Judge Christopher J. Saba
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Not required
Remote Appearance Motion
Extraordinary Writ Petition
Court-wide- Immediately Upon Filing
Financial Affidavit, Exhibits
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Continuances are disfavored and granted only for good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date and, absent good cause, signed by the requesting party.
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Phone
Chambers
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Document Format Requirements7 rules
All proposed orders must be submitted to the judge’s work queue in PDF format.
- File type
- Proposed order
Competing orders should be submitted in Word format to the division email civdivl@fljud13.org with the words “Competing Proposed Order” in the subject line.
- Competing proposed order
Formatting
- •Submitted in Word format
The party introducing any digital evidence must make arrangements for the evidence to be shown in court during the trial/hearing.
Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of Court in paper format unless the exhibit is an audio/video file. Audio/video files must be submitted on a disc or thumb drive.
- File type
- Paper
- Exhibits
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the Clerk, the Court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.
Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: “Petitioner/Plaintiff 1” or “Respondent/Defendant 1.”
The materials may be submitted in PDF or Word format.
Formatting
- •PDF or Word format
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
• Notice of Hearing: A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter certifying that all parties agree to the order.
A motion requesting an emergency hearing must state the issues, reasons emergency relief is necessary, and time needed for each party's presentation.
Court's wording
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 issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party’s presentation.
Any request for a CMC or status conference must articulate the reasons for the necessity of the conference.
• All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
• The notice of hearing must describe, in detail, the efforts made to reach an agreement on the hearing date.
• A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judicial Zoom credentials.
• When preparing the notice of hearing, always include the filing date and document index number of the motion being heard.
• 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).
• Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion, if the hearing is noticed to be in person.
The first paragraph of the order must state that the parties agree to the relief afforded by the court, and it must identify the stipulation or motion providing the basis for the relief.
Proposed orders on agreed relief or relief sought jointly by the parties should begin with “Agreed Order” in the caption.
- Document
- Agreed order
- Placement
- Caption
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Agreed or unopposed proposed orders must be submitted through the E-Filing Portal.
E-Filing Portal (for all agreed upon proposed orders or orders not objected to within 5 days).
Page 6 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Courtesy-copy materials fewer than 25 pages may be emailed to the court.
The materials may be emailed to the court if the materials are less than 25 pages.
Page 7 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A unilateral notice of hearing may be set with at least 45 days’ notice and only because the parties lack cooperation.
• Unilateral notices of hearing may be set with a minimum of 45 days notice and only due to a lack of cooperation.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
All materials for a hearing must be received by the court no later than five days before the hearing; later materials will not be considered.
• Submission Deadlines: The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than five days before the hearing. Materials received after this deadline will not be considered.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A hearing date will be placed on the court’s JAWS docket only after the judicial assistant receives a copy of the electronically filed notice of hearing.
• **Please be advised that the hearing date(s) provided by the judicial assistant will ONLY be scheduled on the court’s docket in JAWS upon receipt of a copy of the eFiled notice of hearing.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A proposed order must be submitted within 10 days after the hearing.
Proposed orders must be submitted within 10 days after any hearing.
Page 6 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Evidentiary-hearing exhibits must be filed with the clerk and mailed to chambers seven days before the hearing or hand-delivered three days before it.
For evidentiary hearing exhibits, all documents the parties want the Court to consider, must be filed with the Clerk of Court and mailed to the Judge’s chambers 7 days before the hearing, or delivered by hand 3 days before the hearing.
Page 7 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the court no later than five days before the proceeding.
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the Court no later than five days before any proceeding.
Page 7 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
All exhibits must be received in chambers no later than three days before the evidentiary proceeding.
All exhibits must be received in chambers no later than three days before the evidentiary proceeding.
Page 8 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Hearing binders provided to the court must be picked up within three days after the court proceeding or they will be recycled.
• All hearing binders provided to the court must be picked up no later than 3 days following the court proceeding. All hearing binders not retrieved, within 3 days will be recycled.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The party responsible for submitting the proposed order must consult all parties within five days after the hearing and make a genuine effort to agree on the order’s language.
The party charged with submitting the order must consult with all parties within 5 days of the hearing and make a genuine effort to agree on the language of the proposed order.
Page 6 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Every email sent to the judicial office must copy all parties 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 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
The notice of hearing must be served immediately after hearing time is reserved.
• Notice of Hearing: A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Counsel or a self-represented litigant canceling a hearing must immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Counsel/Self represented litigant must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
If submitted materials contain highlighting, identical copies must be provided to all other parties before the hearing.
If the materials submitted to the court has any highlighting, identical copies must be provided to all other parties in advance of the hearing.
Page 7 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Identical copies of highlighted materials submitted to the court must be provided to all other parties before the hearing.
• If the materials submitted to the court has any highlighting, identical copies must be provided to all other parties in advance of the hearing.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A party requesting a remote appearance must send a courtesy copy of the written motion to the division by email.
a courtesy copy must be sent to civdivl@fljud13.org
Page 5 | C. Remote Appearance
Courtesy copies of case law are not required, but materials submitted at least five days before the proceeding will be considered.
Not Required: Courtesy copies of case law to be relied on at any hearing is not required but the court will consider any materials submitted no later than 5 days before any proceeding.
Page 7 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Filing Bundling Requirements
Courtesy-copy materials exceeding 25 pages must be submitted in hard copy by mail or hand delivery and tabbed and indexed in a binder.
If the materials are more than 25 pages, the materials must be submitted in hard copy via mail or hand-delivered, and also must be tabbed and indexed in a binder.
Page 7 | E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Continuances are disfavored and granted only for good cause; the request must be submitted at least five days before the scheduled court date and, absent good cause, signed by the requesting party.
• Continuance Procedure: Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A request for continuance must be submitted at least five days prior to the scheduled court date. 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 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Chambers Communication Rules
All requests for court dates must be made by email, with the subject line identifying the case number, case name, and relevant matter.
All requests for court dates must be requested via email. The subject line should contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 CC 001234 – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested.)”
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Emergency requests must be made by telephone and followed by an email identifying the request as an emergency.
If the matter is an emergency, call the office and follow up with an email, noting that the request is an emergency.
Page 2 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Every hearing longer than 30 minutes must be scheduled by email to the judicial office.
ALL HEARINGS LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES MUST BE SCHEDULED VIA EMAIL (CIVDIVL@FLJUD13.ORG).
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
A party canceling a hearing on the day it is scheduled must also telephone the judicial assistant.
• If the hearing is cancelled the same day it is scheduled to be heard, the party must also call the judicial assistant.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Parties must immediately cancel hearings by emailing the judicial assistant at civdivl@fljud13.org.
• Cancelling Hearings: Parties must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately by emailing civdivl@fljud13.org.
Page 4 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Other hearings must be requested by email.
• Other hearings must be requested by e-mail.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
Hearings longer than 30 minutes must be scheduled by emailing the judicial assistant and copying opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
• Hearings of more than 30 minutes must be scheduled by e-mailing the judicial assistant and copying opposing counsel and any self- represented litigant.
Page 3 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The email submitting a competing proposed order may briefly explain why the proposed form is correct but may not include additional legal argument.
The email may briefly describe why the party’s proposed form is correct, but additional legal argument is prohibited.
Page 6 | D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Communications to the judicial office are preferably submitted by email to the listed judicial-office address.
Communications to the judicial office are preferred to be submitted by e-mail to civdivl@fljud13.org.
Page 1 | A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Hearings not otherwise covered by the listed scheduling procedures may be set by email to the judicial office.
All other hearings can be set via email (civdivl@fljud13.org).
Page 2 | B. Scheduling Procedures
The moving party may schedule a CMC or status conference through JAWS or email the judicial assistant at civdivl@fljud13.org.
The moving party may schedule the CMC or status conference through the online scheduling platform (JAWS) or contact the judicial assistant via email at civdivl@fljud13.org.
Page 8 | H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Parties should email the judicial assistant to request a hearing to set a trial date or place the case on a UMC docket.
The parties should email the judicial assistant requesting a hearing to set a trial date or set the case on a UMC docket;
Page 8 | I. Setting Case for Trial