Judge Robert Meadows

• Method of communication: The preferred method of communication is via e-mail. E-mails will receive immediate attention. Please e-mail correspondence to hogyac@circuit19.org. You must include the opposing counsel or party (if pro se) as a copy recipient on all e-mail correspondence with this office.
  • All parties should be included in the e-mail, including legal assistant if possibleEmails sent to this office should contain the following in the subject line:
    • Case name, i.e. John Allen Doe
    • Case number: 56 2025-CF-0000 A
    • Please do not include the message in the subject line
    • Please do not attach cover letters from attorneys. Put the message in the body of the e-mail

    The body of the e-mail must contain a brief description of the purpose of the e-mail, including the specific request to this office. Please include a good faith effort statement indicating while attempting to stipulate, counsel cannot agree. The moving party should contact opposing counsel to determine how much time all parties will require for the hearing.

• 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: Unsolicited communications from non-parties will not be considered by the court. Parties may only contact the judicial office in accordance with these practices and procedures.
• E-filing portal contact information: All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused pursuant to 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: All inquiries will be responded to in a timely manner. Please do not send multiple e-mails on the same issue/same inquiry. E-mails will be responded to as soon as possible. The Judicial Assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
• Communication procedures: No party or attorney shall otherwise communicate directly to the Court.
• Telephone: If you are unable to e-mail the judicial assistant, please do not leave more than one voicemail message. Voicemail messages are answered in order of receipt within 24 – 48 business hours. Please understand that the judicial assistant is entitled to sick and vacation time, which might occasionally account for a delayed return of a voicemail.

• Court Schedule: All hearings must be coordinated through the judicial assistant via email. This office does not use an online calendar. All hearings and trials are special set.
• Arraignment: If a Written Plea of Not Guilty has been filed prior to Arraignment, the attorney nor the Defendant need to appear for Arraignment. If the case is called, it will be noted that the Written Plea of Not Guilty has been filed and the case will be set for Docket Call.
• Waiver of Appearance: A Waiver of Appearance is to be filed and specifically sets forth that the Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives his/her appearance at any Pre-Trial Hearing(s) and elects to appear through undersigned counsel. A copy of the e-filed waiver must be available to present to the Court. Waivers of Appearance will be allowed for a short period of time and will be striken by way of Court order without warning.
• Scheduling Hearings: Scheduling will be done by me not via the online calendar. When a hearing needs to be scheduled you should first contact opposing party to determine how much time will be required by ALL parties. Once this information is obtained you may email the Judicial Assistant, copying in opposing party and their assistant if possible, (actual email address please not service address), to request the hearing indicating how much time is required. If it is a motion hearing the motion must be filed prior to request and a copy should be emailed to the Judicial Assistant with request. If the hearing is for a COP you should indicate if the plea is open or negotiated and again how much time is required. The plea form, signed by the defendant and defense attorney, must be received via e-mail by noon the business day before the hearing and if applicable it should be accompanied by jail’s credit for time served paperwork.
• Motion to Compel: Once a motion to compel has been filed and is pending hearing, if the State subsequently complies by providing the missing discovery, the defense counsel shall immediately file a Notice of Cancellation and provide a courtesy copy to the Court at hogyac@circuit19.org
• Pleas:
  • The signed plea form must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than NOON the business day before the hearing. IF time served is a condition of the plea the Credit for Time Served Report from the Jail MUST be submitted with the plea form PRIOR TO THE HEARING NO EXECUTED PLEA FORM NO TRANSPORT
  • Plea forms MUST be legible, in other words TYPED. They should list the level and degree of the crime. The plea form should indicate what the defendant is ACTUALLY charged with and then what they are pleading to. AGAIN, INCLUDING the Level and Degree.
  • The Defense MUST bring the original plea to Court (plea date and/or sentencing)
  • ADVANCED NOTICE must be given to the Clerk of any pleas being heard/done at Docket Call.
  • As all hearings, plea hearings will be IN PERSON ONLY no plea will be taken via computer/phone.
  • Defendants MUST be booked on the charges they are pleaing to. If the defendants are not booked there is no OBTS # issued and the charge/resolution to the charge will never be on the defendant’s record. Also, when the State is allowing the defendant to plea down to a misdemeanor, they need to specify what statute, level, and degree to which they agreed. Since scoresheets are not furnished for the misdemeanors, the Clerks do not have anything to know what they intended.
  • CTS: Credit Time Served forms need to be done before the COP is held. Way too much time and money is spent re-doing J&S’s because the Credit Time Served is incorrect.
  • When cases have been set off for sentencing the Defense attorney is required to bring his/her copy for the Judge to ensure the sentence announced is what they agreed to. The clerks are not responsible for the attorney’s paperwork.

