TD/BUI Divisional Instructions

Last updated 01/02/2026

Table of Contents

A.Communications with the Judicial Office

Method of Communication:

• Division or Judicial E-mails
  All communications to the judicial office must be submitted by e-mail to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.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 CF 001234 AMB State v. Smith – 2-Hour Hearing Requested).
• Telephone
  Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to 561-355-7881. The judicial office does not accept text messages. Please note that long distance calls may not be returned.

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.
• 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, email designation form, any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.

Response to Inquiries:

• 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.
• Neither the Judge nor the Judicial Assistant can give legal advice regarding how to proceed with the case. For assistance, you can contact the Self-Help Center at 561-355-6781 located on the first floor of the Main West Palm Beach Courthouse or visit the self-service center in the Clerk's Office in the Satellite Courthouses. Additionally, the Palm Beach County Bar Association has a lawyer referral and information service at 561-687-3266.

Other Communication Procedures:

Any e-mail sent to or from the judicial office may be a public record subject to disclosure.

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B. Scheduling Procedures

Court Schedule:

Judge Collins is assigned to Division TD (Trial Division) to primarily preside over Civil and Criminal Jury Trials. Division Judges will refer cases that are trial ready with no pending evidentiary motions. Pretrial stipulations, jury instructions, and verdict forms will be provided to Judge Collins in advance of the jury selection date as described in the Divisional Instructions. Cases may be on call with the Referring Judge in addition to Judge Collins to increase the likelihood of the case being reached during the trial period.

Scheduling Hearings:

• Hearings must be requested by e-mail to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org.
• All parties must comply with Local Rule 4 prior to requesting a hearing.

Notice of Hearing:

• A notice of hearing must be filed and served immediately after reserving hearing time.
• A notice of hearing involving any remote appearance must list the Division Zoom link.
• 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 and the language that counsel has complied with Local Rule 4.

Submission Deadlines:

The Court must receive all materials for the hearing, including case law, no later than three (3) business days before the hearing.

Order of Proceedings:

• 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.
• Matters involving parties in-person will generally be heard before parties on Zoom.

Continuance Procedure:

• 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). 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.
• Absent an emergency, all motions for continuance must be heard by the referring Division Judge prior to the first day of trial.

Cancelling Hearings:

• For Civil Cases only: A party 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.
• Hearings in Criminal cases may only be cancelled or rescheduled with permission of the Court.

Other Scheduling Procedures:

• Trial #1 as designated by the trial list will start 8:30 am on the first day of the trial period or as otherwise directed by the Court. Subsequent trials will begin at 8:30 a.m. the day after the previous trial concludes (or jury deliberations begin). If the prior trial concludes in the morning, the next case on the docket (Trial #2) should be prepared to select a jury the following day at 8:30 a.m. However, if the next case is ready to begin earlier, please contact the TD Judicial Assistant.
• For Criminal Cases: All parties including the Defendant must be present in person on the first morning of the designated trial period for a Docket Sounding (usually a Monday unless holidays or other conflicts exist) at 8:30 am. in Courtroom 10A.

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C. Remote Appearance

Remote Appearance Procedure:

The Court maintains a hybrid virtual courtroom for non-evidentiary hearings, 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 any evidentiary hearing or trial status hearing must be made by motion.

Platform & Meeting ID:

• The Court uses Zoom remote platform for remote appearances.
• Zoom Link: Meeting Link
  Meeting ID: 8784 547 1030
• The following information is provided to assist litigants in the use of Zoom, the remote video software used by the Fifteenth Circuit for remote judicial events.
• Before joining a Zoom meeting on a computer or mobile device, you can download the Zoom app from the Zoom Download Center. Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click a join link.
• If you are unable to download the app, you may select the option to "start from your browser."

Requirements:

• Certain hearings are eligible for remote appearance. These include case disposition, status hearings, and arraignments where Defendant is represented by counsel or has filled out an affidavit of indigency for the appointment or retention of a public defender.
• 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.
• Everyone shall label themselves by first name and last name. Attorneys should designated themselves as Attorney first and last Name or Attorney first and last name, Esq.
• 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. Any oath will be administered in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.530.

