Hearing Prep Mode
Walk in organized. Walk out with a plan.
Hearing preparation is organization, not argument coaching: know the procedure, bring the proof, respect the format. Pick your county to pull its actual hearing procedures from BenchPath.
The universal prep list
01
Confirm the hearing
Date, time, length, judge/magistrate, and whether it's Zoom or in person. The notice of hearing controls.
02
Know what the hearing decides
A motion calendar hearing is short and narrow; a special set or evidentiary hearing takes testimony. Prepare for the one you actually have.
03
Organize exhibits
Number them, bring the required copies, and know your county's submission procedure — many divisions require pre-submission for Zoom hearings.
04
Line up witnesses
Who, why, and whether they need subpoenas. Confirm remote-appearance rules if any witness is remote.
05
Draft the timeline
One page: the key dates and facts you need the judge to absorb quickly.
06
Check the proposed-order procedure
Some divisions want proposed orders before the hearing, in editable format, through a specific channel.
07
Plan court day
Parking, security lines, childcare (children generally should not come), documents in a binder, phone silenced.
08
Plan the after
Who prepares the order, when it's due, and what you must start doing the moment it's signed.
Duval hearing & division procedures
Courtesy CopiesVirginia Norton · Duval
20+ Pages of Hearing Materials → Binder Delivered TWO WEEKS Early — Division CV-D
Judge Norton requires a binder at the courthouse no later than two weeks before hearing when materials collectively exceed 20 pages — and bars email entirely past 30 pages.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Courtesy CopiesKatie L. Dearing · Duval
Courtesy Copies 3 Days Ahead; 20+ Pages May NOT Be Emailed — Division CV-B
Judge Dearing wants courtesy copies of motions and memoranda three days before hearing; anything over 20 pages including attachments is barred from email and must arrive by hand, U.S. Mail, or delivery service.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Motion CalendarBruce R. Anderson · Duval
Ex Parte Hearings: Uncontested Only, 5 Minutes, 9–10 a.m. — Division CV-E
Ex parte in CV-E is strictly for uncontested matters resolvable in five minutes or less, held 9:00–10:00 a.m. on posted dates (website and outside Hearing Room 739). In-person, telephonic, Zoom, and hybrid appearances are permitted under Rule 2.530.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Courtesy CopiesWaddell A. Wallace, III · Duval
Hard Copies Required for Filings of 20+ Pages, 3–5 Business Days Before Hearing — Division CV-A
For motions, memoranda, or case law of 20 pages or more, Judge Wallace requires hard copies inside the Courthouse three to five business days before the hearing — by mail, FedEx, UPS, or hand delivery.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Remote / Zoom HearingsWaddell A. Wallace, III · Duval
Hearings ≤30 Minutes Default to Zoom; Telephonic Allowed Absent Objection — Division CV-A
Most hearings set for 30 minutes or less are conducted by Zoom in CV-A; the setting order/notice prevails. Telephonic appearance is allowed if opposing counsel doesn't object — request it when scheduling.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Remote / Zoom HearingsKatie L. Dearing · Duval
Hybrid Zoom by Party Agreement; Notice Must Name Hearing Room 701 — Division CV-B
In CV-B the parties agree whether attendance is Zoom or in person; hybrid is permitted, and the Notice of Hearing must state Hearing Room 701 with the division's published Zoom ID (275-150-7351).
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Motion CalendarVirginia Norton · Duval
Phone Appearances: One Conference Line + Notice to JA; Plaintiff Prepares Amended Trial Orders — Division CV-D
Telephone appearances in CV-D require counsel to arrange a single conference call joining all participants and to courtesy-copy the Notice of Hearing to the JA; the JA prepares the first trial order, but every amended trial order falls on plaintiff's counsel.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Proposed OrdersRobert M. Dees · Duval
Proposed Orders by Email in Word with a SIGNED Cover Letter — Division CV-C
Judge Dees takes post-hearing orders in Word by email to the JA, opposing side copied, with a cover letter SIGNED by counsel certifying opposing counsel received the identical materials; unopposed matters may submit orders without hearing once docketed.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Proposed OrdersBruce R. Anderson · Duval
Proposed Orders: Circulate in 3 Working Days, Submit Within 7 — Division CV-E
When counsel is asked to prepare an order after a hearing, it must be drafted and circulated to opposing counsel within three working days and submitted to the Court within seven days of the hearing.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Proposed OrdersWaddell A. Wallace, III · Duval
Proposed Orders: Word via E-Portal Only — Never Dual-Submit — Division CV-A
Proposed orders go to the Court in Word format through the e-portal with an explanatory cover letter. Submitting the same order by both e-portal and email risks duplicate entry; with unrepresented parties, counsel must mail copies and file a Notice of Service.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Motion CalendarWaddell A. Wallace, III · Duval
UMC: Non-Evidentiary Only, 10 Minutes Per Case Including Judicial Review — Division CV-A
Judge Wallace's Uniform Motion Calendar takes only non-evidentiary motions, capped at ten minutes per case (five per side) — and the ten minutes includes the judge's time reviewing your papers. Set at least one week ahead; first-come, first-served in Hearing Room 743.
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.
Remote / Zoom HearingsRobert M. Dees · Duval
Zoom Is a Privilege; Remote TESTIMONY Requires Written Motion and Leave — Division CV-C
In CV-C, appearing by Zoom is a privilege (log in five minutes early; Court hosts); presenting testimony remotely — any hearing or non-jury trial, any length — requires a written motion showing good cause under Rule 2.530(b)(2).
Court procedures change without notice. Verify urgent deadlines or unusual requirements with the court, the clerk, or a Florida attorney. If a specific order in your case says otherwise, that order controls over any county, division, or judge default shown here.