Judge Christopher E. Brown
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Extraordinary Writ Petition
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Financial Affidavit, Exhibits
Court-wideGuardian Ad Litem Report
Court-wide- At Least 48 Hours Before Hearing
Motion
Court-wide
Adjournments
- A continuance motion involving an in-custody defendant must be filed at least 48 hours before the court date to cancel jail transport; otherwise defense counsel must appear.
- A motion to continue must be written, state the grounds and any prior continuance motions, be set and heard before the affected date, and be granted only upon a finding of good cause.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Memorandums: Memorandums in support of or in opposition to any pending motion/matter are encouraged so long as they are limited to a maximum of twenty-five (25) pages.
- Support or opposition memorandum
- Up to 25 pages
- Memorandum
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Prior to Jury Selection, Exhibits for Jury Trials shall be pre-marked sequentially and each page of an Exhibit shall be numbered (or Bates Stamped).
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Premark exhibits sequentially
- •Number each exhibit page or Bates stamp each page
Non-Jury Trial Exhibits: Exhibits for Non-Jury Trials shall be pre-marked sequentially and each page of an Exhibit numbered (or Bates Stamped).
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •Premark exhibits sequentially
- •Number each exhibit page or Bates stamp each page
Format: All proposed Orders shall be submitted to the Court in PDF format via the E-Portal (Uploading Orders & Exhibits to E-Filing Portal).
- File type
- Proposed order
Format for Submitting Materials: PDF or paper copies.
- File type
Formatting
- •Paper copies are also permitted
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
An agreed or jointly requested order must be captioned “Agreed Order,” state that the parties agree to the relief, and identify the supporting docket entry.
- Document
- Agreed order
Should include
- •Caption
Court's wording
Proposed Orders on agreed-upon relief or relief sought jointly by the Parties should begin with “Agreed Order” in the caption. The Order should state that the Parties agree to the relief stated in the Order, and it should identify the docket entry of the filing that provides the basis for the Order.
Before an in-absentia hearing, the defendant must present a written plea form containing fingerprints, acknowledgment and waiver of rights, and a written waiver of personal appearance.
Court's wording
Plea in Absentia: Prior to the hearing, a written Plea in Absentia form must be presented to the Court that complies with the requirements of Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.172, and includes full fingerprints, acknowledgement and waiver of rights in absentia, and a written waiver of personal appearance in court.
Scheduling Prior to Pretrial Conference: Unless otherwise approved by the Court, all motions must be scheduled for hearing prior to the Pretrial Conference.
A Notice of Hearing must identify each matter by document number, title, and filing date and include the required ADA notification.
- Document
- Notice of hearing
Must include
- •Filing date
- •Document number
Court's wording
The Notice of Hearing should contain the document number (E.g. “Doc. #”), title, and filing date of each matter set for hearing. All Notices of Hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.540.
A proposed order must include a cover letter identifying the case name, case number, hearing date if any, and whether other parties object to the proposed order’s form.
- Document
- Proposed order
Should include
- •Case number
Court's wording
All proposed Orders should be accompanied by a cover letter identifying the case name, case number, hearing date (if any) and affirmatively stating whether the other Parties object or do not object to the form of the proposed Order. It is not sufficient to state that the proposing Party has received no response.
All evidentiary (motions requiring witnesses or the introduction of evidence) motions including motions in limine must be filed, noticed, and heard prior to the Pretrial Conference.
Pretrial motions should be written and filed before requesting a hearing date unless the Court approves otherwise or opposing counsel waives the requirement.
Court's wording
Unless otherwise approved by the Court or waived by opposing counsel, all pretrial motions (including but not limited to motions to suppress, motions to dismiss, motions in limine requiring evidentiary hearings, and motions to exclude) should be in writing and should be filed before requesting a hearing date.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders must be submitted through the Court’s E-Portal.
All proposed Orders shall be submitted to the Court in PDF format via the E-Portal (Uploading Orders & Exhibits to E-Filing Portal).
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Format
Evidence, orders, judgments, and other documents for a violation-of-probation hearing must be e-filed at least three business days before the hearing, with notice and copies emailed to opposing counsel and the Court.
All evidence, orders, judgments and other documents intended for use at a Violation of Probation hearing must be filed via E-filing at least Three (3) business days prior to the scheduled hearing. Notice and copies should also be emailed to opposing Counsel and to the Court.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Evidentiary Hearings
State and defense counsel must provide and file the trial witness list through the E-Portal by 3:00 p.m. on the Monday of jury-trial week.
