Judicial Practices and Procedures
Last updated 06/10/2026
Kathleen J. Kroll, Circuit Judge
Rebecca Ricker, Judicial Assistant
205 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 6.2204
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Table of Contents
A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Method of Communication:
All communications to the judicial office must be submitted via e-mail to CAD-DivisionJO@pbcgov.org, the dedicated division e-mail account. The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2026 DP 001234 JO – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).
Ex parte Communications:
All communications with the judicial office must comply with Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications and from considering other communications outside the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impending proceeding, unless authorized by law. All parties must be copied on any e-mail directed to the judicial office, unless an ex parte communication is authorized by law.
Unsolicited Communications:
Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures. Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court.
E-Filing Portal Contact Information:
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must make and receive service by e-mail, which is generally through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless excused. Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516. It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
Response to Inquiries:
The Judicial Assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
The Judicial Assistant strives to substantively respond to all inquiries within one business day. If the Judicial Assistant is unable to substantively respond within one business day, your message will be acknowledged as received with an indication of when to expect a substantive response and alternate contact for immediate assistance.
Other Communication Procedures:
Any e-mail sent to or from the judicial office may be a public record subject to disclosure.
B. Scheduling Procedures
Court Schedule:
Monday:
Special Set Trials / Motions
Truancy Docket (once per month)
Early Childhood Docket (once per month)
Tuesday:
Delinquency Docket
Wednesday:
Dependency Docket
Independent Living Review / Judicial Review/ Permanency Hearings (once per month)
Thursday:
Trials / Special Set Motions
Friday:
Adoptions
Delinquency Docket
Scheduling Hearings:
Monday:
Special Set Trials / Motions
Truancy Docket (once per month)
Early Childhood Docket (once per month)
Tuesday:
Delinquency Docket
Wednesday:
Dependency Docket
Independent Living Review / Judicial Review/ Permanency Hearings (once per month)
Thursday:
Trials / Special Set Motions
Friday:
Adoptions
Delinquency Docket
Notice of Hearing:
- A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
- A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the judge's insert remote platform credentials.
- All notices of hearing must contain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
- A copy of the Notice of Hearing should be provided to the judicial assistant by email at CAD-DivisionJO@pbcgov.org.
Submission Deadlines:
The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than 3 days business days before the hearing.
Order of Proceedings:
Matters are generally heard in the order in which they appear on the docket. Matters involving in-custody defendants will generally heard before other matters.
Continuance Procedure:
Motions for continuance must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled court date for which the continuance is sought, barring exigent circumstances. Except for good cause shown, the motion must be signed by the party requesting the continuance, as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545(e).
C. Remote Appearance
Remote Appearance Procedure:
The court maintains a hybrid virtual courtroom, allowing parties to appear either in person or remotely, as provided by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530. Requests to use communication technology for an appearance must be made by motion.
Delinquency Hearings:
The Court is permitting the following to appear remotely:
- Youth may appear from school, with prior arrangements being made with School Liaison;
- Youth or Parent may appear from treatment program;
- Parent(s) may appear from jail / correction facility;
The Court is permitting the following individuals to appear remotely:
- DJJ Court liaisons;
- Juvenile Probation Officer;
- Treatment Programs;
- Educational Representatives (Court Education Liaisons, Truancy Staff);
- Out of State Parents / Youth;
- Incarcerated Youth / Parent.
Dependency Hearings:
The Court is permitting the following individuals to appear remotely:
- Case Manager;
- CPI;
- Incarcerated Parents:
- Out of State Parents;
- Out of County Parents;
- Treatment Programs;
- Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem;
- Educational Representatives (Court Education Liaisons, Truancy Staff).
Platform Used:
The court uses ZOOM for remote appearances.
Platform Meeting ID#:
Meeting Link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 867 1046 6022
Dial by your location
877 853 5257 US Toll-free
888 475 4499 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 867 1046 6022
Requirements:
The Court may also grant remote appearance for other extreme circumstances after the filing of a written Motion to Appear Remotely, no less than three (3) days prior to the hearing with a courtesy copy of the Motion being provided to the Judicial Assistant via email, as well as all parties, to CAD-DivisionJO@pbcgov.org. Parties must confer and advise the Court in the Motion if any party object to the motion. The Court will issue a ruling based upon the motion. It is the responsibility of the moving party to submit a proposed order via OLS with the Court zoom information included in the proposed order. Any person appearing remotely must be in a private location that is quiet and free from distractions. Under no circumstances will a participant be permitted to appear remotely from a moving vehicle.
Any person appearing remotely must dress and behave professionally in the same manner as if physically present in the courtroom.
Any person appearing remotely must enable the person's camera when joining the proceeding and keep the camera turned on until instructed otherwise by the court.
Any person appearing remotely must mute the person's microphone when joining the proceeding and keep the microphone turned off until instructed otherwise by the court.
Technology Needs:
All participants in a remote hearing must have both audio and video ability for the full duration of the hearing.
D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Format:
Proposed orders must be submitted through the the Court's Online Services for review and processing.
All competing orders must be email to the Judicial Assistant at CAD-DivisionJO@pbcgov.org, in Word format, with a copy being provided to all parties and any self-represented litigant.
E. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
Requirements:
Please refer to Administrative Order 3.206.
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion setting forth the following must be filed: (1) the issues to be resolved, (2) reasons why an emergency hearing is necessary, and (3) the amount of time needed for each party's presentation.
A copy of the Emergency motion must emailed to the judicial assistant at CAD-DivisionJO@pbcgov.org.
Scheduling:
If the court determines that an emergency exists, a hearing will be scheduled unilaterally by the Court. All parties shall make themselves available for the emergency hearing, barring exigent circumstances.
F. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Submission Method:
Please view the videos on using the Evidence Portal on our CourtHelp4U YouTube channel.
G. Other Division Procedures
ADA Accommodations:
If you need an ADA accommodation, please call 561‐355‐4380. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call 1‐800‐955‐8771. You can also fax 561‐656‐7662, or e‐mail ADA@pbcgov.org.
Information on ADA accommodations can be found on the Circuit ADA web page.
Interpreter Requests
Information on interpreters' services can be found on the circuit's website on the Court Interpreters page.