Judge Hunter W. Carroll
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Exhibits
- 3 copies
Notice of Hearing
Notice of Hearing, Motion
- Three Days Before Hearing
Proposed Order, Letter
Communication
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements7 rules
The Clerk’s office requires evidence admitted during an evidentiary hearing to be in paper format without leave of court.
- File type
- Paper
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter in PDF/A format.
- File type
- PDF/A
- Letter
Formatting
- •The cover letter accompanies a proposed order
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal and submitted in Word format only.
Further, any proposed attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.
- File type
- PDF/A
- Proposed order
If the document is to be recorded (e.g., judgment), there must be a blank space measuring 3 inches by 3 inches at the top right for Clerk’s recording stamp.
Please, no 3-ring binders unless there are many exhibits and use of a 3-ring binder would be helpful to maintain organization. If use of a 3-ring binder occurs, the Court requests the parties use “D-ring” binders. No 3-ring “D-ring” binder should exceed 2 inches.
- Exhibits
Formatting
- •If a binder is used, it should be a D-ring binder
- •A three-ring D-ring binder must not exceed 2 inches
For readability purposes, Judge Carroll encourages Bookman Old Style, 12-point font with one-inch margins when drafting proposed Orders.
- Preferred font size
- 12 points
- Preferred margins
- 1 inch
- Proposed order
Formatting
- •Bookman Old Style is encouraged
Document Filing Requirements18 rules
Emails are not motions: The Court will not consider an email to be a motion. If any party wants Judge Carroll to take action, the party must file a motion.
The parties must complete a proposed Pretrial Conference Order found on the Civil Division page and submit to Judge Carroll via the Portal at least three (3) business days prior to the Pretrial Conference.
Any motion requesting emergency treatment or hearing time must explain the emergency, the anticipated time needed, and, where appropriate, good faith efforts to resolve the matter without Court intervention.
All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter in PDF/A format.
A motion to compel discovery must quote in full each discovery request at issue and the opposing party’s objection and grounds.
Court's wording
Motions to compel discovery shall quote in full each interrogatory, question on deposition, request for admission, or request for production to which the motion is addressed and the objection and grounds given by the opposing parties.
All continuance motions must be in writing and signed by the client/party. Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.460; Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.525(e).
A hearing notice must include the Judge’s Zoom credentials, explain in-person and remote appearance options, identify any mandatory in-person hearing, and include the DIN.
Court's wording
When drafting a notice of hearing, you must include Judge Carroll’s Zoom credentials and explain that the parties may appear in-person or remotely. Judge Carroll will host all Zoom events. If the hearing is a mandatory in-person hearing, the notice of hearing must reflect that fact. Additionally, please include the DIN on the hearing notice and when referencing any filing.
A successor attorney’s notice of appearance must designate an email address, and when multiple successor attorneys appear, each notice must identify the lead attorney.
Court's wording
If not already completed, within 5 days each Successor Attorney appearing on behalf of the Party must file a notice of appearance as well as a designation of email address. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516(b)(1)(A). If more than one Successor Attorney appears on behalf of Party, each notice of appearance shall designate the name of the lead attorney for Party.
The certificate of service must identify everyone served and their service information and be filed in the Court file.
Court's wording
Withdrawing Attorney and Withdrawing Law Firm must immediately serve a copy of this Order on all parties or their attorneys, including Party; execute a certificate of service identifying all persons served with service information; and file the certificate of service in the Court file.
A self-represented Party must complete the Designation of E-Mail Address for a Party Not Represented by an Attorney (Form 2.602) and file it with the Clerk.
If an exhibit contains multiple pages, please ensure there is a unique page number on each page. Use of bates labels is fine.
Mark joint exhibits 1–99, plaintiff exhibits 101–199, and defendant exhibits 201–299.
Court's wording
Exhibits should be marked as follows: Joint Exhibits, please use the series: Exhibit 1-99 Plaintiff Exhibits, please use the series: Exhibit 101-199 Defendant Exhibits, please use the series: Exhibit 201-299
Submit an agreed-form proposed order when possible; if there is disagreement or no timely response, identify the disagreement and steps taken, and the opposing attorney may submit an alternative simultaneously.
Court's wording
Judge Carroll expects that you will only submit a proposed order when all attorneys or parties agree on its form. If there is a disagreement on the form, or an attorney does not respond within a reasonable time, you may then send the proposed order with a concise statement identifying the disagreement and the specific steps you took. The opposing attorney may submit at the same time an alternate proposed order through the Portal.
Motions improperly designated as emergency motions may result in sanctions.
After good-faith efforts to obtain a response to an overdue discovery request, the requesting party may submit a Portal proposed order requiring discovery and a response within 10 days, waiving most objections as untimely, and warning of possible sanctions for noncompliance.
