Judicial Section Details

CIVIL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION HI02 PROCEDURES:

Final Injunction Hearings

You will receive a Notice of Hearing either by personal service or in the mail. FOLLOW THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR NOTICE OF HEARING, WHICH STATE whether your hearing is IN PERSON at the South Dade Justice Center, 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.

You may be required to attend your hearing via a virtual Zoom courtroom. To access Zoom, you will need a smartphone or computer/laptop with video capability AND you must register with Zoom. Please be sure to follow ALL the instructions you receive.

For all Zoom hearings, video and audio appearance is required for all participants unless otherwise indicated by the Judge. You must be dressed for the hearing as if it were an in-person hearing. The Judge and court staff reserve the right to delay or cancel the hearing if you are not wearing clothing appropriate for a court appearance.

Please log on 10-15 minutes prior to your hearing time and make sure your device is fully charged. It is your responsibility to provide the Zoom information to any other witnesses that you want to testify in your case. Also, you must be alone in a room or an office during the entire hearing or with your attorney. Minors may NOT appear at any hearing without the Judge’s permission (see below).

If you are unable to access Zoom, please contact the Judicial Assistant immediately once you receive your notice to make alternative arrangements.

Courtroom Decorum – In person and Zoom

All individuals appearing for court before Judge Trautman Levin whether in person or through Zoom, must be appropriately dressed (no sleeveless tops, no non-prescription sunglasses, no hats on men) and cannot eat/drink, smoke/vape, chew gum or tobacco, drive/operate heavy machinery or do anything else that requires your focus and attention. When appearing via Zoom,

1. make sure your name appears correctly on the screen and “rename” yourself, if necessary;
2. use appropriate backgrounds, virtual or actual, and appropriate profile photos when video is turned off (no explicit or offensive language or images);
3. do not speak out of turn or “unmute” your microphone when you or your case is not being directly addressed, and do not needlessly interrupting court proceedings;
4. do not send direct messages to the judge or anyone else on the chat; and
5. follow any other directions given by the judge and/or court staff, including other directions on this page relevant to your in court appearance.

Pre-trial Motions

Any pre-trial motions may be filed with the Domestic Violence Clerk of Courts, or via fax to (305) 971-5046, prior to the hearing date, include your case number in the subject line of this email.