Judge Christopher Ferebee
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored, require good cause, and a motion to continue should be filed at least three days before the scheduled court date.
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
A proposed order in Word format should be submitted to the division email address division56@circuit7.org.
All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format unless containing it is a consent order with signatures of the parties.
Orders granting substitution of counsel shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at division56@circuit7.org in Word format.
Formatting
- •The order must be submitted in Word format
The jury instructions must be sent in Word Format.
Court's wording
A complete set of jury instructions, including the verdict form, must be sent in Word Format by the Assigned Assistant State Attorney to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at mgermany@circuit7.org by noon on the Friday preceding jury selection.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
If approved by court order, a notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judicial Zoom credentials.
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
A request to appear remotely requires a formal motion and proposed order submitted to the division at least 24 hours before the proceeding.
- Document
- Motion for remote appearance
Must include
- •Proposed order
Court's wording
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by filing a formal Motion AND submitting a Proposed Order to division56@circuit7.org, no less than 24 hours prior to the proceeding for which the request is submitted.
Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
Defense counsel may appear by filing a notice of appearance, but must move for substitution with the client’s written consent if the defendant already has counsel.
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).
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 issue(s) to be resolved, (2) the reason(s) why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
A complete set of jury instructions, including the verdict form, must be sent in Word Format by the Assigned Assistant State Attorney to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at mgermany@circuit7.org by noon on the Friday preceding jury selection.
Defense counsel must also send any requested instructions by that same time.
All proposed order email submissions should advise if all parties agree to the proposed order or containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.”
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.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Exhibits for evidentiary hearings or trial must be provided to the clerk in paper format in advance for marking.
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.
Page 4 | F. Exhibits for Evidentiary Hearings
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A remote-appearance request must be submitted at least 24 hours before the proceeding.
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by filing a formal Motion AND submitting a Proposed Order to division56@circuit7.org, no less than 24 hours prior to the proceeding for which the request is submitted.
Page 3 | C. Remote Appearance
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 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Trial exhibits must be submitted no later than 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 4 | F. Exhibits for Evidentiary Hearings
Unless the Court advises otherwise, proposed orders must be submitted no later than five days after a hearing.
Unless otherwise advised by the Court, Proposed orders must be submitted no later than 5 days after any hearing.
Page 4 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Service and Proof of Service Rules
File and serve the notice of hearing immediately after reserving hearing time.
A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for receiving signed orders electronically unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
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
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update their contact information with the Clerk of Courts whenever their registered electronic-service email changes.
It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information with the Clerk of Courts office any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored, require good cause, and a motion to continue should be filed at least three days before the scheduled court date.
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A Motion to Continue should be filed at least three days prior to the scheduled court date.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
All communications to the judicial office must be sent by email.
Method of Communication: All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to mgermany@circuit7.org.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Copy all parties on emails to the judicial office unless the ex parte communication is authorized by law; communications deemed ex parte will not be considered.
All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.” Communication deemed to be an ex parte will not be considered by the court.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Email hearing requests to the judicial assistant, copy opposing counsel, and include the case name and number, motions to be set, and total requested hearing time.
Hearings request must be submitted by e-mail to the judicial assistant at mgermany@circuit7.org with opposing counsel copied on the request. The request should include the following: a. Case Name & Assigned Case Number; b. Requested Motion(s) to be Set; c. Total Amount of Hearing Time Requested.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A hearing must be cancelled by immediately notifying the judicial assistant by email.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately by email.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Emails to the judicial office should include the case number, case name, and relevant matter in the subject line.
The subject line should contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., CF26-0001 – Doe v. Doe - Hearing Request)
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Allow at least 48 business hours for a reply unless an out-of-office response is received.
Please allow at least 48 business hours for a reply, unless you receive an “out of office” reply.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
After the judicial assistant provides available dates, the parties should coordinate in a separate email chain, and the requestor must reply all with the agreed date and time.
The Judicial Assistant will reply all with the court’s current availability for the parties to coordinate their calendars in a separate email chain. Once the parties have agreed upon the hearing date, the requestor shall reply all to email with the provided court dates and advise which date and time the parties have agreed upon.
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The judicial assistant cannot provide legal advice, and requests for legal advice will not receive a response.
The judicial assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice to any party. Any correspondence or communication deemed to be a request for legal advice will not be receive a response.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The court will not consider unsolicited communications from non-parties, and parties may contact the judicial office only as these procedures allow.
Unsolicited communications from non- parties will not be considered by the court. Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.”
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The proposed order should be emailed to division56@circuit7.org.
A proposed order in Word format should be submitted to the division email address division56@circuit7.org.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A proposed order for a remote-appearance request must be submitted to division56@circuit7.org.
Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by filing a formal Motion AND submitting a Proposed Order to division56@circuit7.org, no less than 24 hours prior to the proceeding for which the request is submitted.
Page 3 | C. Remote Appearance
Proposed orders must be submitted by email to division56@circuit7.org.
Submission Method: Email to: division56@circuit7.org
Page 3 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Orders granting substitution of counsel must be emailed to division56@circuit7.org.
Orders granting substitution of counsel shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at division56@circuit7.org in Word format.
Page 4 | G. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
The jury instructions must be sent by email to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at mgermany@circuit7.org.
A complete set of jury instructions, including the verdict form, must be sent in Word Format by the Assigned Assistant State Attorney to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at mgermany@circuit7.org by noon on the Friday preceding jury selection.
Page 5 | H. Setting Case for Trial