Judge Guy A. Flowers
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- At Least Three Days Prior to the Hearing
Exhibit List, Exhibits
Adjournments
- The office accepts standard case-management continuance stipulations by division email when received at least three days before the scheduled date.
Communication
Chambers
Document Filing Requirements5 rules
A downward-departure request must be in writing and state its legal authority, supporting case authority, and a brief factual basis.
Court's wording
Requests for a downward departure from the criminal punishment code scoresheet presumptive sentence shall be in writing stating the legal authority for the proposed departure, i.e. the rule or statute, as well as supporting case authority and a brief factual basis to support the departure request.
All ePortal submissions must include a cover letter
All Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration, Arrest of Judgment and/or New Trial must cite the applicable Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure or other grounds upon which relief is sought and shall be submitted directly to the judicial assistant, along with a cover letter.
A stipulated trial date must use the approved form, which must be completed in full and signed by the defendant.
Court's wording
If the parties stipulate a trial date, they must use the approved Stipulation for Trial Date (see Preferred Division Forms). Stipulation forms are also available in the courtroom. The stipulation must be completely filled out and contain the defendant’s signature.
Any emergency motion must include a certificate of good faith that states the movant has contacted opposing counsel and his/her position on the relief sought.
- Document
- Emergency motion
Must include
- •Certificate of conference
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
E-Portal submissions are limited to uncontested or stipulated orders; other orders will be rejected by the judicial assistant.
All ePortal submissions must include a cover letter and are limited to uncontested/stipulated Orders. All other orders will be rejected by the judicial assistant.
Page 1 | Electronic Portal (E-Portal) Submission of Proposed Orders
Orders and other documents must be submitted by regular mail, overnight services, or hand-delivery, unless there is an emergency or Judge Flowers gives permission.
Submission of orders and other documents shall be done by regular mail, overnight services, or hand-delivery absent an emergency or unless given permission by Judge Flowers.
Page 1 | Submission of Orders and Stipulations to Continue
Judges in the Twelfth Circuit must accept proposed orders submitted through the Florida e-Portal.
Pursuant to Administrative Order 2022-1.2, judges in the Twelfth Circuit must accept submission of proposed Orders through the Florida e-Portal.
Page 1 | Electronic Portal (E-Portal) Submission of Proposed Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A request for a downward departure must be noticed five days before the hearing.
Departure requests shall be noticed five days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Departure Requests
A trial stipulation submitted before Case Management must reach the Court at least three days before the conference.
Stipulations for trial may be completed and submitted to the Court in advance of Case Management; however, they must be received by the Court three days prior to Case Management to allow time for the court’s review.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences
Proposed jury instructions must be emailed to the judicial assistant by noon on the first day of trial.
proposed jury instructions shall be submitted to the Court via email to the Judicial Assistant by 12:00 noon on the first day of trial.
Page 1 | Jury Instructions
Service and Proof of Service Rules
When an exhibit differs in form or format from the version prepared and submitted in discovery, an exact copy must be delivered to opposing counsel at least five business days before trial.
If either side is going to use an exhibit that is in a different form/format than has been prepared and submitted with discovery the Court requires an exact copy of the exhibit to be delivered to opposing counsel no less than five (5) business days before trial.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Counsel must deliver paper courtesy copies of all hearing documents at least three days before the hearing by regular mail, overnight service, or hand delivery.
Counsel must provide via regular mail, overnight services, or hand-delivery courtesy paper copies of all hearing documents (notices of hearing, motions, case law, and other supporting documents) at least three days prior to the hearing to allow sufficient time for judicial review.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
The parties must provide paper courtesy copies of the exhibit list and marked exhibits to opposing counsel and the Court.
Additionally, the Court requires the parties to provide courtesy paper copies of the exhibit list and marked exhibits to opposing counsel, as well as the Court.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Before filing an emergency motion, the moving attorney must confer in good faith with opposing counsel to try to resolve the issue.
The moving attorney is required to confer with opposing counsel in a good faith effort to resolve the issue prior to filing an emergency motion.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
If the parties cannot stipulate to a redaction, a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing before trial.
If the parties cannot stipulate the redaction a motion must be filed and scheduled for hearing prior to trial.
Page 1 | Redacting Exhibits
After a motion is scheduled, another motion may not be cross-noticed without prior approval from the Court and opposing counsel, and the hearing notice must acknowledge the requirements.
Once a motion is scheduled via JACS or the Judicial Assistant, no subsequent motions are permitted to be “cross noticed,” absent prior approval of the Court and opposing counsel. Any cross noticed hearing notice shall acknowledge these requirements.
Page 1 | Cross Noticed Hearings and Substitute Motions are Permitted in Limited Circumstances
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
After a trial date is stipulated or set by the Court, a continuance will be granted only for good cause.
Once a trial date is stipulated and/or set by the Court, continuances will be granted only for good cause.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences
The office accepts standard case-management continuance stipulations by division email when received at least three days before the scheduled date.
This office utilizes a division email for standard Stipulations to Continue Case Management (received a minimum of three days prior to the scheduled date), fully executed Stipulations for Substitution of Counsel, and extended hearing time requests.
Page 1 | Submission of Orders and Stipulations to Continue
Chambers Communication Rules
To request emergency or expedited hearing time, contact the judicial assistant by phone or email and provide a copy of the contested motion.
Requests for emergency or expedited hearing time must be made by contacting the JA by phone or email and providing a copy of the contested motion.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
A party seeking to add a case or hearing after JACS closes must contact the judicial assistant by 11 a.m. the preceding day.
Any party wishing to add a case or hearing to the docket after JACS has closed must contact the JA no later than 11 am the day before the scheduled hearings.
Page 1 | Add-On Cases/Hearings
Submit caselaw to the court by email at least three days before the hearing and copy opposing counsel.
Caselaw shall be submitted to the court at least 3 days prior to the hearing date via email at ANelson@jud12.flcourts.org. Please CC opposing counsel in your email submission.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures
The State must submit case law to the Court and opposing counsel at least three days before the hearing.
They are, however, required to submit case law to the Court and opposing counsel at least three (3) days before the hearing in conformance with the court’s general requirements.
Page 1 | Departure Requests
When an in-custody defendant is present and the parties stipulate to a continuance in court, the defendant’s attorney must immediately notify the courtroom deputies.
If the parties stipulate to a continuance in Court with a Defendant who is in-custody and present for court, the Defendant’s attorney shall immediately notify the courtroom deputies of the continuance.
Page 1 | Submission of Orders and Stipulations to Continue
A case may be added to the docket only with express consent from opposing counsel and the Court.
Cases may not be added on without the express consent of opposing counsel and the Court.
Page 1 | Add-On Cases/Hearings
If a hearing cannot be canceled through JACS, contact the judicial assistant by email so the time can be made available.
If unable to cancel the hearing through JACS, please contact the Judicial Assistant at ANelson@jud12.flcourts.org so she can make the time available for other cases.
Page 1 | Hearing Cancellation Policy
After a hearing, counsel may email proposed orders only when instructed to do so.
Following a hearing, counsel may submit proposed orders via email only if instructed to do so.
Page 1 | Submission of Orders and Stipulations to Continue
The public must not call or email the Court to discuss a pending case with a judge.
Notice to the public: The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the Judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit to discuss pending cases with the public. Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.
Page 1 | About the Court