Judge Alicia R. Washington
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than 3 Business Days Before Any Evidentiary Proceeding
Notice of Hearing
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only for good cause.
- Trial continuance motions must be written, filed before docket sounding, and state the grounds and opposing counsel’s position.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Clerk
Chambers
Document Format Requirements5 rules
All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format by email to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at division52@circuit7.org.
All exhibits for evidentiary hearings or trial must be provided to the clerk in paper format in advance of the hearing or trial for marking.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
Orders granting substitution of counsel shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at Division52@circuit7.org in MS Word format.
- Substitution of counsel
Formatting
- •MS Word format
The Defendant and the State, pursuant to the provisions of Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.171, agree as follows (NO ABBREVIATIONS):
Formatting
- •No abbreviations
PDF/a format or Word document is preferred, if submitted electronically.
- Case law
- Other documents
Formatting
- •PDF/A format or Word document is preferred for electronic submissions
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
A notice of hearing must include the specified case, hearing, matter, judge, and reserved-time details; remote appearance notices must include Zoom information; and all notices must include the required ADA notification.
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. A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the Zoom meeting information. All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
The email must indicate whether all parties are in agreement as to the form of the order.
Defense counsel may appear by filing a Notice of Appearance, but counsel replacing existing counsel must move for substitution with the client’s written consent.
Court's wording
Defense counsel may appear on a case by filing a Notice of Appearance, unless the Defendant is already represented by other counsel on that case, in which case, counsel will need to move for substitution of counsel, with the client’s written consent, as provided in Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.505(e).
A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion stating the issues, why an emergency hearing is necessary, and the 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) the reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
The Court requires an executed Plea Form or Admission of Violation of Probation Form before it will accept a plea or admission.
The request email must identify the defendant and Volusia County case number, include the out-of-county case numbers and charging documents, include a VOP affidavit for a probation-violation case, and state the county of origin.
Court's wording
In the email you must include the following: 1. Defendant's name and the VOLUSIA COUNTY case number. 2. The OUT-OF-COUNTY case number(s) along with the Charging Document(s). If the case is a Violation of Probation, please include the VOP Affidavit. (** Not all case numbers reflect the county in which the case resides, please include county of origin.)
The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2025 102800 CFDB – State v. Smith - 2- Hour Suppression Hearing Requested).
The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2025 102800 CFDB – State v. Smith - 2-Hour Suppression Hearing Requested).
The Court will generally accept written waivers of a Defendant’s appearance at pretrial proceedings unless specified by the Court. Waivers of appearance are not permitted for evidentiary hearings, docket sounding, trials, and violation of probation hearings.
(The Defendant must initial each paragraph that pertains to him/her and indicate not applicable [N/A] to those that do not)
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
For submissions totaling more than 25 pages, paper copies are required and electronic copies are prohibited.
If the submissions exceed 25 pages in total, paper copies must be submitted, and electronic copies are not permitted.
Page 4 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
The State must electronically submit proposed jury instructions and verdict forms by the day before trial.
No later than the day before trial, the State shall electronically submit to the Court proposed jury instructions and verdict forms.
Page 7 | J. Trial Procedures
The defense must electronically submit only the jury instructions it seeks to add.
If the defense desires to add jury instructions, it shall electronically submit to the Court only those instructions it seeks to add.
Page 7 | J. Trial Procedures
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The party scheduling a hearing must file and serve the 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 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Hearing time is not reserved until the Judicial Assistant receives the properly filed notice of hearing.
Hearing time is not reserved until the judicial assistant has received the proper filed notice of hearing.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The Court must receive all hearing materials at least three business days before the hearing.
The Court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than three business days before the hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation 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 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Submit proposed orders within three days after any hearing.
Proposed orders must be submitted within three days after any hearing.
Page 4 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Trial exhibits must be submitted at least three business days before the hearing or trial.
Trial exhibits must be submitted no later than three business days before the hearing or trial.
Page 5 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Requests to add a Defendant’s other pending cases to a docket with an unrelated case must be made before noon on the day before the requested court date.
