Last updated 04/23/2026
Donald W. Hafele, Judge
Denise Van Vooren, Judicial Assistant
Criminal Justice Complex,
3228 Gun Club Road,
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
E-mail: CAD-DivisionKK2@pbcgov.org
Table of Contents
A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Method of Communication:
: By telephone (561-688-4599) or by e-mail. All communications to the judicial office submitted by e-mail to CAD-DivisionKK2@pbcgov.org. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested.
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. Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 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. Please note that you must contact the Clerk's office to remove yourself from the e-service list and not the court if you are no longer involved in the matter.
Response to Inquiries:
Please note that the judicial assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice and if the judicial assistant is out-of-office temporary coverage will be responding to calls and e-mails. If there is no temporary coverage available then a voice message will be left on the telephone (which will not be monitored). If you have an emergency follow the emergency instructions left on the voice message. Responses to e-mails will receive an automated out of office reply with instructions for emergencies.
B. Scheduling Procedures
Court Schedule:
First Appearances are heard on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Mental Health court is heard on Friday mornings, three times a month.
Special set hearings are scheduled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Scheduling Hearings:
Hearings must be requested by e-mail. The scheduling party should e-mail the judicial assistant, copying opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant, to coordinate the scheduling of the hearing. The subject line must contain the case number, case name, and relevant matter (e.g., 2024 DR 001234 SC – Doe v. Doe - 2-Hour Hearing Requested Hearing dates provided are to be coordinated between the parties and only contact the court with the coordinated hearing date. All hearing dates have been given to multiple parties and are on a first come first serve basis so please get back to me ASAP to confirm the coordinated date and time as these dates may no longer be available. Do not file your notice of hearing until confirmed with the court.
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 for makemson hearings must list the call in information for the court to call.
All notices of hearing must contain the ADA notification required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.540.
Submission Deadlines:
The court must receive all materials for the hearing no later than three business days before the hearing. Inmate transport requests must be received at least 24 hours prior to the date of the transport.
Order of Proceedings:
(1) Matters will be heard in the order they appear on the docket and (2) Parties represented by private attorneys will generally be heard first.
Continuance Procedure:
Continuances are disfavored and will be granted only upon good cause shown. A request for continuance must be submitted at least five days prior to the scheduled court date. 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).
Cancelling Hearings:
Hearings may be cancelled by submitting an agreed order resolving the motion or in the case of the 3 day RPO hearings upon e-mail notification of compliance. You must also notify the judicial assistant immediately that the matter has been resolved and an order submitted or that the Defendant is in compliance.
C. Remote Appearance
Remote Appearance Procedure:
The court does not allow remote appearance for first appearance hearings.
The court allows the attorneys and JAC attorneys to appear telephonically for makemson hearings.
Parties in RPO hearings are required to appear in person.
Platform Used:
The court only allows telephonic appearance via conference call set up by the parties and providing the court with the call in number for makemson hearings. The court does not conduct hearings via Zoom due to issues with the signal at the Gun Club courthouse.
Platform Meeting ID#:
N/A
Requirements:
Only makemson hearings are eligible for remote appearance. The court will also allow next of kin to appear telephonically at hearings.
Technology Needs:
Any person authorized to appear telephonically must provide the call in information for the court to call at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.
D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Format:
All proposed orders must be submitted in Word format. All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter or e-mail 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.
Submission Method:
Mental Health court orders submit through the E-Filing Portal.
RPO court orders submit by e-mail through the division e-mail address.
Makemson hearing court orders submit by e-mail through the division e-mail address.
First Appearance court orders submit by e-mail through the division e-mail address
Deadline for Submissions:
Proposed orders should be submitted immediately after hearings but at the latest within 10 days after any hearing.
E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
When Required:
Courtesy copies of case law or other specified document must be submitted to the court for any evidentiary proceeding.
Format:
PDF/a format or Word document
Submission Method:
e-mail or U.S. mail
Deadline for Submissions:
Courtesy copies must be delivered to the court no later than two days before any evidentiary proceeding.
F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
Requirements:
If a party believes there is a factual basis for setting an emergency hearing, a detailed motion, labeled an emergency, 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. Make sure the filing is filed as an emergency by clicking the emergency button.
Scheduling:
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.
Other Procedures Relating to Emergency and Other Urgent Matters:
All RPO hearings are considered emergencies and are set by the court.
G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Submission Method:
Submit all exhibits electronically by e-mail to the division e-mail account.
Format:
Exhibits must be submitted to the clerk of court in paper format. 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 following format: 'Petitioner/Plaintiff 1' or 'Respondent/Defendant A.
Deadline for Submissions:
All exhibits must be received in chambers three days before the evidentiary proceeding.
H. Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
N/A
I. Setting Case for Trial
N/A
J. Forms
N/A
K. Other Division Procedures
ADA Accommodations:
If you need an ADA accommodation, please contact 561-355-4380.
Interpreter Requests:
If an interpreter is needed for a hearing, requests for spoken language court interpreters must be received at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled proceeding. In the case of certain languages of lesser diffusion or unscheduled interpreting, more time may be necessary to arrange for a qualified interpreter and a remote interpreting service may be used. Interpreters may be requested or current requests cancelled using our online forms. When cancelling a request you will need the confirmation number from the Request Confirmation email. If you have any questions or issues, please send an e-mail to: CAD-ALLCOURTINTERPRETERS@pbcgov.org.
Other Division Procedures:
 | Standing Order re: Transport of In-Custody Defendants |