• Notices for Hearing: When the judicial assistant confirms the hearing date on the court calendar, the moving party will be directed to notice the hearing, if applicable. Notices of hearings MUST contain a good faith certificate as well as amount of time reserved for the hearing (see Good Faith Certificate below) and MUST contain the other party’s email address if the party is pro se. Statements of service to “all parties of record” do not constitute proper notice, which may cause the hearing to be cancelled. Notices of hearing MUST contain the ADA notification required by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.540 as well as the following language: I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have personally contacted opposing counsel in an effort to resolve the issue(s), however, the matter cannot be resolved and a hearing is necessary. Time reserved for the hearing is…
  Additional motions may not be “piggy-backed” by cross-notice unless counsel first confirms with the party who scheduled the hearing and/or the judicial assistant that sufficient additional time can be reserved to hear them.
• Good Faith Certificate: All motions and notices of hearing must contain a certificate of good faith that you have contacted the opposing party (and attempted to resolve the matter without court time) and coordinated the hearing date, time, and amount of time necessary for the hearing. It must include a certification that the movant (attorney versus staff if the movant is represented) has personally and directly conferred or attempted to confer with the attorney or opposing party. I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have personally contacted opposing counsel in an effort to resolve the issue(s), however, the matter cannot be resolved and a hearing is necessary. Time reserved for the hearing is…
  • Attempts to Confer: One attorney’s staff member emailing/calling another attorney’s staff member regarding availability on dates and times does not constitute a good faith certification that attempts have been made to resolve the matter. An attorney must directly contact another attorney (or pro se party) and allow at least 48 hours during the business week for a response. Further, sending a letter in the mail (whether to opposing counsel or a pro se party) will never meet the requirement of good faith certification. Hearing time will not be allocated unless the good faith certification is strictly followed.
  • Submission Deadlines: Any materials the parties would like the court to review prior to a hearing must be submitted no later than three (3) business days before the hearing.
  • UNOPPOSED Continuance must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant no later than noon the Wednesday prior to Docket Call Week
• Order of Proceedings: If multiple cases are scheduled at the same time, the Court will exercise its discretion in calling the order of cases during a the time the case is scheduled.
• Continuance Procedure: GENERAL RULES – Attorneys can have other attorneys stand in for their cases at Docket Call; however, the attorney must have satisfactory information in order to be granted another continuance. Cases that are under a year old will be granted a continuance as long as the State and Defense are in agreement. The Court does not need any explanation regarding the status of the case that is younger than a year.
  Any case that is older than a year, the attorney must be able to give a good faith estimate regarding how much time is needed to complete discovery, how many depositions are still outstanding, and how long it will take to complete depositions.
• 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 in addition to e-mailing a copy to the Judicial Assistant. Additionally, if the State has Nolle Prosed the case the Judicial Assistant should be notified so that valuable hearing time can be utilized.

• Remote Appearance Procedure: The Rules for Remote Appearances:
  1. The Court does not allow any remote appearances for any hearing/proceeding including but not limited to evidentiary hearings.
  2. The Court does not allow remote appearances for hearings greater than 30 minutes.
  3. All remote appearances, other than the JAC hearings, must be approved by Court order.
  4. The Court will allow JAC hearings to occur remotely.
  5. In cases of exceptional circumstances, the Court may allow exceptions; however, time, distance or inconvenience is not an acceptable circumstance.
  6. The court maintains a limited 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 a virtual appearance must be made by filing a motion (see Requirements below.
• Platform Used: IF granted, the court uses Zoom for remote appearances.
• Platform Meeting ID#: If your Zoom appearance has been approved and the order granting filed the Judicial Assistant will e-mail you the Zoom link and Meeting ID.
• Requirements: Remote Appearances may be considered for non-evidentiary hearings less than 30 minutes. Request for Remote Appearance via ZOOM: If a party requests to appear remotely for a non-evidentiary hearing lasting less than 30 minutes, pursuant to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. Rule 2.530 and Fla. R. Crim. Proc. 3.116, the moving party must file a written motion 20 days prior to the scheduled hearing. The motion must be served on all parties with a courtesy copy sent via email to hogyac@circuit19.org. The non-moving party will have 10 days from the service of the motion to object to the use of communication technology. A party waives the use of communication technology by failing to timely file the motion and/or timely object, the motion will be considered denied. A ruling on the motion will be entered in chambers after the Court considers any objection or after the time for filing/objection has lapsed.
• Technology Needs: Please visit the 19th Circuit’s website for information regarding technology in the courtroom, and for Audio/Visual requests: www.circuit19.org/programs-services/court-programs/court-technology/courtroom-technology

• Format: All proposed orders must be submitted in WORD format, along with a copy of the motion which may be submitted in WORD or PDF format. The document should be named in a searchable format, which contains a short style of the case, short case number and short name of order.
• Submission Method: All proposed orders are to be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant, hogyac@circuit19.org, in WORD format.
• Deadline for Submissions: DO NOT submit proposed orders prior to hearings, unless requested to do so by the Court. The proposed order must reflect the date of the hearing, that it is ex-parte or coming before the Court in chambers.
• Orders entered in open court are not e-filed or e-served by this office. The original order will be filed by the Clerk of Court. You must bring sufficient copies for conforming by the Clerk. You are responsible for providing copies to all parties, whether by conformed copy in open court or by U.S. Mail or E-Service.
  • Motions for rehearing, reconsideration or new trial: Upon the filing of such motion, the moving party shall send a copy to the Judicial Office for review via e-mail. The copy of the motion shall be accompanied by a proposed order and transmittal confirmation to all counsel. If the Court determines that a hearing is necessary, the parties will be contacted to schedule a hearing date.
  • Withdraw or substitution of counsel: Must be in compliance with Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.505 is required. Written client consent must be filed, or a hearing must be held after proper notice to the client.
• Certificates of Service: Your order must contain a complete service list, setting forth E-Service address, as well as any postal addresses if there is no E-Service address. Orders that do not contain E-Service addresses will be e-filed, but no copies will be provided by this office. Signed orders will be e-filed and e-served via the e-portal. The party submitting the order will be responsible for providing any copies that are to be sent via U.S. Mail.

• When Required: When counsel/party intends to rely on case law or other documents in a hearing, a courtesy electronic copy submitted to the court and the opposing party in advance is required.
• Format: Any digital format is acceptable, as long as the pertinent sections are highlighted. This is a paperless office. Lengthy materials submitted in the form of tabbed PDF electronic binders are greatly appreciated. Brevity is also appreciated.
• Submission Method: Via email to hogyac@circuit19.org. Paper binders presented at the hearing will not be considered or accepted by the court. Do not mail binders to the judicial assistant.
• Deadline for Submissions: Courtesy copies of case law, legal memoranda, and/or hearing materials must be submitted no later than five business days prior to the hearing.
• Other Procedures Related to Other Documents: Legal memoranda are appreciated, and when submitted, they must comply with these procedures and deadlines.

• Requirements: If an emergency situation arises, counsel may request that a hearing be set on short notice. The body of the Motion must contain a detailed explanation of the circumstances constituting the emergency as well as the substance of the Motion. The Motion must be e-mailed to the Judicial Assistant, hogyac@circuit19.org, for review by the Court prior to a hearing being set.
• Scheduling: . If the Court determines that an emergency exists, the Judicial Assistant will contact counsel to set the hearing.

• Please see separate exhibit policy posted on the division website.
• Format: Exhibits must be submitted to the Clerk of Court in paper format – counsel should contact Clerk for proper form. 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. Exhibits must be labeled in the format required by the Clerk of Court.
• Deadline for Submissions: Evidence may be submitted during the hearing or trial. If the parties agree that he Court may view evidence prior to a hearing (such as a video or transcript), such evidence may be e-mailed to the Court at at hogyac@circuit19.org in advance of the hearing and copied to opposing counsel. The Court will make its best efforts to review any agreed evidence submitted in advance as to make efficient use of time during the hearing.

