Judge Maryann Olson Uzabel
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Case Law, Memorandum of Law
- Mail • Two Business Days Before Hearing
Notice of Cancellation
Notice of Hearing, Motion
Adjournments
- A request to continue a small-claims PTC must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, and copied to the Judicial Assistant and all parties.
- A trial is not continued by stipulation until the Court receives and reviews the motion or stipulation and the Judicial Assistant notifies the parties of the decision.
- The Court must approve any stipulation to continue a trial after the case is set on the trial docket.
- +1 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements2 rules
If mailing proposed orders to the Court, parties must supply copies of the proposed order for conforming and return stamped envelopes for all parties.
Plaintiff/ Petitioner’s exhibits shall be numbered, i.e., “1, 2, 3…”; Defendant/Respondent’s exhibits shall be lettered, “A, B, C…”
Document Filing Requirements12 rules
Defendant’s appearance at Docket Sounding may not be waived without prior written approval of the Court.
Any witness testifying at an evidentiary hearing or non-jury trial by Zoom must appear on camera and must present a valid form of identification.
The Notices of Hearing for these proceedings shall contain language that the hearing will be held in person in the courtroom and not by Zoom.
All notices of hearing shall list the exact title of the motion or other document that is to be heard and shall note the date of filing.
Emergency hearing requests may be faxed, delivered to the judge’s office, or emailed to the Judicial Assistant; send the opposing party a copy by the same method and describe the emergency circumstances.
Court's wording
All motions requesting emergency hearing time may be faxed, delivered directly to Judge Uzabel’s office, or submitted via email to the Judicial Assistant. Copies must be sent to the opposing party via the same delivery method. The motion should detail the circumstances of the emergency. The Court will review the motion and determine whether an expedited hearing is warranted.
The Notices of Hearing for Zoom proceedings shall contain information about how to use Zoom, including the meeting ID and password.
Defendant’s appearance is required with private and public defender representation unless a Stipulation and Order for Continuance and/or Waiver of Appearance has been signed by all parties (including Defendant) and filed with the Clerk.
Pursuant to Rule 2.545(3), Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin., and Rule 1.460, Fla. R. Civ. P., motions for continuance shall be in writing and must also be signed by the party, not just their counsel.
If a hearing is scheduled in JACS and “unlisted motion” is selected, the exact name of the motion being scheduled must be added in the “Additional Information” section of JACS.
You are required to review and comply with the requirements set forth in that order.
Attorneys appearing before Judge Uzabel are expected to know and follow the Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s Standards of Professionalism.
Court's wording
Judge Uzabel expects all attorneys who appear to know and adhere to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s Standards of Professionalism, also available on the websites of the Manatee County Bar Association and the Sarasota County Bar Association.
If the motion or notice of hearing is not filed in the court file, the hearing may be cancelled.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must be filed and submitted directly to the judge, who will decide whether a hearing is warranted.
All Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or for New Trial shall be filed and submitted directly to the judge. The judge will review the motion to determine whether a hearing is warranted.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or New Trial
The Court will not electronically file exhibits; exhibits must be filed in the Court file or sent as hard copies before the hearing or trial.
Please remember that the Court cannot electronically file your exhibits, and they must be either filed in the Court file or you must send a hard copy in advance of the hearing or trial.
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance — Procedures
Proposed orders may be submitted through the Sarasota Clerk of Court’s e-filing portal under the cited administrative order.
Proposed orders may be submitted through the Sarasota Clerk of Court via e-filing through the portal, pursuant to the Twelfth Circuit Administrative Order 2022-1.2.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A Zoom appearance request must be received at least three business days before the scheduled proceeding, comply with Rule 2.530, and establish good cause.
Requests to appear via Zoom will be granted upon the Court’s finding of good cause if Judge Uzabel receives the request no fewer than three (3) business days prior to the scheduled and the request is otherwise in compliance with Rule 2.530 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration.
Page 1 | A. Remote Appearance — Availability
Counsel must schedule a time for a negotiated plea during a criminal PTC with the Judicial Assistant and submit all paperwork at least 24 hours before the PTC.
Please contact the Judicial Assistant to schedule a time for a negotiate plea during PTCs and ensure that all paperwork has been submitted to the Court at least 24 hours prior to the PTC.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — For Criminal PTCs
Deliver two hard-copy sets of exhibits and indices or exhibit lists to the courthouse at least two days before the evidentiary hearing.
Exhibits for evidentiary hearings and trials, as well as indices/exhibit lists, must be delivered to the courthouse in two hard copy sets (one for the judge and one for the clerk), at least two days prior to the evidentiary hearing date.
Page 1 | G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
A small-claims mediation stipulation may be filed at least two days before the PTC, and mediation attendance is required before a trial date is set.
Parties may also file a Stipulation for Small Claims Mediation form found on the website no less than two (2) days prior to the PTC. Attendance at mediation is mandatory before a trial date may be set.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Continuances — Small Claims
Motions must be filed before hearing time is reserved.
All motions shall be filed prior to reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Civil Hearings
Counsel must notify the Court Interpreters Office and request and schedule a foreign-language interpreter at least five business days in advance.
It is counsel’s responsibility to notify the Court Interpreters Office of the need for a foreign language interpreter for court proceedings. Due to the limited number of on-site and contractual court interpreters, attorneys must request and schedule interpreter services at least five business days in advance.
Page 1 | K. Other Division Procedures — Court Interpreters
Service and Proof of Service Rules
All parties must receive copies of correspondence sent to the Court.
Copies of correspondence sent to the Court must be sent to all parties.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
For an emergency hearing request, send the opposing party a copy using the same delivery method used to submit the motion.
