CONTACT INFORMATION Judicial Assistant – Barbara Ozete-Fonte Bozete-fonte@jud11.flcourts.org Bailiff – Carlos Castellanos Ccastellanos@jud11.flcourts.org CRIMINAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION M88 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
M88 Motion Calendar Tuesdays @ 10:30 a.m. To request a hearing for a non-emergency motion that can be heard in five minutes or less, please email Judicial Assistant Barbara Ozete-Fonte at bozete-fonte@jud11.flcourts.org to request a hearing date. Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion and a proposed Order, in Microsoft Word format. You will receive a response confirming the date on which your motion is set.
M88 Special Set Evidentiary Motions To request a hearing on a motion that will require more than 5 minutes, please email Judicial Assistant Barbara Ozete-Fonte at bozete-fonte@jud11.flcourts.org to request a hearing date. Please copy opposing counsel on the email and attach the Motion. Please include the following information with your request for a special set date: The sounding and trial date currently set, whether the defendant is in physical custody, whether speedy trial has been waived, how many witnesses will be called, and how much time you are requesting the court to reserve for the motion. CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION 51 COURTROOM PROCEDURES
FINAL INJUNCTION HEARINGS
You will receive a Notice of Hearing either by personal service or in the mail. PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR NOTICE OF HEARING, WHICH STATE whether your hearing is IN PERSON at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse, OR on the ZOOM* video conferencing application. Evidentiary Exhibits ZOOM - You should send any evidence you intend to present during the ZOOM hearing to the judicial assistant via email to DV51@jud11.flcourts.org at least two business days prior to your hearing date. Please include your case number in the subject line of this email. IN PERSON – You should bring with you to the courthouse, any evidence you intend to present during the hearing. Witnesses If either party has an essential witness that has direct personal knowledge of the allegations in the petition, the court will make a determination regarding the necessity of the witness' testimony and may continue the case if the witness is not available. Children are NOT permitted to testify UNLESS a motion is filed pursuant to Fla.Fam.L.R.P.12.407, and an order allowing the testimony is granted, prior to the hearing. Pre-trial Motions Any pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts, via email at dvmotions@jud11.flcourts.org or via fax to (305)349-5559, prior to the hearing date. Please include your case number in the subject line of this email. Respondent Firearm Affidavit (Firearm Affidavit form) Respondents must fill out a Firearm Affidavit form describing any and all firearms and ammunition in their possession, and email the form to DV51@jud11.flcourts.org. Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email. The link to the Firearm Affidavit is on the Judge’s website. Timesharing and Visitation of Children (Acknowledgment of Paternity) Any father seeking an order for temporary visitation, who has not had paternity legally established or who was not married to the child’s mother at the time of the child’s birth, must fill out an Acknowledgment of Paternity form and email the form to DV51@jud11.flcourts.org. Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email. The link to the Acknowledgment of Paternity form is on the Judge’s website. Temporary Support (Short Form Financial Affidavit) In cases where temporary support issues have been alleged in the pleadings, both parties must fill out a Short Form Financial Affidavit and email the form to DV51@jud11.flcourts.org. Please include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email. The link to the Short Form Financial Affidavit is on the Judge’s website. ZOOM Video Attendance – If you do not have access to video conference, there are computers in the courthouse you may use to attend your hearing via zoom. Please contact Judge’s chambers, at least two business days prior to your hearing date to advise that you will be utilizing one of the courthouse computers. *ZOOM is a free video conferencing platform where all participants in a hearing, including the Judge, parties, and attorneys, are able to connect and communicate in real time utilizing audio and video on their individual devices, from their separate locations. Internet connectivity is required for ZOOM to function on your device. ZOOM works on any device that has a camera, speaker, microphone, and internet connectivity, such as a smart phone, desktop computer, laptop computer, and/or tablet. ZOOM is free. Please visit: Zoom.us to learn how to access and use the platform. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR E-PORTAL In order to receive a copy of any order entered by the Court in your case, you must also sign up for the e-portal under your case number at https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/default.aspx Please follow all instructions on your Notice of Hearing. Thank you.
Judge Elisabeth Espinosa Contact Information Judicial Assistant – Barbara Ozete-Fonte Bozete-fonte@jud11.flcourts.org
Bailiff – Carlos Castellanos Ccastellanos@jud11.flcourts.org
Chambers Phone: 305-349-5700