• Docket Calls: No additions/motions will be allowed during Docket Calls.
• All Pre-Trial Motions, Motions to Suppress, Requests for Redactions and Pre-Trial Objections shall be made or e-filed at least 30 days prior to trial.
• Competency Hearing: Upon receipt/filing of a Competency Evaluation(s) finding Defendant competent to proceed, defense counsel must set a Competency Hearing, in order for the Court to make a competency determination/finding.

• Procedure: When counsel announces ready for trial, or if a request for continuance is denied by the Court, the case will be set for a Jury Selection date, or continued if there is no trial time.
• The following are the rules of the road to Trial:
  • Attorneys should not announce ready for trial if discovery is ongoing, i.e. depositions still in progress, etc.
  • Once jury selection is set the attorneys shall make sure their witnesses are available to appear, i.e. not in training, on vacation, etc. When a announcing ready for trial, the attorneys must know the availabity of their witnesses for the entire three week trial cycle.
  • Attorneys must make a good faith effort to conclude discovery prior to announcing ready for trial.
  • Pre-trial evidentary motions must have been filed 30 days prior to the attorneys announcing ready for trial.
  • Routine non-evidentiary motions in limine that do not require longer than 10 minutes can be heard prior to trial with court approval.
  • All request for redactions must have been made 30 days prior to the attorneys announcing ready for trial.
  • All parties including the defendant must appear in person for jury selection / trial.
  • Once a case is set for jury selection, no futher continuances will be granted unless there has been an act of god or there is not enough court time. Cases set for jury selection that do not go to trial that week will be reset to the following week.
• Priority for trial: The first day of a trial week will be Jury Selection. The Court will set the priority for the cases as follows:
  • Speedy trial demands.
  • Cases set for a trial date certain.
  • Oldest PBL, 1st, and 2nd degree felonies with defendants in custody.
  • Oldest PBL, 1st, and 2nd degree felonies with defendants out of custody.
  • Oldest 3rd degree felonies with defendants in custody.
  • Oldest 3rd degree felonies with defendants out of custody.

Ultimately, in order to maximize court time, the Court may fill in the trial week with shorter trials after the higher priority cases have been set.

• All Defendants must appear in person for Jury Selection and Trial.

• Access: Division forms are available in the courtroom and on the judge’s
  website: www.circuit19.org/judges/judge-robert-meadows/

• • ADA Accommodations: If you need an ADA accommodation, please visit: www.circuit19.org/americans-with-disabilities-act-ada/
  • Interpreter Requests: If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please visit: www.circuit19.org/court-interpreters/
  • In-Court Surrenders: Not permitted.
  • Sentencing: You must be prepared to provide the Court with an accurate credit for time served.
  • Post-Conviction Motions: A courtesy copy of all Post-Conviction Motions shall be e-mailed to the Court at hogyac@circuit19.org A Post-Conviction Motion will not be heard in a timely manner if the Court is never made aware of its existence.

• Inmates/Defendants (transport/attendance): It is the attorney’s responsibility to advise the Judicial Assistant, by e-mail at hogyac@circuit19.org, if any inmate needs to be transported from the local jail for a hearing or Docket Call at least two (2) business days prior to the hearing. It will be the responsibility of the Defendant and attorney to ensure the Defendant’s presence. If a Defendant needs to be transported from Department of Corrections (DOC) or any jail other than St. Lucie County Jail, it is the responsibility of defense counsel to submit an Order to Transport to the Judicial Assistant by e-mail at least 15 business days in advance of the hearing/Docket Call date. The order should indicate service to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office-Transport, via certified copies provided by the Clerk’s Office. This order should include the following language:

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Sheriff of St. Lucie County or his designated agent shall return the defendant to the detention facility name, address, after the above Court proceedings are concluded, unless otherwise ordered by this Court.”

As Well As A Footnote:

[1] “Inmates are occasionally moved between facilities. This order covers any DOC facility where the defendant may be located. The sheriff’s office should check with DOC prior to transport. www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/”