Judge William Matthewman

Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
701 Clematis Street
Room 331
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Directions

Email: matthewman@flsd.uscourts.gov (for proposed orders, jury instructions, or as otherwise directed by the Court)

Chambers
Phone: 561.803.3440
Fax: 561.803.3479

Courtroom Deputy:
Shanda Walker: 561.803.3418

Law Clerks:
Nicole Odrobina: 561.803.3442
Christopher Parmele: 561.803.3441

Criminal duty court generally begins at 10:00 AM, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Judge Tabs

Communication

Law clerks may be contacted regarding procedural questions. Law clerks may not be asked substantive legal questions and they cannot provide advice on how to handle legal questions. When you contact Chambers, please have the case number and presiding Judge available as this will be the first question asked so that we may better assist you. Absent a true emergency, counsel of record shall not contact chambers to ask questions concerning the status of pending matters.

Electronic Equipment

Generally speaking, ours is an electronics-friendly Chambers. However, one must always verify with the Clerk of Court or the U.S. Marshals Service as to any procedures relating to the use of cell phones, iPads, or other electronic devices at the courthouse and their entry into the courthouse.

With respect to parties who are seeking to use cell phones, laptops, or other electronics in a hearing or trial before Judge Matthewman, those parties shall file a motion requesting such permission.

For assistance with the use of electronic media or other audiovisual needs, please contact Courtroom Deputy Shanda Walker at 561.803.3418.

Discovery Procedures

The Court expects parties and their counsel to be professional and cooperative in all discovery matters. A discovery motion should NOT be filed until a good faith effort has been made to resolve the discovery dispute. Personal conferral, in person or by phone, is required unless the opposing party or counsel refuses to confer, in which case the moving party should advise the Court in the motion of such good faith efforts to confer and the opposing party or counsel’s refusal. Judge Matthewman routinely issues a discovery procedures order which can be viewed here.

Sample Discovery Procedure Order

All parties and counsel must follow the discovery order and failure to adhere to the requirements of the order may result in denial of the motion.

Settlement Procedures

Settlement Conferences
Settlement conferences generally start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until completed, hopefully by resolution. The Court requires in-person appearances with parties that have the full authority to resolve the case. Counsel may move for telephonic appearances if there are truly extraordinary circumstances. The Court also requires each party to submit a pre-conference, confidential settlement memorandum. Additional details will be outlined in the Court’s order setting the settlement conference.

Trial Procedures

Trial in Consent Cases
Judge Matthewman does not automatically set trial dates for civil cases. Trial dates are set after a telephonic status conference with counsel. Once the status conference is held and the parties’ and counsel’s schedules are considered, a specially set trial date will be issued. The parties can count on the trial proceeding on the date scheduled as all trials are specially set.

Judge Matthewman permits pretrial conferences and prefers to conduct Daubert hearings prior to trial.

Judge Matthewman permits counsel to perform voir dire.

United States District Court

Southern District of Florida

Cecilia M. Altonaga, Chief United States District Judge
Angela E. Noble, Court Administrator • Clerk of Court

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Judge William Matthewman

Judge Tabs