Technology Needs:

All participants in a remote hearing must have a camera, microphone, and speaker to allow them to be seen and heard during a video conference. A smart phone or laptop usually is manufactured with all three installed. A PC with an external camera and headset will also work. If using a smart phone or tablet, you must download the Zoom app.

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D. Submission of Orders and Judgments

Format and Submission Method:

• The Court prefers all orders to be submitted in WORD format through Online Services with service to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
• All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
• Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit proposed orders to the court in WORD format by email to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org, U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.

Deadline for Submissions:

Proposed orders must be submitted no later than one week after any hearing unless otherwise stated by the Court.

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E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents

• Courtesy copies of Motions must be submitted to the Court by email to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org for any hearing or trial.
• The parties shall communicate and submit one set of agreed verdict forms, pre-trial stipulations, and jury instructions (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font) mailed in WORD format to CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org no later than noon on Friday prior to trial week. If the parties are not able to come to agreement on jury instructions, one set should be submitted with objections, modifications or competing instructions juxtaposed with each instruction.

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F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters

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.
• 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.

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G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings

Submission Method:

• Original exhibits to be brought to Court for hearing.
• In addition, Parties may submit exhibits with courtesy copy of motion to the division email CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org or the Evidence portal in Civil cases.

Format:

• Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: Insert label preference (e.g., "Petitioner/Plaintiff/State 1" or "Respondent/Defendant 1").
• 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, if necessary.

H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences

• Any pre-trial substantive motions should be set and heard in the referral Division prior to trial.
• TD will not take a negotiated plea in a criminal case without approval of Division Judge.
• Settlement:
  1. If you are anywhere on the trial list, please immediately notify the trial division Judicial Assistant upon reaching a settlement (CAD-DivisionTD@pbcgov.org).
  2. Notify the attorneys for the next case in the Order of Trials to inform them of the settlement.
• Brief Motions in Limine of less than ten (10) minutes total may be heard in Division TD the morning of trial.

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I. Setting Case for Trial

Civil and Criminal Judges (Division Judges) will transfer cases to Division TD for trial.

Notice Period:

The Court will have special set cases if determined in advance by the Referring Judge and Judge Collins. Unless previously determined, the Court generally does not set date-certain trials. After the pre-trial conference, the Court will assign cases to specific days during the trial period and designate any remaining cases as back-up trial. Attorneys, self-represented litigants, parties, and witnesses are expected to be available during the entire trial period.

Other Procedures for Setting Case for Trial:

• Judge Collins will determine the trial order for Civil Cases with priority to cases designated as Elder Status per F.S. § 415.1115, then older cases, or based any other special considerations communicated to the Court.
• Trial order for Criminal Cases will be determined by evaluating speedy trial, defendants in custody, case age, retrials, or any other special considerations communicated to the Court.
• If available, the order of trials will be posted on the TD Division webpage the Thursday preceding the trial period.

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J. Forms

Intentionally Blank

K. Other Division Procedures

ADA Accommodations:

• If you need an ADA accommodation, please call 561‐355‐4380. If you are hearing or voice impaired, call 1‐800‐955‐8771. You can also fax 561‐656‐7662, or e‐mail ADA@pbcgov.org.
• Information on ADA accommodations can be found on the Circuit ADA web page.

Interpreter Requests:

• If an interpreter is needed for a hearing or trial, please contact insert interpreter request contact information.
• Information on interpreters' services can be found on the circuit's website at the following link: insert link to court administration interpreter webpage.

Other Division Procedures:

• Unless requested and approved, each side will be afforded a maximum 45 minutes for voir dire for Circuit Court cases and 20 minutes for County Court cases. Pursuant to controlling case law, the Court will grant extra time upon request if the time allotted was used appropriately and there are proper areas of inquiry left to cover with the venire.
• Any cases not reached during the trial period will be returned to the referring Division.