Judge Hillary Ellis

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 113 rules apply across Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota). Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 31

Applies to
County civil complaint
County civil complaints must be filed with the Standing Order and Case Management Report, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.
Applies to
County civil complaint or petition
The clerks must require the Standing Order and Case Management Report to be attached to county civil complaints or petitions, except eviction complaints and other section 51.011 summary proceedings.
Applies to
County civil complaint or petition
The clerk must reject a new county civil complaint or petition that omits the Standing Order or Case Management Report, except an eviction or other summary proceeding.

Adjournments

All 18

Attorneys should cooperate on reasonable rescheduling, cancellation, extension, and postponement requests when they will not prejudice the client or unduly delay a proceeding.
Attorneys should ordinarily grant a first reasonable extension to respond to a litigation deadline when it will not prejudice the client, unduly delay a proceeding, or when time is not of the essence.
Additional extension requests should be evaluated by balancing expediency, deference to the adversary, and the likelihood that the court would grant the extension.

Service

All 15

Plaintiffs must serve the Standing Order and Case Management Report on all defendants with the initial process.
Applies to
Complaint
For all small claims PIP cases, serve a copy of the Civil Cover Sheet and the Addendum with the Complaint.
Service
Email to all parties
When the Case Management Report is filed, the parties must email a copy to the assigned judge’s designated email and copy all parties.

E-Filing

All 12

Applies to
Proposed order
Judges and magistrates are encouraged to set Portal procedures, and proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal if their requirements do not address them.
Applies to
Proposed order
The court allowed a three-month transition period before requiring attorneys to submit proposed orders through the Portal whenever feasible.
Applies to
Proposed order
Self-represented litigants are encouraged, but not required, to submit proposed orders through the Portal.

More categories

View all Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida (DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota) rules

About Judge Hillary Ellis

Judicial Service: County Court Bench, May 2026
Education: JD, Faulkner University, Jones School of Law

Division Assignment(s): County Civil/Small Claims Division 2 - Manatee County
Judicial Assistant: Stephanie Flores
Email: codivision2@jud12.flcourts.org
Phone: (941) 749‐3629
Physical Address: 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3000, Bradenton, FL 34206
Courtroom: Proceedings are held in multiple courtrooms at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205 or by Zoom technology. The specific courtroom will be designated on the daily docket.

Common questions about Judge Hillary Ellis's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Hillary Ellis?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for rehearing, reconsideration, and new trial. Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

View ruleSource: page 1, section B. Hearing Procedures

What must be included with emergency motion filings before Judge Hillary Ellis?

An emergency motion must certify counsel's efforts to resolve the dispute and state opposing counsel's position before an emergency hearing is requested.

View ruleSource: page 1, section F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters

How may parties contact Judge Hillary Ellis' chambers?

Emails to the Judicial Assistant must include the case number and style in the subject line.

View ruleSource: page 1, section C. Communications with the Court

Is electronic filing required before Judge Hillary Ellis?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal as described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

View ruleSource: page 1, section D. Submission of Orders

What filing deadlines does Judge Hillary Ellis set?

Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Remote Appearance

What rule applies to serving all parties before Judge Hillary Ellis?

Details: recipient: all parties, timing: at filing. When filing with the Clerk or providing a copy to the Judge, send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.

View ruleSource: page 1, section C. Communications with the Court

Complete rules summary for Judge Hillary Ellis

Emails to the Judicial Assistant must include the case number and style in the subject line.

Documents normally filed with the clerk must be filed at least 3 business days before the hearing.

Motions must be filed before or at the same time hearing time is reserved.

Courtesy copies of hearings should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Requests for more than 60 minutes of hearing time require contacting the Judicial Assistant to specially set the hearing.

Contact the Judicial Assistant if hearing time is unavailable or obtaining it would require waiting more than two weeks.

Courtesy copies of Notices of Cancellation should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant; hard copies are unnecessary.

Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed with the Clerk and a copy submitted directly to the Judge.

Copies of case law must be provided at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing.

When filing with the Clerk or providing a copy to the Judge, send a copy to all attorneys or parties at the same time.

Do not ask the Judicial Assistant for a hearing outcome or to verify whether an order has been signed; check the Clerk's website instead.

Proposed orders must be submitted through the statewide Portal as described in Administrative Order 2022-1.2.

After the Clerk enters default, the Final Judgment of Possession may be sent through the portal to the Judicial Assistant, and no hard copy is needed.

An emergency motion must certify counsel's efforts to resolve the dispute and state opposing counsel's position before an emergency hearing is requested.

An emergency motion must be accompanied by a cover letter estimating the hearing time required.