This Division is dedicated to following the Florida Supreme Court Administrative Orders and the Administrative Orders of this Circuit posted on the Fifteenth Judicial Website. Please refer to the website for updates regarding COVID-19 and its impact on the courts. This division is still open and available, please continue to submit any motions, agreed orders.
Non-essential hearings must be held electronically, until further notice by the Florida Supreme Court. If you would like to schedule a non-essential hearing by electronic means, please contact this office and a hearing will be scheduled. Violation of probation hearings, motions to recall capias (not agreed to by the State), negotiated pleas in county criminal, "in custody” bond hearings and Petition for Injunction hearings are deemed essential hearings to be conducted in- person, and may be set by contacting the Judicial Assistant.
ZOOM Meetings for County Criminal Court Hearings
(Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
All non-essential hearings shall be through video audio conferencing via Zoom. The Court will no longer be inviting parties to County Criminal hearings before Judge Damico in Courtroom 1 on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursdays. It will be the responsibility of the parties to obtain the zoom information and appear via Zoom with the recurring Zoom Meeting information provided on the Court's website, which will be the same for any Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until December, 2020. A recurring Zoom Meeting link is being provided for all hearings on these days through December 2020 on the Court's website under ("D/DR/DUS" County Court Tues., Wed., Thurs., Zoom Meetings). Unless Defendant's presence is waived, the attorney shall have their client present with them in their office for the hearing. Attorneys who have not previously utilized Zoom are encouraged to go to Zoom.com to familiarize themselves with the operation of this app, which is straightforward and easy to use from a computer or laptop with a camera. The Zoom information will also include a toll free phone number that can be utilized to appear by telephone, should you have trouble connecting via video.
Defendants who do not have an attorney (pro se defendants) and/or witnesses may also obtain the zoom information provided on this website, or provide to the Judge’s Judicial Assistant their email address, telephone number and a request to appear for a hearing by Zoom. If you do not have a smart phone or computer, please advise the Court so that you may have an opportunity to participate in a hearing by telephone.
ZOOM Meetings for Civil Infraction Trials
(Wednesday)
As the court continues to hold hearings via Zoom, parties may view the recurring Zoom Meeting information on the Court's website to appear at Traffic/Animal Infraction Trials on Wednesdays. A recurring Zoom Meeting link is being provided for all traffic/animal infraction trials through December 2020 on the Court's website under ("D" Traffic/Animal Infraction Trial Zoom Meetings). In addition, the Clerk, when scheduling the hearing, will provide the necessary Zoom Meeting information on the subpoenas issued, as the Court will no longer be inviting parties to Traffic/Animal Infraction Trials. It will be the responsibility of the parties to appear via Zoom with the Zoom Meeting information provided on the Clerk issued subpoena and available on the Court's website.
If you have a request regarding your case, please file in writing with the Clerk. You may access the Clerk’s website for online e-filing or for information about your case at: www.mypalmbeachclerk.com
- For attorneys, some motions may be settled by agreed order in lieu of setting hearings.
- If you need a court date for a petition to expunge hearing, please contact this office and one will be scheduled for you.
- Our divisional email address: cad-divisiond@pbcgov.org
- Judge Damico will resume hearing Petition for Injunction hearings in Division D after June 1, 2020, These are essential hearings and must be conducted in-person.
THIS INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND WILL BE UPDATED AS NEEDED.
Orders for Division "D/DR" can be found under Divisional Forms & Orders
Traffic Infraction Trials are deemed non-essential hearings and will be held electronically, when feasible, on Wednesday and begin promptly at 9:00 am.
Any motion filed with the Clerk of Court may be resolved by setting the motion for hearing OR by Agreed Order. Please check with opposing counsel for agreement PRIOR to setting a hearing or contacting the Judge's office. (See Divisional Instructions).
Compliance With Local Rule 4
Local Rule 4 has been amended effective July 18, 2017, and now requires attorneys to “make reasonable efforts to actually speak to one another” in a genuine effort to narrow disputes before seeking court intervention.
Scheduling of Hearings
5-10 minute motion hearings, including motions to withdraw capias and petitions to seal and expunge, are heard Monday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and may be set without the permission of the JA. Any motion needing more than 10 minutes of hearing time may be set by contacting the JA at the divisional email address at cad-divisiond@pbcgov.org to request hearing time. (See Divisional Instructions).
Note: Please be sure to check our Suspension Calendar frequently as it is subject to change.
Agreed Orders
Agreed Orders to Continue OR Recall Capias MUST reference the parties' agreement and MUST have a new court date within the order. Please do not leave the new court date blank or the order will be returned. A new court date must be agreed to by the parties and written in the order before submitting the order to the Judge. Agreed Orders may be e-mailed to the divisional e-mail address cad-divisiond@pbcgov.org and MUST be in WORD format.
- ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED IN "WORD FORMAT" ONLY
- Orders sent to the Court by email will be served to the parties by e-mail ONLY.
- All orders must state a mailing and email address for each party for service.
Motions to Continue
Defendant/Defense Motion for Continuance must be made timely and should be accompanied by a waiver of speedy trial, UNLESS the case is reset for 1-2 weeks AND prior to expiration of speedy trial. Please check with opposing counsel to see if your motion to continue is agreed to before contacting the Judge's office. Motions to Continue that are filed untimely and do not allow time for processing may be addressed in court at the time of the scheduled hearing.
E-service of Orders
Division D/DR is currently e-serving orders to attorneys/parties that have registered their primary and secondary e-mail addresses with the 15th Circuit. Please make sure you are registered for judicial e-service.
Please note: the filing of a "Notice of E-Mail Designation" does not register you for Judicial E-Service. You must register through Online Services.
Communication with the Court
All communication and requests of the Court MUST be in writing and filed with the Clerk's office, via proper motion, with a copy to all parties. Exparte telephone calls,emails and letters will not be considered proper motions.
See Divisional Instructions for further assistance.
Division D/DR E-mail address CAD-DIVISIOND@PBCGOV.ORG