AJ Divisional News

ATTENTION: New Procedure for Special Set Hearings

Judge Cheesman does not utilize online scheduling for special set hearing dates. However, Judge Cheesman does use online scheduling for uniform motion calendar hearings pursuant to Local Rule No. 4 and for case management conferences.

If you are requesting a special set hearing date in Circuit Civil Division AJ, please provide the following information by one joint email with copies to all counsel and parties of record to CAD-DivisionAJ@pbcgov.org:

1. *The motion(s) to be heard and the filing date of the motion(s);
2. The amount of time needed for the hearing;
3. The date when the case is set for Calendar Call, when the case shall be trial ready at calendar call; and
4. At least five available dates that all counsel/parties are available; preferably on a Monday. Counsel shall coordinate dates with each other and send one joint email.

*If the motion is for summary judgment, counsel for the respective parties should sign and file a Stipulation indicating whether they concluded all discovery relevant to the issues in the motion, and submit a copy of the Stipulation along with their request.

Upon providing the above information, Judge Cheesman will consider and review your request.

If counsel requires more guidance or needs an expedited hearing, counsel may set the matter on the uniform motion calendar with proper notice to obtain a special set hearing date and time.

*Mandatory Compliance with Local Rule No. 4 is strictly enforced.

Please review updated division suspension dates

ATTENTION: ALL special set hearings will be in person. Calendar Calls are in Person at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11D.

Time slots for UMC and Special Set hearings will be added to the OLS on the 14th of January

Any hearing materials that one may deem necessary to be reviewed by the presiding Judge Maxine Cheesman in preparation of a Special Set hearing, UMC and/or Trial must be sent (in HARD COPY) to the Judge's Office at least (7) seven business days prior to the hearing. The materials will need to be mailed to avoid cancellation.

Scheduling, Continuances and Pretrial Deadlines:

Each Calendar Call due date has a designated Trial Period in which the case(s) will be heard.

TRIAL CONTINUANCES: If a case cannot be ready for trial by the Calendar Call despite all good faith efforts, a motion to continue trial must be set for a Differentiated Case Management (DCM) Conference as described in the 15th Circuit's Administrative Order 3.110 (as amended). Any motion to continue the trial must comply with Fla. R. Civ. P. Rule 1.460, including verifications signed by the client(s). The Motion must be filed and the DCM Case Management Conference set no more than 30 DAYS from the last Defendant being served or as soon as circumstances giving rise to the need for a continuance becomes known and only for good cause. Every motion for a continuance must include a proposed Amended DCMO resetting each pretrial deadline that remains applicable and indicating the month the case can be ready for trial. DO NOT FORGET TO REVOEW RULE 1.200 

The parties must upload the Joint Status report at least 7 days in advance of a DCM Conference through the OLS feature of the Circuit's Online Scheduling System. The parties are to be prepared at the DCM Conference to address the topics listed in Rule 1.200(a) and for the court, at its discretion, to hear or set for hearing any pending motions.

PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT HAVE CMC ON CALENDAR CALL DATES- YOU WILL NEED TO SET BEFORE THE CALENDAR CALL ON UMC OR ON DCM DOCKET.

2026 TRIAL DOCKETS

2027 Trial Dockets