Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis Rules & Standing Orders

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 169 rules apply across Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Pasco and Pinellas Counties. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 64

Applies to
Witness exhibit disclosure
Unlisted witnesses and exhibits may be used at trial only if all parties stipulate or the court permits them by order at or before the pretrial conference.
Applies to
Proposed pretrial conference order
Attorneys and pro se parties must communicate, draft one proposed Pre-Trial Conference order using Exhibit B, and directly submit the original and a copy for each party to the Court at least three days before the conference.
Applies to
Proposed pretrial conference order
If the parties cannot agree on a matter for the proposed Pre-Trial Conference order, they must leave that matter blank for the Court to resolve at the conference.

Filing Timing

All 51

At least 35 days before the pretrial conference, counsel for all parties and any pro se party may serve a supplemental list of additional witnesses and exhibits.
Deadline
60 calendar days
Summary-judgment motions must be filed and served at least 60 days before the Pre-Trial Conference and heard before that conference.
The initial witness and exhibit disclosure lists are due at least 45 days before the pretrial conference and must be served on opposing counsel and any unrepresented party while also being filed with the clerk.

Service

All 27

Applies to
Verdict form nonparty list
At least 60 days before the Pre-Trial Conference, counsel for each defendant must serve a list of the names and addresses of all non-party defendants the defendant intends to include on the verdict form.
Applies to
Witness exhibit disclosure
Counsel for all parties and any unrepresented party must serve the initial witness and exhibit lists on opposing counsel and any unrepresented party at least 45 days before the pretrial conference.
Applies to
Uniform notice regarding scheduling of experts
A copy of the Uniform Notice Regarding Scheduling of Experts for Trial Testimony must be provided to every expert witness subpoenaed for trial no later than 10 days before trial.

Adjournments

All 15

Motions to continue and motions to allow post-conference depositions based on witness unavailability must be served before the Pre-Trial Conference unless good cause exists.
Motions to continue and witness-unavailability motions seeking to permit a deposition after the Pre-Trial Conference must be served beforehand unless good cause exists.
The parties may extend a deadline by submitting an agreed order or may file a motion under Rule 1.200(e)(3)(A)-(D) to extend a deadline, modify the Order, or alter the projected trial period.

More categories

View all Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Pasco and Pinellas Counties rules

About Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis

Courtroom: Section H/J3/J7, Room 312, Courtroom * Judicial assistant: Ellice Tousey Phone: (727) 847-8180

Common questions about Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for emergency motions. Details: by email. A courtesy copy of an emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with “EMERGENCY MOTION” in the subject line to bring it to the court’s attention.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VII. EMERGENCY HEARINGS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis' formatting rule includes file format paper, hard copy package, sufficient copies, and stamped addressed envelopes to the service list. An order or judgment requiring the clerk to insert a sale date must be submitted as a hard-copy package containing sufficient copies and stamped, addressed envelopes for the service list.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. Submitting Orders in JAWS

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

An explanatory cover letter is required, every proposed order must state whether opposing counsel agreed to its form and content, and all JAWS documents must be uploaded as PDFs.

View ruleSource: page 4, section VI. Submitting Orders in JAWS

What must be included with service list filings before Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

The service list should include the quoted language identifying service of a conformed copy by U.S. Mail.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VI. Submitting Orders in JAWS

How may parties contact Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis' chambers?

The Judicial Assistant must be notified promptly by telephone or email, and a Notice of Cancellation of Hearing should be filed with a courtesy copy sent to the Judicial Assistant.

View ruleSource: page 3, section I. Scheduling Hearings

Is electronic filing required before Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

The Court prefers that proposed orders be uploaded to JAWS.

View ruleSource: page 4, section VI. Submitting Orders in JAWS

What filing deadlines does Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis set?

Hearing materials should be submitted as hard copies at least three days in advance by postal mail or physical drop-off, including the hearing notice, a courtesy copy of the motion, and applicable case law.

View ruleSource: page 3, section III. Hearing Materials

What rule applies to service for emergency motion before Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis?

Details: method: service by email, recipient: the opposing party. The Court does not receive a notification form the Clerk when an Emergency Motion (or any motion) is filed. You must provide our office with a courtesy copy to bring it to the court’s attention. You can do this by emailing a copy of the motion to the JA with EMERGENCY MOTION in the subject line. • Opposing counsel/party is to be provided with a copy of the emergency Motion in the same manner as the court.

View ruleSource: page 5, section VII. EMERGENCY HEARINGS

Complete rules summary for Judge Kemba Johnson Lewis

A courtesy copy of the Notice of Cancellation of Hearing should be sent to the Judicial Assistant.

Hearing materials should be submitted as hard copies at least three days in advance by postal mail or physical drop-off, including the hearing notice, a courtesy copy of the motion, and applicable case law.

After selecting a jury trial date, a party must email that date to the Judicial Assistant to obtain further instructions.

After securing a hearing date and time, the notice of hearing should be filed within 24 hours and served on all parties on the service list.

The Judicial Assistant must be notified promptly by telephone or email, and a Notice of Cancellation of Hearing should be filed with a courtesy copy sent to the Judicial Assistant.

The Court prefers that proposed orders be uploaded to JAWS.

An order submitted after a hearing should state that it follows the hearing and include the hearing date.

The service list should include the quoted language identifying service of a conformed copy by U.S. Mail.

An order or judgment requiring the clerk to insert a sale date must be submitted as a hard-copy package containing sufficient copies and stamped, addressed envelopes for the service list.

For JAWS troubleshooting, the filer may consult the provided webpage or call the JAWS help desk at 727-453-4357; the Judicial Assistant cannot provide that assistance.

A party seeking a hearing date earlier than those shown on the hearing list should email the Judicial Assistant with the circumstances, although accommodation of a true emergency is not guaranteed.

For a non-jury trial, a party must email the Judicial Assistant at CrCivW2@jud6.org.

The Court does not receive a notification form the Clerk when an Emergency Motion (or any motion) is filed. You must provide our office with a courtesy copy to bring it to the court’s attention. You can do this by emailing a copy of the motion to the JA with EMERGENCY MOTION in the subject line. • Opposing counsel/party is to be provided with a copy of the emergency Motion in the same manner as the court.

Parties may email the judge’s Judicial Assistant to obtain hearing dates and times.

An explanatory cover letter is required, every proposed order must state whether opposing counsel agreed to its form and content, and all JAWS documents must be uploaded as PDFs.

A courtesy copy of an emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with “EMERGENCY MOTION” in the subject line to bring it to the court’s attention.