Court's wording
If after good faith efforts a party still has not responded at all to a pending, and overdue, discovery request, the requesting party may submit a proposed Order through the Portal that provides within 10 days that the specific discovery occur and a response be filed, waives all objections as untimely except those based on privacy, legal privilege, or work-product protections, and warns the failure to abide by the Order may result in further sanctions, including, without limitation, dismissing the case, striking pleadings, or other appropriate sanctions.
If there are multiple parties, the parties should discuss amongst themselves which party will receive which series. Each party should have a unique series.
Additionally, please include the DIN on the hearing notice and when referencing any filing.
Withdrawing Attorney and Withdrawing Law Firm must submit to the Court any proposed orders or judgments within the timeframe identified by the Court as well as respond to all Court requests for revisions to the proposed orders or judgments.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Most self-represented litigants and attorneys must register with the E-Filing Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Rule 2.516.
The Florida Courts E-Filing Authority maintains a single, statewide access point to file court documents known as the E-Filing Portal. Most self-represented litigants (pro se litigants) as well as attorneys must register with the Portal to send and receive court documents as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
Attachments to proposed orders must be submitted simultaneously through the Portal in PDF/A format.
Further, any proposed attachment to a proposed order must simultaneously be submitted through the Portal in PDF/A format.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal in Word format.
All proposed orders must be submitted through the Portal and submitted in Word format only.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Submit the proposed Pretrial Conference Order through the Portal at least three business days before the conference.
The parties must complete a proposed Pretrial Conference Order found on the Civil Division page and submit to Judge Carroll via the Portal at least three (3) business days prior to the Pretrial Conference.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences
The parties must meet and confer and complete the Case Management Report within 30 days after the last defendant is served, then file it within five days after the initial meet-and-confer.
Within 30 days of the last Defendant being served with process, the parties are directed to meet-and-confer and complete the appropriate Case Management Report. The parties must file the Case Management Report within 5 days of the parties’ initial meet-and-confer.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Each successor attorney must file a notice of appearance and designate an email address within five days if not already done.
If not already completed, within 5 days each Successor Attorney appearing on behalf of the Party must file a notice of appearance as well as a designation of email address.
Civil cases
Page 1 | ORDER (1) GRANTING SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY; AND (2) DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO UPDATE THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Serve petitions and motions that legally must be served on the Judge by emailing the Judicial Assistant or hand-delivering them to the Court Deputy at the specified location, and call the Judicial Assistant to notify her of service.
Petitions and motions that by law must be served upon the Judge (e.g., writs, appeals, disqualification motions), must be either emailed to the Court’s Judicial Assistant or hand delivered to the Court Deputy on the 8th floor security office in the Silvertooth Judicial Center. Additionally, please call the Judicial Assistant to advise her of the service.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Whenever a filing is made with the Clerk or a copy is provided to the Judge, a copy must be sent to all attorneys or parties at the same time.
Please remember that whenever you file something with the Clerk or provide the Judge a copy, you must send a copy to all the attorneys or parties at the same time.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
The withdrawing attorney and law firm must immediately serve the Order and file a certificate identifying everyone served and their service information.
Withdrawing Attorney and Withdrawing Law Firm must immediately serve a copy of this Order on all parties or their attorneys, including Party; execute a certificate of service identifying all persons served with service information; and file the certificate of service in the Court file.
Page 1 | ORDER (1) GRANTING WITHDRAWAL OF ATTORNEY; AND (2) DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO UPDATE THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A self-represented Party must serve and receive documents by email unless excused by the Court under the cited rule.
A self-represented Party is required to serve and receive documents by email unless excused by the Court pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516(b)(1)(D).
Page 1 | A self-represented Party is required to serve and receive documents by email
Withdrawing attorneys who do not wish to receive further filings must separately remove themselves from the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal’s e-service list under the Portal’s procedures.
Nothing in this Order impacts the e-service list hosted by the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Withdrawing Attorney and Withdrawing must separately remove themselves from the Portal’s e-service list according to the Portal’s procedures if they do not wish to receive further filings.
Civil cases
Page 1 | ORDER (1) GRANTING SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY; AND (2) DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO UPDATE THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The withdrawing attorney must separately remove themselves from the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal’s e-service list to stop receiving further filings.
Nothing in this Order impacts the e-service list hosted by the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Withdrawing Attorney and Withdrawing must separately remove themselves from the Portal’s e-service list according to the Portal’s procedures if they do not wish to receive further filings.
Page 1 | ORDER (1) GRANTING WITHDRAWAL OF ATTORNEY; AND (2) DIRECTING THE CLERK OF COURT TO UPDATE THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Court serves the document by First Class U.S. Mail to individuals without an email address.
