Alternative Dispute Resolution
Parties are expected to disclose the following day's witnesses at the end of each trial day.
18. Witness Disclosure: Parties will be expected to disclose the next day’s witnesses at the end of each day
Civil cases
Page 2 | Witness Disclosure
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Addressed and stamped envelopes must be provided for every party not served through the ePortal.
Addressed, stamped envelopes must be provided for all parties not receiving service through the ePortal.
Page 7 | Types of Motions
Every email submitting an emergency motion to the Court must be copied to all opposing counsel and pro se parties.
All opposing counsel/pro se parties MUST be copied on any email of emergency motions to the Court.
Page 10 | Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing, including videoconference information, must be emailed to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org at least three business days before the hearing, and the matter will not be docketed unless the Judicial Assistant replies “Received.”
A courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing, including the above videoconference information, must be provided to the Court at least three (3) business days in advance of the hearing by email to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org. If a copy of the Notice is not emailed to the Judicial Assistant, and if the Judicial Assistant does not reply “Received”, the matter will not be docketed.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Ex-Parte/Short Matters
A copy of a motion for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be sent directly to chambers upon filing.
Upon filing one of these Motions, you must send a copy directly to chambers for review, as the Clerk of Court does not provide these directly to the Court.
Page 8 | Motions for Re-Hearing, Reconsideration or New Trial
Motions, supporting memoranda, and case law submitted for advance review must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at least three business days before the hearing.
Motion(s), supporting memoranda and/or case law that counsel would like the Court to review in advance of the hearing MUST be received by email to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Page 9 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Paper hearing materials, including physical hearing notebooks, will not be reviewed or accepted, and all hearing materials must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Please note: NO PAPER COPIES OF HEARING MATERIALS, INCLUDING PHYSICAL HEARING NOTEBOOKS, WILL BE REVIEWED OR ACCEPTED. ALL HEARING MATERIALS MUST BE E-MAILED TO THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT.
Page 9 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Counsel must provide all opposing counsel and pro se parties the same hearing information provided to the Court.
Counsel MUST copy all opposing counsel/pro se parties with the same information provided to the Court.
Page 9 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Hearing documentation must be submitted as email attachments rather than share links or ZIP folders and must be divided into smaller files when too large to send.
Due to court cybersecurity procedures, our office is not able to open share files, links, or zip folders containing hearing documentation. Please submit as email attachments. Please divide the document into smaller files if it is too large to send.
Page 10 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Failure to provide courtesy copies of hearing materials to opposing counsel or pro se parties may result in cancellation of the hearing.
Failure to provide courtesy copies of hearing materials to opposing counsel/pro se parties may result in the hearing being cancelled.
Page 10 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
A special-set hearing request must include courtesy copies of the relevant motions as attachments to the email sent to chambers.
Copy the table below when requesting for a hearing along with courtesy copy(s) of the motion(s) attached to the email.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Special-Set Hearings
The Judicial Assistant cannot guarantee Court review of hearing materials submitted fewer than three business days before the hearing.
If the material is received less than three business days prior to the hearing, the Judicial Assistant cannot guarantee review by the Court of the documentation submitted.
Page 9 | Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A meet and confer must involve a face-to-face meeting or a telephone or video conference call; email exchanges between counsel do not satisfy the requirement.
Note that a “meet and confer” anticipates a face to face meeting or telephone/video conference call. Emails between counsel do not constitute a “meet and confer”.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Meet and Confer Requirements
For motions filed on or before December 31, 2024, counsel with settlement authority must meet and confer before scheduling the hearing, and the Notice of Hearing must include a Certificate of Compliance.
For motions filed on or before December 31, 2024: ☐ Complete the mandatory meet and confer process outlined in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order No. 2012-03-01. Counsel with full authority to resolve the matter shall confer before scheduling the hearing on the motion to attempt to resolve or otherwise narrow the issues raised in the motion, and include a Certificate of Compliance in the Notice of Hearing filed with the Court.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Meet and Confer Requirements
For motions filed on or after January 1, 2025 that require a meet and confer under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.202, counsel with settlement authority must confer before filing and include the required Certificate of Conferral.
