Judge Amy M. Williams
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Jury Instructions, Verdict Forms
Courtesy copies
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Continuance motions are disfavored, successive continuances are highly disfavored, and a continuance requires good cause; lack of due diligence is not a ground for relief.
- A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, the actions and dates needed for readiness, the proposed ready date, and whether all parties agree to that date.
- Unless good cause is shown, the party requesting a continuance must sign the continuance motion.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
The physical courthouse address must not be listed on the Notice of Hearing.
Submit orders via JAWS in PDF format.
- File type
- Orders
Exhibit Preparation: Exhibits should be clearly marked, divided, and e-filed.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Clearly marked
- •Divided
- •E-filed
Be sure to include a separate cover letter.
Formatting
- •Include a separate cover letter
Document Filing Requirements8 rules
the movant shall upload a proposed order to the Judge in JAWS including a cover letter detailing that the motion is ripe for a decision (at least 15 days after the original notice has been sent), stating the movant’s compliance with this Administrative Order, and including the date the motion, any responsive filings filed by the opposing party was e-filed.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
Please include the below conference call number on your Notice of Hearing:
All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
The moving party is responsible for including the Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode in the Notice of Hearing.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Include
- •Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, email the Judicial Assistant with a copy and copy all parties on the email to the court.
After all parties agree, upload the proposed trial order to JAWS in PDF format for Judge Williams’ review and signature.
Title the notice as “Telephonic Notice of Hearing” so all parties understand not to appear in-person.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Include
- •Telephonic Notice of Hearing
Movant should also include a proposed Order on Motion Based on Written Submissions.
- Document
- Motion
Should include
- •Proposed order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A Notice of Hearing must not be electronically filed or emailed to the Judicial Assistant until the request has been approved in JAWS.
Do not e-file a Notice of Hearing or email the Judicial Assistant a copy until your request has been approved in JAWS.
Page 5 | Emergency/Expedited Motions
An agreed Case Management Order must be submitted through JAWS for judicial review.
If an agreed Case Management Order is reached, submit it via JAWS for judicial review.
Page 6 | C. Case Management and Resolution
Plaintiff's counsel is responsible for uploading the proposed trial order to JAWS.
It is Plaintiff’s counsel who is responsible for uploading the proposed Trial order to JAWS.
Page 8 | Submitting an Order Setting Jury Trial and Pretrial Conference
Orders must be submitted electronically through JAWS.
Submit orders via JAWS in PDF format.
Page 8 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Only necessary documents for an upcoming hearing should be electronically filed, and those documents must not be uploaded to JAWS or emailed.
Please e-file only the necessary hearing documents for an upcoming hearing (DO NOT upload to JAWS or send via email).
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
All other pleadings should be e-filed.
All other pleadings should be e-filed.
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
Case law may be filed electronically through the Clerk’s e-portal under a notice of filing.
Case law may be e-filed via the Clerk’s e-portal under a notice of filing.
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The opposing party or counsel has 15 days after service of both the motion and notice to file an opposition argument and legal memorandum with citations.
The opposing party/counsel shall have 15 days after being served both the motion and the notice to file their argument and legal memorandum with citations of authority in opposition to the relief requested.
Page 4 | Procedure for submitting proposed orders under AO 2020-012:
The opposing party may request a hearing within the 15-day period after the notice is filed.
The opposing party may also request to have the matter heard before the Court if the opposing party seeks a hearing on the matter within the 15 day period after the notice is filed.
Page 4 | Procedure for submitting proposed orders under AO 2020-012:
To cancel a hearing, immediately notify the judicial assistant, immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant, and cancel the hearing in JAWS.
You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately. You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant and cancel the hearing in JAWS.
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Cancelling Hearings
Hearing documents should be filed as soon as possible, allowing the Clerk of Court at least three to four days for processing.
Please file your hearing documents as soon as possible and allow the Clerk of Court at least 3-4 days for processing
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by email, generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by e-mail, which is generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
When seeking a ruling on written submissions in a civil action, the movant must file the original motion and contemporaneously serve the opposing party or counsel with the motion and any additional argument.
If a party in a civil action seeks a ruling on a motion based on only written submissions, the movant must file the original motion with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and contemporaneously serve opposing party/counsel with the motion and any additional legal argument the movant wants the Court to consider.
Page 4 | Procedure for submitting proposed orders under AO 2020-012:
Email a copy of the pre-trial order to the judicial assistant at least three days before the pretrial conference.