To ensure that the Clerk has adequate time to prepare all needed paperwork, requests to add a Defendant’s other pending cases to a particular docket along with an unrelated case must be made before noon the day preceding the court requested date.
Page 5 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
A Daubert challenge to anticipated expert testimony must be raised by motion in limine at least thirty days before trial or it is waived absent good cause.
Any challenge to the admissibility of evidence at trial based on a contention that anticipated expert testimony does not meet the requirements of §90.702, Florida Statutes, and seeking a court ruling in accordance with Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993), must be raised by a motion in limine filed at least thirty (30) days before the trial date. Failure to meet this deadline shall be deemed a waiver, absent good cause.
Page 6 | I. Setting Case for Trial
The State’s proposed jury instructions and verdict forms are due by the day before trial.
No later than the day before trial, the State shall electronically submit to the Court proposed jury instructions and verdict forms.
Page 7 | J. Trial Procedures
Motions filed within five days of trial may not be considered when based on matters the movant knew or reasonably should have known at least thirty days before trial, and inability to obtain hearing time is not grounds for a continuance.
Please note that motions filed within five (5) days of the trial date may not be considered if predicated on matters the movant knew or should have known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at least thirty (30) days prior to the trial date. Because of busy court calendars, hearing time may not be available to consider motions filed close to the deadline. The inability of a party to obtain hearing time will not constitute grounds for a continuance of the trial.
Page 6 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The party scheduling a hearing must serve the 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 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
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 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The State must provide the Criminal Punishment Code sentencing scoresheet to the defense.
The State shall provide a Criminal Punishment Code sentencing scoresheet to the defense.
Page 7 | K. Forms
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Deliver courtesy copies to the Court at least three business days before any evidentiary proceeding.
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the court no later than three business days before any evidentiary proceeding.
Page 4 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
A courtesy copy of the notice of hearing should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
A courtesy copy should be sent to tblaha@circuit7.org.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy copies may be submitted by email, U.S. mail, or hand delivery.
E-mail, U.S. mail, or hand delivery of courtesy copies is acceptable.
Page 4 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Trial continuance motions must be written, filed before docket sounding, and state the grounds and opposing counsel’s position.
Motions to continue a trial shall be made in writing and filed prior to docket sounding. The motion shall specify the grounds for the motion and whether opposing counsel consents to the continuance.
Page 7 | J. Trial Procedures
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only for good cause.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon a showing of good cause.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
To cancel a hearing, immediately notify the Judicial Assistant.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the Judicial Assistant immediately.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Orders granting substitution of counsel must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at Division52@circuit7.org in MS Word format.
Orders granting substitution of counsel shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at Division52@circuit7.org in MS Word format.
Page 5 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
For a plea in a case pending in Flagler, Volusia, or St. Johns County, the Clerk’s office must be emailed at least 24 hours before the hearing with the county and case number and the charging or VOP affidavit attached.
In order for a Defendant to enter a plea in a case pending in Flagler, Volusia, or St. Johns counties, you must notify the Clerk’s office at cc-courtservices@putnam-fl.gov and the Court’s Judicial Assistant at tblaha@circuit7.org least 24 hours prior to the plea hearing. You must include in your email the county and case number, and you must attach the charging affidavit or the VOP affidavit.
Page 8 | L. Out of County Pleas
Email the Plea/Sentencing Judge’s Judicial Assistant at least 24 hours in advance to request that the out-of-county case be added to the docket.
Give a minimum of 24-hour notice by email to the Judicial Assistant of the Plea/Sentencing Judge: cbrick@circuit7.org and the Clerk's office 1n Volusia County: Volusiacriminal@clerk.org to request the out-of-county case(s) to be added to the docket.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Out-of-County Plea Requirements
All communications to the judicial office must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Method of Communication: All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at: tblaha@circuit7.org.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Emails directed to the judicial office must copy all parties 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
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
Hearing requests must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Hearings must be requested by e-mail to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at tblaha@circuit7.org.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures