Judge Jeffrey W. Hendriks

• Method of Communication:

Division E-mail

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to slcjudge3@circuit19.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., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).

Judicial E-mail

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to slcjudge3@circuit19.org. The subject line of any e-mail to the judicial office must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).

Telephone

All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by telephone call to 772-462-1957. The judicial office does not accept text messages.

Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to 772-462-1957. The judicial office does not accept text messages.

• 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. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516.

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 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.

When the judicial assistant is out of the office, your message will be acknowledged as received with an indication of when to expect a substantive response and an 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.

• Court Schedule:

Trials are scheduled approximately 3 weeks per month.

The uniform motion calendar is scheduled 3 months in advance.

• Scheduling Hearings:

Hearings must be requested by e-mail to slcjudge3@circuit19.org.

Hearings may also be requested by contacting the judicial assistant at 772-462-1957.

• Notice of Hearing:

A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.

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.

• Submission Deadlines:

The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than 2 business days before the hearing.

• Order of Proceedings:

Matters will be heard in the order in which they appear on the docket.

Matters involving parties represented by counsel will generally be heard before other matters.

Matters involving in-custody defendants will generally be heard before other matters.

• Continuance Procedure:

Motions for continuance are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. Successive continuances are highly disfavored. Lack of due diligence is not grounds for granting a continuance. 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).

Motions for continuance must state with specificity: (1) the basis of the need for the continuance, including when the basis became known to the movant; (2) whether the motion is opposed; (3) the action and specific dates for the action that will enable the movant to be ready, including, but not limited to, confirming the specific date any required participants are available; and (4) the proposed date by which the case will be ready to proceed and whether that date is agreed by all parties. 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).

• Cancelling Hearings:

You must cancel hearings by notifying the judicial assistant immediately. You must also immediately file and serve a notice of cancellation on opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

Inmate Transport:
It is the attorney’s responsibility to advise the judicial assistant by email if any inmate needs to be transported or appear via Zoom for court at least two (2) business days prior to the court date. It is the responsibility of the Defendant and attorney to ensure the Defendant’s presence.

• 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.

• Platform Used:

The court uses Zoom for remote appearances.

• Platform Meeting ID#:

876.640.6089. (No password required)

• Requirements:

Requests for remote appearance must be submitted 3 days prior to the hearing.

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.

If a witness appears remotely, the party calling the witness must ensure the witness has a functioning camera and microphone and has tested the internet connection before the hearing. The oath will be administered in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530.

• Format:

All proposed orders may be submitted in Word format and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

All proposed orders must be printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.

• Submission Method:

All proposed orders must be submitted to the court by e-mail to SLCJudge3@circuit19.org.

All proposed orders must be submitted to the court by the proposed order portion of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit proposed orders to the court by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.

• Deadline for Submissions:

Proposed orders must be submitted no later than 3 days after any hearing.

Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents

• When Required:

The court does not require the submission of courtesy copies.

• Format:

Courtesy copies may be submitted in PDF/a format.

Courtesy copies may be submitted in Word format.

Courtesy copies must be submitted in three-hole punched binders printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper.

• Submission Method:

Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court by e-mail to SLCJudge3@circuit19.org.

Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court by the Florida Courts E-Filing PortalClick or tap here to enter text.

Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit courtesy copies to the court by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to the judicial office.

• Deadline for Submissions:

Courtesy copies must be submitted to the court no later than 2 days before any hearing or trial.

• Requirements:

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.

• 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.

• Submission Method:

Hand-deliver all printed exhibits to the clerk of court.

• Format:

All attorneys and self-represented litigants must bring sufficient copies of each exhibit for the clerk, the court, and each party to review during the hearing or trial.

• Deadline for Submissions:

Electronic exhibits must be submitted 3 days before the evidentiary proceeding.

• Case Management Conference (CMC):

Any party may request a CMC when a case requires.

The court strongly encourages the early use of CMCs in more complex cases, multiple-party litigation, or any case that might benefit from court intervention.

Unless excused by the court in advance, all CMCs are mandatory for attorneys and self-represented litigants. Parties represented by counsel are not required to appear at a CMC.

• Status Conference:

Any party may request a status conference when a case requires.

• Requirements:

Any request for a CMC or status conference must articulate the reasons for the necessity of the conference.

• Scheduling:

If the court grants the request for a CMC or status conference, the moving party must schedule the CMC or status conference pursuant to the procedures noted under the above Scheduling Procedures.

• Procedure:

File a notice for trial to set the case for trial or make the request in open court.

• Notice Period:

The court does not set date-certain trials. After the pre-trial conference, the court will assign cases to specific days during the trial period and may assign back-up cases. Attorneys, self-represented litigants, parties, and witnesses are expected to be available during the entire trial period.

• Access:

Division forms are available in the courtroom. County Court Plea Form and County Court Plea Form with Counsel may also be found at: www.circuit19.org – Judge Hendriks’ Judicial Page.

• Usage:

Division forms must be used for all relevant filings.

Post-Conviction Motions: All post-convictions motions filed with the clerk’s office must be submitted to the Court. Do not assume that if you have filed a motion or response that the Judge will review it, it must be emailed to SLCJudge3@circuit19.org

Petitions to Expunge/Seal: Petitions to Expunge/Seal must include whether there is an objection from the State in the petition and must be filed in the court file. After the petition is filed in the court file submit the petition, certificate of eligibility, affidavit, and a proposed order in Microsoft Word format to the Court at SLCJudge3@circuit19.org. The Court will not receive a copy of the Petition and other documents unless you submit them to that email address. The case style and case number must be included in the subject line of the email.

• ADA Accommodations:

If you need an ADA accommodation, please contact Court Administration at 772-807-4370. Information on ADA accommodations can be found on the circuit’s website.

• Interpreter Requests:

If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contact www.circuit19.org/court-interpreters.

Information on interpreters’ services can be found on the circuit’s website.

• Mobile Presentation Station Request/Court Technology: The 70” touch screen display is made available to attorneys appearing before a Judge or Magistrate of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit on a first come-first serve basis. It is the responsibility of the attorney using the device to connect/disconnect the equipment and return it to its original location after use. Reservations must be made a least 5 days in advance of a court hearing, but not more than 3 weeks prior to the hearing. For and A.V. Request contact AV-Request@circuit19.org. For technical assistance contact email CourtSupport@circuit19.org or phone number 772-807-4390.