All motions requesting emergency hearing time may be faxed, delivered directly to Judge Uzabel’s office, or submitted via email to the Judicial Assistant. Copies must be sent to the opposing party via the same delivery method.
Page 1 | F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Case law or memoranda of law should be provided to the Court no later than two (2) business days prior to the hearing date. Please do not email case law, but mail to Judge Uzabel or hand-deliver to the courthouse.
Case law or memoranda of law should be provided to the Court no later than two (2) business days prior to the hearing date. Please do not email case law, but mail to Judge Uzabel or hand-deliver to the courthouse.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
The scheduling attorney must provide the judge’s office with courtesy copies of the hearing notice and the motion being scheduled.
The scheduling attorney must provide Judge Uzabel’s office with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing as well as a copy of the motion being scheduled for hearing.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
File hearing cancellation notices with the Clerk and email a courtesy copy to the Judicial Assistant.
Notices of cancellation of hearing should be filed with the Clerk of the Court with a courtesy copy emailed to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Piggybacking or cross-noticing motions is prohibited unless all parties and the Court consent.
“Piggybacking” or cross noticing of motions or substitute motions is not permitted absent the consent of all parties and the Court.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Cross Noticing Hearings
Motions for rehearing, reconsideration, or new trial must not be set for hearing without the Court’s prior approval.
Do not set for hearing; hearings set without the Court’s prior approval will be cancelled.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Motions for Rehearing, Reconsideration or New Trial
After a hearing is scheduled, motions may not be added or substituted without prior approval from opposing counsel and the Court; all motions scheduled together must be specifically listed.
Once a hearing is scheduled, no additional motions are to be added or substituted absent prior approval of opposing counsel and the Court. If multiple motions are being scheduled all motions shall be specifically listed.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Substitute Motions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
The Court must approve any stipulation to continue a trial after the case is set on the trial docket.
The Court must approve stipulations to continue a trial once the cause has been set on the trial docket.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Continuances
A criminal PTC may be continued twice without defense counsel appearing if the required form is submitted before the PTC; after two prior continuances, written approval from the assistant state attorney and defendant is required.
For a continuance, the PTC may be continued twice without the need for defense counsel to appear, provided that the defense attorney has submitted to the Judicial Assistant the Stipulation to Continue Pretrial Conference form prior to the scheduled PTC. If the case has been continued twice before, written approval from the assistant state attorney and the Defendant is required.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Continuances — Criminal PTCs
A trial is not continued by stipulation until the Court receives and reviews the motion or stipulation and the Judicial Assistant notifies the parties of the decision.
Trials are not continued by stipulation until a motion or stipulation stating the need for the continuance are received by the Court, the Court has reviewed the same and the Judicial Assistant has notified the parties after the Court has decided.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Continuances — Small Claims
A request to continue a small-claims PTC must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, and copied to the Judicial Assistant and all parties.
Requests to continue the PTC must be in writing and filed with the Clerk, with a copy to the Judicial Assistant and all parties.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Continuances — Small Claims
Chambers Communication Rules
All criminal hearings must be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant at the listed phone number.
All criminal hearings are scheduled through the Judicial Assistant at (941) 861-7956.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Criminal Hearings
Use JACS to cancel hearings when possible; if JACS does not allow cancellation, email the e-filed cancellation notice to the Judicial Assistant and include all parties.
JACS should be used to cancel hearings when possible. However, JACS will not authorize a cancellation when it results in short notice to the parties. When JACS does not permit a cancellation, the moving party may cancel the hearing only by emailing a copy of the e-filed Notice of Cancellation to the judicial assistant. Include all parties in that email. The judicial assistant will acknowledge receipt of the notice, cancel the hearing, and inform all parties the hearing has been cancelled.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Cancellations
Do not contact the Court to discuss a pending case; the Court considers only authorized arguments made in court or in properly filed documents.
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. 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. The Court cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case. Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judges.
Page 1 | Notice to the public
The Court will not review ex parte communications.
The Court will not review ex parte communication.
Page 1 | E. Courtesy Copies
Civil hearings are scheduled through JACS, except hearings requiring more than 30 minutes, which are scheduled through the Judicial Assistant; motions must be filed before hearing time is reserved, and hearings are limited to reserved time.
All civil hearings shall be scheduled through the JACS. However, any hearings the require more than thirty (30) minutes shall be scheduled through the Judicial Assistant at (941) 861-7956, or via email. Hearings are limited to the time reserved. All motions shall be filed prior to reserving hearing time.
Page 1 | B. Hearing Procedures — Civil Hearings
Fax is limited to emergencies; notices of hearing and other non-urgent documents should be hand-delivered or mailed to the judge’s office.
Fax should be used for emergencies only. Notices of hearing and other non-urgent documents should be hand-delivered or mailed to Judge Uzabel’s office.
Page 1 | Contact Information
In cases where both parties are represented, agreed orders may be emailed to the Judicial Assistant if email service is indicated and email addresses are provided.
In matters where both parties are represented by counsel, agreed orders may be emailed to the Judicial Assistant where service via email is indicated and email addresses are provided.
Page 1 | D. Submission of Orders
Email the judicial assistant at the listed address; read the judicial requirements before calling.
Email the Judicial Assistant at jsalzman@jud12.flcourts.org. Do not call the judicial assistant without first reading the judicial requirements.
Page 1 | Contact Information
Email correspondence with the Court is preferred and should be sent to the Judicial Assistant’s listed address.
Email correspondence is preferred. Send email to jsalzman@jud12.flcourts.org.
Page 1 | C. Communications with the Court