On the same date, the Court caused the foregoing document to be served via First Class U.S. Mail to those individuals without an email address as follows:
Page 1 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The Court serves the document through Florida’s efiling Portal to the listed parties and email addresses.
On the date of the Court’s signature, the Court caused the foregoing document to be served via Florida’s efiling Portal to (identify all parties and email addresses receiving service):
Page 1 | CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Unless the Court instructs you otherwise, please provide the Court’s Judicial Assistant three paper sets of all evidence at least two business days before the hearing/trial.
Unless the Court instructs you otherwise, please provide the Court’s Judicial Assistant three paper sets of all evidence at least two business days before the hearing/trial.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
The submitting attorney must provide all parties and attorneys courtesy copies of both the proposed order and its cover letter.
The submitting attorney must ensure all parties/attorneys receive a courtesy copy of both the proposed Order and cover letter.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Do not send paper copies to the Court except for evidence for evidentiary hearings and nonjury trials, for which the Court requests paper versions.
Please do not send paper copies of anything to the Court. The only exception is for evidence for evidentiary hearings and nonjury trials, then the Court would like a paper version of the evidence.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
The Court requests an electronic copy of the hearing notice containing the DIN for each motion and response and any case law.
The Court requests the parties to submit an electronic copy of the notice of hearing that contains the DIN of each motion and response as well as any case law.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
For hearings involving a high number of pages or documents, the Court encourages text searchable electronic copies of the notice of hearing, motion(s), supporting material, and any directly relevant cases, which must be delivered no later than three days prior to the hearing.
For hearings involving a high number of pages or documents, the Court encourages text searchable electronic copies of the notice of hearing, motion(s), supporting material, and any directly relevant cases, which must be delivered no later than three days prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Filing Bundling Requirements
Do not ask the Court or its staff to hold a proposed order for an objection period; such proposed orders will be rejected.
Please do not include a directive such as “hold this proposed order for x days for an objection to be lodged.” The Court will reject proposed orders seeking to put this burden on the Court or the Court's staff.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
All motions, including Daubert, summary judgment, and in limine motions, must be resolved before Docket Sounding or, absent permission otherwise, a pending motion will be deemed denied.
All motions, including Daubert, Summary Judgment, and In Limine motions, must be resolved before Docket Sounding. Unless Judge Carroll allows otherwise, any pending motion will be deemed denied if not addressed by Docket Sounding.
Page 1 | H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
All continuance motions must be written and signed by the client or party.
All continuance motions must be in writing and signed by the client/party. Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.460; Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.525(e).
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
All motions seeking a trial continuance must be set for hearing.
You must set all motions for trial continuance for hearing.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
After a trial period is set, requests for a trial continuance or a change to that period must be set for hearing and cannot be made merely by filing a new Case Management Report.
Once a trial period is set, all requests for a trial continuance or changes to the trial period must be set for hearing. You cannot simply file a new Case Management Report.
Page 1 | I. Setting Case for Trial
Chambers Communication Rules
The filer of an emergency motion must call the Judicial Assistant and email or hand-deliver a copy of the motion.
The attorney or party filing the motion must (1) phone Judge Carroll’s Judicial Assistant about the motion, and (2) email or hand deliver a copy to the Judge Carroll’s Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
Do not call about an order’s status while it is under advisement, except that after 30 days from the Court’s receipt of the last post-hearing submission the movant may call the Judicial Assistant to advise of the delay.
If Judge Carroll takes a matter under advisement, Judge Carroll tries to rule as quickly as possible under the then current circumstances. Please do not call to ask about the status of the order. If 30 days have elapsed without a ruling, the movant may call the Judicial Assistant to advise that the matter has been under advisement for 30 days. The 30 days begins upon the Court’s receipt of the last post-hearing submission (e.g., transcripts, supplemental briefs, or legal authority).
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Additionally, please call the Judicial Assistant to advise her of the service.
Additionally, please call the Judicial Assistant to advise her of the service.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures
Self-represented litigants may ask the Judicial Assistant for hearing-scheduling help, but not case advice or hearing outcomes or order-status information.
The Judge may not talk to you about your case outside of the courtroom, so please do not call to speak with the Judge. Judge Carroll’s Judicial Assistant can help you schedule a hearing. The Judicial Assistant may not help you with your case or send information to the other party or attorney for you. Please do not ask the Judicial Assistant for the outcome of a hearing or verify that an order has been signed; you may review the Sarasota County Clerk’s website for details about your case.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court
Do not call or email the Court to discuss a pending case; arguments must be presented in court or in properly filed documents.
Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. The Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in the courtroom and in documents properly filed by actual parties in the case as authorized by law and the Rules of Court.
Page 1 | About the Court