No later than 3:00 pm on the Monday of the week of the jury trial, counsel for the State and Defense Counsel shall furnish to each other, as well as the Court and Clerk, and file via the E-Portal, a list of the names of all witnesses who are expected to testify at the trial of this cause (in order in which they are to be called).
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Jury Trial Witness List
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The State must email proposed jury instructions to the judicial assistant by 3:00 p.m. on the Monday of trial week and copy defense counsel.
The State shall email proposed Jury Instructions to the Judicial Assistant no later than 3:00 pm on the Monday of the Trial Week, copying Defense Counsel.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Jury Instructions
Materials intended for the Court’s consideration must be provided to both the Court and opposing party at least three business days before the hearing.
If a Party wishes the Court to consider any materials, including legal authority, prior to a hearing, copies of such materials must be received by the Court and the opposing Party at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | When Applicable
Updates to a violation-of-probation affidavit concerning completed conditions must be provided to probation at least four business days before the hearing.
Any updates to the Violation of Probation affidavit regarding completed conditions must be provided to probation at least Four (4) business days prior to the date of the scheduled hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Evidentiary Hearings
A Notice of Hearing must be filed within 24 hours after the motion is filed and the hearing is set.
Notice of Hearing: After a motion is filed and a hearing is set, a Notice of Hearing should be filed within Twenty-Four (24) hours.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Notice of Hearing
A response or reply to a pending motion or affirmative-relief request should be filed no later than three business days before the hearing.
Filing a Response or Reply when a matter is set for Hearing: If a party chooses to file a response or reply to a pending motion or other request for affirmative relief, all such responses or replies should be filed no later than three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Filing a Response or Reply when a matter is set for Hearing
Proposed Orders should be submitted to the Court within Fourteen (14) days of the hearing or ruling.
Proposed Orders should be submitted to the Court within Fourteen (14) days of the hearing or ruling.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Deadline for Submissions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Pretrial motions should be filed and served on opposing counsel at least 14 days before the hearing.
Filing: Unless otherwise approved by the Court or waived by opposing Counsel, all pretrial motions should be filed and served upon opposing counsel at least Fourteen (14) days prior to the hearing date.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Filing
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A written motion should be filed before requesting a motion-hearing date and time from the judicial assistant.
Scheduling a Motion Hearing: Unless otherwise approved by the Court, a written motion should be filed with the Clerk before requesting a hearing date and time from the Judicial Assistant.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Scheduling a Motion Hearing
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance motion involving an in-custody defendant must be filed at least 48 hours before the court date to cancel jail transport; otherwise defense counsel must appear.
Motions to continue cases involving in-custody Defendants must be filed at least Forty-Eight (48) hours prior to the Court date in order to cancel their jail transport. Otherwise, Defense Counsel must appear in Court.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions to Continue
A motion to continue must be written, state the grounds and any prior continuance motions, be set and heard before the affected date, and be granted only upon a finding of good cause.
Motions to Continue: Any motion to continue will be governed by Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190(f), and must state the grounds for the continuance, must state whether any prior motions to continue have been filed, must be in writing, and must be set and heard prior to the date that is the subject of the request to continue (E.g., the trial date). A motion to continue will be granted only upon a finding of good cause by the Court.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Motions to Continue
Chambers Communication Rules
All parties must be copied on emails sent 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.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Ex Parte Communications
The judicial assistant may be contacted by phone for general scheduling and docket questions but not for legal advice or discussion of specific case details.
Judicial Assistant: The Court’s Judicial Assistant, Paulina Skerrett, can be reached at (813) 307-3681. She may be able to assist with general questions about scheduling Court cases and the docket but she cannot provide legal advice, discuss specific case details, or explain the situation to the Judge.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
The preferred contact method for the judicial office is email, and each email must include the case number, defendant name, and a description of the relevant issue or matter.
Method of Communication: The preferred method of communication with this office is by email at “crimdivd@fljud13.org.” Please include the following information in any email: Case Number, Defendant Name, and a description of the relevant issue/matter.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Procedures & Preferences
A hearing date and time must be obtained by contacting the judicial assistant.
Scheduling a Hearing: To schedule a case for hearing, contact the Judicial Assistant for a hearing date and time.
Criminal cases
Page 1 | Scheduling a Hearing