Judge Alexander R. Christine Jr.
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than 5 Business Days Before Any Evidentiary Proceeding
Hearing Materials
Memorandum, Legal Authority
- At Least Five Business Days Before the Hearing
Adjournments
- A hearing may not be cancelled less than two business days before it unless the case has fully settled or an agreed order fully resolves the matters to be heard.
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Chambers
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Format: Proposed orders should be submitted in Microsoft Word format using the Court’s division email address: division65@circuit7.org. PDF orders will not be accepted.
Texts and photos must be printed, videos must be saved to a flash drive, and electronic exhibits available only on a personal device will not be accepted.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Save videos to a flash drive
Court's wording
Electronic Exhibits: The Court will not accept texts, photos, or videos that are only available on a cell phone, tablet, or laptop. You must print off copies of texts or photos. You must save videos to a flash drive. It is recommended that you bring a laptop to the trial or hearing with you to help display videos on the flash drive, and then leave the flash drive with the Clerk of Court.
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
A hearing notice must identify the case, hearing details, matters and motion identifiers, presiding judge, and reserved time.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Must include
- •Case number
Court's wording
A notice of hearing must include the following minimum information: the case style including case number; the date, time, and location of the hearing; the matter(s) to be heard including docket number or filing date of each motion; the judge presiding over the hearing; and the amount of time reserved for the hearing.
The notice of hearing shall indicate that it is unilaterally scheduled, and the party (or counsel) must certify in writing that they have made good faith, reasonable efforts to coordinate the scheduling of the hearing with the opposing parties.
A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the Zoom meeting information.
FOR CIVIL HEARINGS: All hearings regardless of the number of matters to be heard, scheduled for one hour or longer or that are evidentiary must be attended in person.
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
Any Defendant wishing to appear remotely must file a Notice of Remote Appearance form with the Clerk’s office. Contact the Clerk’s office for directions on obtaining and filing the appropriate form.
If you are sending in a proposed ex-parte order compelling the production of discovery, you must comply with Administrative Order CV-2022-004-SC which requires written notice to the opposing party giving 10 days to provide discovery and attaching that notice to the motion to compel.
A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion stating the issues, why an emergency hearing is necessary, and the presentation time needed for each party.
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) the reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
A Notice of Hearing must state the hearing location and must not state that the hearing is by Zoom only.
Court's wording
b) The Notice mu s t s pecify the location of the hearing. Notices s hall not s pecify that a hearing is by Zoom only since in-pers on appearances are permitted at any hearing and is r equ ir ed for all evidentiary hearings and hearings s cheduled for one hou r or longer.
PLEASE PREPARE A NOTICE OF HEARING AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOW ING: a) Motion(s ) to be heard. Your hea ring time will be ca ncelled if no notice is filed.
A party may schedule a hearing unilaterally only after good-faith reasonable efforts to coordinate with all opposing parties fail.
Court's wording
Before scheduling any hearing, the party requesting the hearing time shall make good faith reasonable efforts to coordinate the date and time of the hearing with all opposing parties. If, after making good faith reasonable efforts, the party is unable to coordinate a mutually agreeable date and time, a party may then unilaterally schedule the hearing.
If the proposed order is agreed, the email should indicate agreement, and the title of the order should be “Agreed Order…” or “Unopposed Order…”
Non-evidentiary hearings scheduled for less than one hour may be attended in person or through audio-video communication technology, as defined in Rule 2.530(a)(2), Fla. R. Gen.
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The scheduling party must file and serve the hearing notice immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served by the party scheduling the hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
A 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 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Parties or counsel planning to attend remotely must file notice at least 24 hours before the hearing.
Parties and/or counsel planning to attend a hearing via audio-video communication technology must file at least 24-hours prior to the hearing a notice of their intention to do so.
Page 5 | C. Remote Appearance — Civil Hearings
Defendants’ notices and attorneys’ requests for remote appearance must be submitted at least five business days before each court date.
Notices from Defendants or requests from attorneys for remote appearance must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the court date, for each appearance.
Page 5 | C. Remote Appearance — Criminal Hearings
Proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after a hearing unless the Court instructs otherwise.
Proposed orders must be submitted within • 10 days after any hearing, unless otherwise instructed by the Court.
Page 6 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The scheduling party must serve the hearing notice immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served by the party scheduling the hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
A notice of cancellation must be 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 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Copies of hearing materials must be sent to all opposing parties at the same time.