Pre-Trial Requirements: Email a copy of the Pre-Trial Order to the Judicial Assistant at least 3 days prior to the Pretrial Conference
Page 7 | E. Trial Practice
A pro se litigant may email the proposed order to the judicial assistant and copy opposing counsel.
Pro se litigants may email the judicial assistant their proposed order and copy opposing counsel on that email.
Page 8 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Courtesy Copy Requirements
On trial day, counsel must bring jury instructions and verdict forms and email courtesy copies to the judicial assistant.
On Trial Day: Bring jury instructions and verdict forms. Email courtesy copies to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 7 | E. Trial Practice
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Withdrawal of counsel requires a motion and hearing unless the request is accompanied by a stipulation signed by the client and all counsel.
Withdrawal requires a motion and hearing, unless accompanied by a stipulation signed by the client and all counsel.
Page 9 | I. Other Motion Practice — Withdrawal or Substitution of Counsel
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and when it became known, whether it is opposed, the actions and dates needed for readiness, the proposed ready date, and whether all parties agree to that date.
Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for the continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant; (2) whether the motion is opposed; (3) the action and specific dates for the action that will enable the movant to be ready, including, but not limited to, confirming the specific date any required participants are available; and (4) the proposed date by which the case will be ready to proceed and whether that date is agreed by all parties.
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Continuance Procedure
Continuance motions are disfavored, successive continuances are highly disfavored, and a continuance requires good cause; lack of due diligence is not a ground for relief.
Motions for continuance are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. Successive continuances are highly disfavored. Lack of due diligence is not grounds for granting a continuance.
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Continuance Procedure
Unless good cause is shown, the party requesting a continuance must sign the continuance motion.
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).
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Continuance Procedure
Chambers Communication Rules
All communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to the judicial assistant, with the case number and case name in the subject line.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to Sfadhel@jud6.org. The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number and case name.
Page 1 | A. 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 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The judicial office email address is limited to scheduling and administrative matters; merits arguments must be submitted through properly filed court documents.
Any case-related arguments, explanations, or supporting details submitted by email are not reviewed by the Judge. Only properly filed motions, responses, or pleadings submitted through the Clerk’s office in compliance with court rules will be considered. ... My email is intended strictly for scheduling and administrative matters, not for the submission of arguments or case-related correspondence.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The email notifying the court of an emergency motion must state whether opposing counsel objects.
In your email you must state whether opposing counsel has an objection.
Page 9 | H. Emergency Motions, Expedited requests and Other Urgent Matters
After electronically filing a motion for rehearing or reconsideration, email it to the judge and do not schedule a hearing unless instructed.
After the Motion has been e-filed, submit the motion via email to the Judge’s attention. Do not schedule a hearing unless instructed to do so.
Page 9 | I. Other Motion Practice — Motions for Rehearing/Reconsideration
The proposed Uniform PTC order must be emailed to the judicial assistant at least three days before the pre-trial conference.
Submit the proposed Uniform PTC order to Sfadhel@jud6.org at least 3 days prior to the pre-trial conference.
Page 9 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The judicial assistant may be emailed to combine adjacent time slots for 30-, 45-, or 60-minute hearings.
• For 30-, 45-, or 60-minute hearings, you may combine available adjacent time slots by emailing the JA to create the time slot desired.
Page 3 | Scheduling Hearings using JAWS:
If the templates cannot be copied, email the judicial assistant at sfadhel@jud6.org to obtain them in Word format.
If unable to copy them then below you may email the JA at sfadhel@jud6.org for the templates in Word format.
Page 3 | Non-jury trials
For hearings longer than one hour, email the judicial assistant for special set times, copy all parties, and attach the already e-filed motion and response, if any.
• For hearings over 1 hour you may email the judicial assistant directly for special set times. Be sure to copy all parties on the email and attach the already e-filed motion and response, if any, to the email.
Page 3 | Scheduling Hearings using JAWS:
If no pretrial conference time was provided during the case management conference, request one from the judicial assistant.
If a Pretrial Conference time was not provided during a Case Management Conference (CMC), please request one from the Judicial Assistant.
Page 8 | Submitting an Order Setting Jury Trial and Pretrial Conference
To obtain a Word-version template of one of the listed forms, email Judicial Assistant Stephanie Fadhel at Sfadhel@jud6.org.
Please email the Judicial Assistant, Stephanie Fadhel at Sfadhel@jud6.org to obtain a word version template of any of the below forms:
Page 10 | K. Forms