For motions filed on or after January 1, 2025: ☐ Complete the mandatory meet and confer process if required by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 1.202 prior to the filing of the motion. Counsel with full authority to resolve the matter shall confer before the filing of the motion to attempt to resolve or otherwise narrow the issues raised in the motion, and include a Certificate of Conferral required by Rule 1.202.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Meet and Confer Requirements
Before filing a Rule 1.380 motion to compel seeking attorney’s fees, counsel must confer in good faith with opposing counsel and any pro se parties to resolve the discovery issue.
before filing a Motion to Compel pursuant to Fla. R. Civ. P 1.380, you must confer with counsel for the opposing party and/or any pro se parties, in a good-faith effort to resolve the discovery issue
Page 8 | Attorney Fees in Discovery Disputes
Discovery motions, motions to compel, and motions for protective orders must be filed and set for hearing within a reasonable period.
These Motions must be both filed and set for hearing within a reasonable period of time.
Page 8 | Discovery Motions and Motions to Compel
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A request for continuance should be made immediately and must be written, signed, identify opposing counsel's position, explain necessity, state trial-readiness timing, and comply with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.460.
If counsel believes the trial date is not workable, an immediate request for continuance should be made. All motions to continue must be (1) in writing; (2) signed by the attorney and the parties requesting same; (3) identify the position of opposing counsel in the motion; (4) set forth specifically why the continuance is necessary and when the parties will be ready for trial, if granted; and (5) must comply with Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.460.
Page 13 | Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Stipulated motions to continue are not permitted, and a continuance does not become effective unless the motion is set and heard by the court.
Stipulated motions to continue are not permitted and will not result in the trial being continued unless and until the motion is set for hearing and heard by the Court.
Page 13 | Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Pretrial deadlines may not be extended by stipulation and may be modified only by a timely motion and court order.
Compliance with time limits is not optional nor extendable by stipulation. The Court expects strict compliance with the Uniform Trial Order, absent a timely motion and order of Court modifying the conditions therein. Modification of the Uniform Trial Order by stipulation of the parties, without an order of the Court modifying the Uniform Trial Order, is strictly prohibited.
Page 13 | Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Chambers Communication Rules
All communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the dedicated division account, with the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org, the dedicated division e-mail account. The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2026CA 001234 – Doe v. Doe – 30-Min Hearing Requested).
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Parties in an active case may not contact the court ex parte by email or phone; requests must be submitted through the division email or in writing and filed with the clerk, with copies provided to other counsel or unrepresented parties.
Parties involved in an active case cannot contact the court ex- parte by email or by phone. If contacted, the Court will take no action as to the phone call or email. All requests MUST be made by the Division Email or in writing and filed with the Clerk of Court located at 425 N. Orange Avenue, Room 350, Orlando, FL, 32801, with a copy provided to all other counsel and/or unrepresented parties.
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
All parties MUST be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Any settlement or resolution of a matter on the trial docket must be reported immediately by email to the judicial assistant.
The Court must be notified immediately by email to the Judicial Assistant, of any settlement or resolution of any matter on the trial docket.
Page 14 | Settlement or Resolution
Court emails must be sent to the dedicated division email address and not to personal work email addresses.
Emails to the Court must be sent to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org. Emails should not be sent to the Judicial Assistant’s or Judge’s personal work email.
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
Only self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from email service may contact the judicial office by telephone; text messages are not accepted, and email is preferred.
ONLY Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to (407)-836-1491). The judicial office does not accept text messages, and email is the most effective means of communication.
Page 2 | Communications with the Judicial Office
A party requesting a special-set hearing must email Judge Beamer’s Judicial Assistant at 33orange@ninthcircuit.org and copy all opposing counsel or pro se parties.
Reach out to Judge Beamer’s Judicial Assistant via email at 33orange@ninthcircuit.org and copy all opposing counsel/pro se parties for the hearing to be added to the docket.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Hearings — Special-Set Hearings
A copy of the pretrial checklist and order controlling trial signed by all counsel should be emailed to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org.
One copy signed by all counsel should be emailed to 33orange@ninthcircuit.org.
Page 14 | Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Counsel may email the Judicial Assistant at 33orange@ninthcircuit.org with hearing-procedure questions not answered in the document.
If any matters concerning the hearing procedures of the division are not sufficiently covered herein, counsel is free to contact the Judicial Assistant by email at 33orange@ninthcircuit.org.
Page 15 | INFORMATION NOT COVERED