A copy must be sent to all opposing parties simultaneously.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies must reach the court no later than five business days before an evidentiary proceeding.
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the court no later than five (5) business days before any evidentiary proceeding.
Page 6 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy-copy hard copies should be provided in a binder and mailed to the judge’s office.
Hard copies provided in a binder and mailed to the judge’s office.
Page 6 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
The Court welcomes additional memoranda or legal authority for review at least five business days before a hearing.
The Court welcomes the filing of additional memoranda of law or copies of legal authority (statutes, regulations, case law) the parties desire for the Court to review at least five (5) business days before the hearing.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
The Court prefers hearing materials to be sent to the judge’s office in hard copy in a binder.
It is preferred that hearing materials be sent in hard copy in a binder to the judge’s office.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Courtesy copies of case law are optional and may be submitted for any proceeding.
Courtesy copies of case law are never required but may be submitted to the Court for any proceeding.
Page 6 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Whenever possible, parties should contact the opposing party before filing or upon receiving a motion to explore resolving it in whole or in part.
Parties should, whenever possible, contact the opposing party before filing or upon receiving a motion to determine if the matter can be resolved in whole or in part.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A hearing may not be cancelled less than two business days before it unless the case has fully settled or an agreed order fully resolves the matters to be heard.
Further, no hearing may be cancelled fewer than two (2) business days before the hearing, unless the case has settled in its entirety or an agreed order on the motion is submitted to the Court fully resolving the matters to be heard.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Continuances are disfavored and may be granted only upon a showing of good cause.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Chambers Communication Rules
All parties must be copied on emails to the judicial office unless the communication is authorized ex parte 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 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Criminal hearing requests must be emailed to the judicial assistant, with opposing counsel and any pro se parties copied.
All criminal hearings must be requested by email to the judicial assistant at: emahoney@circuit7.org (not to the division inbox). Opposing counsel should be copied on the email as well as any pro se parties.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Hearing cancellations must be reported immediately to the Judicial Assistant by email and phone.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately by email and phone at 904-827-5613.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Communications to the judicial office must go through the Judicial Assistant by phone or email at the listed contact information.
All communications to the judicial office must be made to the Judicial Assistant Libby Mahoney by phone to 904-827-5613 or by e-mail to emahoney@circuit7.org.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Direct communication with the judge is not allowed.
Direct communication with the judge are not allowed.
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 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Parties may contact the judicial office only in accordance with these practices and procedures.
Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Unsolicited communications may be returned to the sender or placed in the court file.
Any unsolicited communication may be returned to sender or placed in the court file.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The Division 65 email address is for submitting proposed orders only, and other pleadings or requests must not be sent to it.
Format: Proposed orders should be submitted in Microsoft Word format using the Court’s division email address: division65@circuit7.org. PDF orders will not be accepted. The Division 65 email is solely for the purpose of submitting proposed orders. Do not submit other pleadings or requests via this division email address.
Page 5 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
After filing an emergency motion, a party should email the Judicial Assistant a copy of a motion to schedule a hearing.
After filing the emergency motion, a party should contact the Judicial Assistant (emahoney@circuit7.org) to schedule a hearing by emailing a copy of a Motion.
Page 6 | F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
Email is the preferred method of communication with the judicial office.
Emails are the preferred method of communication.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
For credit card cases, MSJ or MSD hearings lasting no more than 15 minutes may be scheduled on the Court’s docket by emailing the Judicial Assistant to reserve hearing time.
Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ) or Motion for Summary Disposition (MSD) hearings that are needed for credit card cases and require no more than 15 minutes can be scheduled on the Court’s MSJ/MSD docket. To reserve a hearing on such docket, parties should email the judicial assistant for hearing time.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures — Civil Hearings
The Judicial Assistant may not provide legal advice.
The Court’s Judicial Assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The Court will respond to emails in the order received.
Responses to e-mails will be given in the order in which the e-mails are received.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
If the Judicial Assistant is out of the office, an automated email response will explain how to proceed.
If the Court’s Judicial Assistant is out of the office, you will receive an automated response to your email directing you how to proceed in her absence.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
If a submitted proposed order has not been entered within a reasonable time, its status may be requested by email to Judicial Assistant Libby Mahoney.
If you have submitted a proposed order and it has not been entered within a reasonable time, you may inquire regarding the status by emailing Judicial Assistant, Libby Mahoney.
Page 5 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments