Judge Thomas M. Ramsberger
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Jury Instructions, Verdict Forms
Courtesy copies
Court-wide
Adjournments
- A motion to continue trial must be signed by the client, and the Judicial Assistant must be informed whether opposing counsel objects.
- Continuance motions are disfavored and require good cause; successive continuances are highly disfavored, and lack of due diligence does not support granting one.
- A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and timing of the need, opposition, readiness actions and dates, proposed readiness date, and whether all parties agree to that date.
- +1 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Proposed orders must be submitted via JAWS in PDF format, unless one or more parties are Pro Se.
- File type
Formatting
- •Must be submitted via JAWS
- •Exception applies if one or more parties are pro se.
Competing proposed orders must be submitted to the Judicial Assistant via email in word format, along with a cover letter containing a statement identifying the disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
- File type
- Word
Formatting
- •The submission must include a cover letter identifying the parties' disagreement
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, as stated below in a 14 font.
- Font size
- 14 points
- Notice of hearing
Formatting
- •The ADA notification must be stated in 14-point font
The physical courthouse address must not be listed on the Notice of Hearing.
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
Prior to seeking a ruling from the Court, the movant shall also file a Notice of Request for Court to Consider Motion Based on Written Submissions without Hearing, Attachment A to this Administrative Order.
After the response period expires, the movant must send the judge a hard-copy proposed order and a cover letter confirming ripeness, compliance, and the electronic-filing dates, with ripeness occurring at least 15 days after the original notice was sent.
Court's wording
Following expiration of the period allowed for these submissions, the movant shall submit a proposed order in hard copy to the Judge via U.S. Mail, UPS, FedEx or other delivery means 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.
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, as stated below in a 14 font.
Please include the below conference call number in your Notice of Hearing: Dial-in Number (US): (425) 436-6303 Access Code: 141878#
If an agreed Case Management Order is reached, submit the proposed Case Management Order and cover letter via JAWS for judicial review.
On Trial Day: Counsel shall bring jury instructions and verdict forms to court with them. Email courtesy copies to the Judicial Assistant in word format.
A party seeking an emergency hearing must file a detailed motion identifying the issues to resolve and why an emergency hearing is necessary.
Court's wording
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 setting forth the following: (1) the issue(s) to be resolved, (2) reason(s) why an emergency hearing is necessary.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter certifying that all parties agree to the proposed order.
In your email you must state whether opposing counsel has an objection to the motion and how much time is requested for a hearing.
withdrawal requires a motion and hearing, unless accompanied by a stipulation signed by the client and all counsel.
If you have client consent then you must indicate that in your cover letter, then submit a proposed order to the court in hard copy and be sure to include the client's address, email, and phone number in the order.
Your JAWS Cancellation must state the Reason for the cancellation.
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
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A Notice of Hearing may not be electronically filed or emailed to the Judicial Assistant until the hearing request has been approved and scheduled in JAWS.
Do not e-file a Notice of Hearing or email the Judicial Assistant a copy until your request has been approved/scheduled in JAWS.
Page 5 | Notice of Hearing procedure
Foreclosure final judgments must be submitted in hard copy by 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the hearing.
Submitting Foreclosure Final Judgements: Shall be submitted to the court in hard copy via US Mail, UPS, Fed Ex or other delivery means, no later than 4:00pm on the Thursday prior to the hearing.
Page 7 | D. Foreclosure Procedures
When any party is pro se, the Case Management Order must be submitted in hard copy with conforming copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes.
If any party is Pro Se, the Case Management Order must be submitted to the court in hard copy, along with conforming copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes.
Page 7 | C. Case Management and Resolution
A motion for rehearing or reconsideration must be e-filed and then emailed to the judge's attention; a hearing should not be scheduled unless instructed.
After the Motion has been e-filed with the Clerk of Court, submit the motion via email to the Judge’s attention. Do not schedule a hearing unless instructed to do so.
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Motions for Rehearing/Reconsideration
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
For an upcoming hearing, e-file only the necessary hearing documents and do not upload them to JAWS or email them.
Please e-file only the necessary hearing documents for an upcoming hearing (DO NOT upload to JAWS or send them via email).
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
Pro se litigants may email their 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 9 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Case law may be e-filed 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
Binder evidence, case law, and similar materials must reach Room 200 of the St. Petersburg Judicial Building before 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the hearing.
Any evidence, case law, etc., that requires a binder must be received at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building, Room 200, before 4:00pm, on the Thursday prior to the scheduled hearing.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Jury Trials, Non-Jury Trials and All Other Hearing Matters
The opposing party or counsel has 15 days after service of both the motion and notice to file an opposing 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 5 | H. Emergency/Expedited Motions
The motion becomes ripe for decision at least 15 days after the original notice was sent and after the submission period expires.
