Florida Southern District Court

Because these matters require the immediate attention of the Judge, the attorney must file the original motion and a copy for the Judge in conventional paper format in conventional paper format in the division where the Judge is chambered. Once filed, the Clerk’s Office will contact the Judge’s office and provide a copy of said motion. Counsel should then contact the appropriate staff member in the Judge’s office to determine how the Judge will handle the emergency motion. [For Criminal matters contact Jacob Hasbun, for Civil matters contact Lynn Surowiec]

B. Contact with Staff.

Law Clerks: Judge Gold does not permit counsel to speak with law clerks unless all counsel of record and/or parties of record are on the phone simultaneously.

Judicial Administrator: Lynn M. Surowiec. All matters relating to civil cases, administrative issues and general information regarding Judge Gold’s policies and procedures.

Courtroom Deputy: Jacob M. Hasbun. All matters relating to criminal cases, including jury service with Judge Gold.

Court Reporter: Joseph A. Millikan. Real-Time is available. Please contact Mr. Millikan to make appropriate arrangements prior to trial or proceeding. [305.523.5588]

C. Information regarding procedures for New Civil Cases. Judge Gold’s preliminary order (Local Rule 16.1) requires the parties to submit proposed dates for pretrial deadlines in the same format as the attachment to said order. The attachment is available in Wordperfect format below. If the parties believe they may benefit from a settlement conference before the Magistrate Judge, the parties may file a request with the Court for a referral to the assigned Magistrate Judge or to Senior Magistrate Judge Peter Palermo.

D. PRO SE LITIGANTS.

Service and Notice of Electronic Filing for Parties Who Are Not Authorized to

Electronically Receive Notices of Electronic Filing.

A party who is not a User or is not otherwise authorized to electronically receive Notices of

Electronic Filing [NEF]is entitled to a paper copy of any electronically-filed document. It is the

responsibility of the filing party to provide the opposing party(s) with the electronically-filed document according to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. When mailing paper copies of documents that have been electronically filed, the filing party must include the Notice of Electronic Filing to provide the recipient with proof of the filing. Service of a Notice of Electronic Filing on a party who is not a User or otherwise authorized to electronically receive Notices of Electronic Filing may be accomplished by e-mail, subject to the additional service requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 6(d) and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 49(d).

Pro se litigants[persons representing themselves] will not be permitted to register as Users at this time. Pro se litigants must file their documents in the conventional manner. Pro se litigants may access the electronic record at the public counter in the Clerk’s Office in all divisions or through PACER. Pro se litigants will be served and noticed by U.S. mail or in person (or, if agreed, by facsimile or e-mail). Pro se litigants may file a motion with the Court requesting they receive the notices of electronic filings [NEF] by providing the Court with a valid e-mail address.

E. Courthouse Closure Policy Chief Judge Moreno has announced a new policy to govern the closing of federal courthouses in the case of a weather emergency. The courthouses will follow the local school districts, e.g., if the public schools in Miami-Dade County are closed, the U.S. courthouse in Miami-Dade will also be closed for the same period of time.

CM/ECF PROCEDURES

PROPOSED ORDERS: Counsel shall submit a proposed order for all non-dispositive motions in WORDPERFECT FORMAT, via e-mail to gold@flsd.uscourts.gov. This e-mail address is to be used only to submit documents as described herein unless otherwise specifically permitted by the Judge. [In the event Wordperfect is not available, you may submit the proposed order in WORD format] Please note the case number in the subject line of the email and the docket entry number “[DE #]” on the proposed order. The Complete CM/ECF Administrative Procedures are available on the Court’s Website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov

COURTESY COPIES: Notwithstanding the implementation of CM/ECF, all parties shall deliver a courtesy copy to the Intake Section of the Clerk’s Office of all motions and/or motions with attachments EXCEEDING TWENTY-FIVE PAGES. This copy shall be bound and any Attachments and/or Appendices must be indexed with tabs.

ATTENTION: AMENDED SECURITY POLICY

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2006-16, issued by the Chief Judge July 31, 2006:

NO ONE SHALL BRING CELLULAR TELEPHONES INTO THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE EXCEPT attorneys permitted to practice law within the Southern District of Florida with a valid Florida Bar Association Bar Card Identification having business within the facility. Additionally, attorneys admitted pro hac vice shall be permitted to bring their cellular phones into the courthouse also. (This applies to attorneys only and precludes staff, investigators, etc.) Cellular telephones with integrated cameras are now permitted into the Courthouse pursuant to the other provisions herein. Other exceptions to this policy exist, please contact the United States Marshal’s office for further information at 305.536.5346.