Judicial Section Details

Judge Garcia Priovolos presides over criminal domestic violence cases and civil injunction cases.  Evidentiary hearings and trials are conducted IN-PERSON at the Lawson Thomas Courthouse.  Please read below for answers to commonly asked questions:    

CONTACT INFORMATION                                                                                               
Judicial Assistant:  Paula Lopez, palopez@jud11.flcourts.org
Bailiff / Court Specialist: Alvaro Puente, apuente@jud11.flcourts.org
Chambers Telephone: (305) 349-5674

Courthouse Address: 175 N.W. 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128
ZOOM Meeting ID is: 925 8335 4538

M89 CRIMINAL CASES (Generally conducted Monday – Wednesday)
MONDAYS – Trial calendar is IN-PERSON at 9:00 am in courtroom 2-B. Defendants and counsel are required to appear.  
TUESDAYS – Sounding calendar takes place in-person and on zoom in courtroom 2-A at 9:30 am.  If a defendant is represented by counsel, the defendant is not required to be present at sounding calendar.  If counsel is arguing a substantive motion at the sounding calendar, then the defendant must also be present. 
WEDNESDAYS – Arraignment calendar takes place in-person and on zoom in courtroom 2-C at 9:30 am.  If written pleadings are filed by counsel and comply with Fla. R. of Crim. Pro. 3.160, the defendant and counsel are excused from appearing at arraignment calendar. If a defendant wishes to have the public defender appointed to represent him/her, the defendant must appear in person and complete a financial affidavit.  
MOTION CALENDAR -  If the motion is an evidentiary motion, (ie: one which requires testimony or evidence of any kind) counsel, the defendant, and any witnesses the parties wish to call are required to appear IN-PERSON.  If a party is seeking an exception to the in-person appearance requirement, parties must comply with Fla. R. Crim. Pro 3.116(d)(2).
PLEAS – Pleas are conducted IN-PERSON.  A defendant wishing to accept pretrial diversion may appear on zoom. 

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND:
If a defendant is required to appear in-person, counsel must also appear in-person.
If you are seeking to modify the conditions of release and the defendant is out on bond, a bondsman must be present at the hearing and the State must be given reasonable time notify the alleged victim of the hearing.
If you are seeking to modify a stay away order, the defendant and the person which the stay away order protects (and/or their guardian) must be present at the hearing.
IF YOU ARE THE LISTED VICTIM ON A CRIMINAL CASE AND WISH TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT OR WISH FOR THE STATE TO DROP CHARGES, PLEASE CONTACT THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AT (305) 349-5830.  

DV53 CIVIL INJUNCTIONS (Generally conducted Thursday-Friday)
FINAL INJUNCTION HEARINGS - If you received a Notice of Hearing for a final injunction hearing, please read all the instructions on your notice of hearing and injunction packet.  Your notice of hearing and injunction packet will inform you if your hearing is IN-PERSON or on ZOOM.  Final injunction hearings are TRIALS.  If you need additional time to hire an attorney or need additional time to have your witnesses and evidence ready, please inform the court upon your case being called. 
EVIDENCE FOR CIVIL INJUNCTION HEARINGS – It is each party’s responsibility to present evidence to the court.  The court is not allowed to look for evidence, request it from the police, or look at evidence outside the presence of the parties.  Do not email or send any evidence to the court.  At your next hearing, ask the court for instructions on how to submit evidence.  All evidence a party is seeking to introduce must be in English or translated into English. 
MOTIONS TO CONTINUE SPECIAL SET HEARINGS – If you requested a special set hearing date and you need a continuance, please do not wait until the date of the hearing.  Notice the opposing party and set it for a hearing on the motion to continue.  Special set hearings slots are limited and can be given to another party if you will not be using it.  
RESPONDENT FIREARM AFFIDAVIT - If you are a respondent and were served with a temporary or final injunction, you must fill out a Firearm Affidavit form.  A copy of the form is located in the documents tab.  Please email the completed form to the Clerk of Court at DVMotions@jud11.flcourts.org.  Please also include your case number and your name in the subject line of the email.

To request a hearing date for criminal or civil motions, email Judicial Assistant Paula Lopez palopez@jud11.flcourts.org and copy the opposing party.  The e-mail must include the motion seeking to be heard and a proposed Order, (if applicable) in Microsoft Word format.  Please note, the court will not notice hearings, the moving party must confer with the opposing party and notice the hearing in accordance with the Rules of Judicial Administration.