Following expiration of the period allowed for these submissions, the movant shall submit a proposed order in hard copy to the Judge via U.S. Mail, UPS, FedEx or other delivery means including a cover letter detailing that the motion is ripe for a decision (at least 15 days after the original notice has been sent)
Page 5 | H. Emergency/Expedited Motions
Foreclosure final judgments are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the hearing.
Submitting Foreclosure Final Judgements: Shall be submitted to the court in hard copy via US Mail, UPS, Fed Ex or other delivery means, no later than 4:00pm on the Thursday prior to the hearing.
Page 7 | D. Foreclosure Procedures
Proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after the hearing unless the court directs otherwise.
Proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after any hearing unless otherwise directed by the court.
Page 9 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Any pleading that must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant must be submitted on time.
Any pleading necessary to be emailed to the Judaical Assistant must be submitted timely.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Jury Trials, Non-Jury Trials and All Other Hearing Matters
The opposing party may request a hearing by making the request 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 5 | H. Emergency/Expedited Motions
Hearing documents should be filed as soon as possible, allowing the Clerk of Court at least four to five days for processing.
Please file your hearing documents as soon as possible and allow the Clerk of Court at least 4-5 days for processing
Page 9 | G. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and documents for upcoming hearings
For non-emergency matters, parties should allow up to 15 days for review before asking about the status.
Please allow up to 15 days for non-emergency matters to be reviewed before inquiring of the status.
Page 9 | F. Submission of Orders and Judgments
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.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The movant must serve the opposing party or counsel with the motion and any additional legal argument the movant wants the court to consider.
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 5 | H. Emergency/Expedited Motions
A copy of the proposed Pre-Trial Order must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant at least two days before the Pretrial Conference.
Pre-Trial Requirements: Email a copy of the proposed Pre-Trial Order to the Judicial Assistant at least 2 days prior to the Pretrial Conference.
Page 8 | E. Trial Practice
A copy of an emergency motion must be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with all parties copied.
A copy of the motion shall be emailed to the Judicial Assistant, copying all parties on the email.
Page 9 | H. Emergency Motions, Expedited requests and Other Urgent Matters
A notice of cancellation must be immediately filed and served 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 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Cancelling Hearings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Email courtesy copies to the Judicial Assistant in word format.
Email courtesy copies to the Judicial Assistant in word format.
Page 8 | E. Trial Practice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A motion to continue trial must be signed by the client, and the Judicial Assistant must be informed whether opposing counsel objects.
Motions to Continue Trial: Must be signed by the client per Rule 1.460. Inform the Judicial Assistant whether opposing counsel objects.
Page 8 | E. Trial Practice
Continuance motions are disfavored and require good cause; successive continuances are highly disfavored, and lack of due diligence does not support granting one.
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
Except when good cause is shown, the party requesting a continuance must sign the 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
A continuance motion must specifically state the basis and timing of the need, opposition, readiness actions and dates, proposed readiness 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
Chambers Communication Rules
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
All communications to the judicial office must be sent by email to section19@jud6.org, with the case number and case name in the subject line.
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to section19@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
The hearing must be canceled in JAWS and the Judicial Assistant must be notified immediately by email or telephone.
You must cancel the hearing in JAWS and immediately notify the Judicial Assistant via email and/or telephone.
Page 10 | I. Other Motion Practice — Cancelling Hearings
The judicial office email is limited to scheduling and administrative matters and may not be used to submit arguments or case-related correspondence.
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
For hearings of one hour or more, parties may email the Judicial Assistant for available times, must copy all parties, and must attach the already e-filed motion and any response.
For hearings 1 hour or more you may email the judicial assistant directly for available hearing 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 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Jury Trials, Non-Jury Trials and All Other Hearing Matters
Emails sent to or from the judicial office may become public records subject to disclosure.
Any e-mail sent to or from the judicial office may be public record, subject to disclosure.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The Judicial Assistant may be emailed at Section19@jud6.org to obtain Word-format scheduling templates when they cannot be copied from the document.
If unable to copy them below, you may email the JA at 3 Section19@jud6.org for the templates in Word format.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Jury Trials, Non-Jury Trials and All Other Hearing Matters
A party may email the Judicial Assistant before requesting hearing time to combine adjacent available slots for a 30- or 45-minute hearing.
For 30 or 45 minute hearings, you may combine available adjacent time slots by emailing the JA to create the time slot desired, prior to requesting hearing time.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures for Jury Trials, Non-Jury Trials and All Other Hearing Matters