Judicial Practices and Procedures
Last updated 7/13/2026
Lourdes Maria Casanova, Judge
Kayleigh O'Connell, Judicial Assistant
Criminal Justice Complex
3228 Gun Club Rd, Room W-132
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Table of Contents
A. Communications with the Judicial Office
Method of Communication:
Division or Judicial E-mails
Primary communication to the judicial office should be submitted by e-mail to CAD-DivisionKK1@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 CT 001234 AMB State v. Smith – 15-Minute Hearing Requested).
Telephone
Self-represented litigants and attorneys excused from e-mail service may communicate with the judicial office by telephone call to (561) 688-4600. 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. Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
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, 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.
B. Scheduling Procedures
Court Schedule:
- Dockets for Misdemeanor Arraignments and Traffic Pre-trial Hearings are Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am.
- Dockets for DUI and Felony Arraignments are Thursday mornings at 8:30 am.
- Dockets for Drug Court are Monday and Thursday afternoons at 1:00 pm.
- Dockets for DUS Court are the first Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm.
- Risk Protection Order hearings are scheduled Monday through Thursday mornings or afternoons.
- Judge Casanova presides over First Appearances Friday mornings at 10:00 am.
- Motions and other evidentiary hearings are scheduled at the Court's discretion.
- Scheduling is subject to change at the Court's discretion.
Scheduling Hearings:
- Hearings must be requested by e-mail to CAD-DivisionKK1@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.
- 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 evidentiary hearings, 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 requiring the assistance of an interpreter will generally be heard before other matters.
- The order of proceedings is subject to change at the Court's discretion.
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.
Cancelling Hearings:
Hearings may only be cancelled or rescheduled with permission of the Court.
C. Remote Appearance
Video communication platforms (e.g., zoom) are unavailable at the Criminal Justice Complex. All parties, attorneys, and witnesses must appear in person. Requests to appear by phone must be made by motion no later than five (5) business days prior to any hearing.
D. Submission of Orders and Judgments
Format:
- All proposed orders must be submitted in WORD format through Online Services (OLS) or by email to CAD-DivisionKK1@pbcgov.org and provided to opposing counsel and any self-represented litigant.
- Please "preview" the proposed order to ensure it is formatted correctly. Using macros, columns, or paragraph tabs is not compatible with the OLS system; please remove all special formatting when submitting.
- Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit proposed orders to the court by U.S. mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.
Attachments:
Stamped copies of e-filed motions, affidavits and/or supporting documents necessary for the Court's review must be uploaded as attachments to the proposed order. They must be e-filed and docketed prior to uploading the proposed order, unless an e-filed stamped copy is attached.
Agreed orders:
Please indicate the order is agreed in the title and body of the order. If the form of the order is disputed, the submitting party must notify the Court of such disagreement in the comments.
Ex parte Orders:
Any motion that has not been expressly agreed to by the opposing party requires a hearing to be set and noticed by the moving party. Except for default or ex parte motions allowed by rule, the Court will not enter proposed orders without a hearing or agreement of the parties.
Please do not upload a proposed order unless one of the following is met:
- it is agreed;
- the hearing has already occurred; or
- it is proper to be considered ex parte.
Proposed orders not in compliance will not be considered.
E. Courtesy Copies of Case Law and Other Documents
Courtesy copies of motions, case law, and other documents for any hearing must be submitted to the Court no later than three (3) business days before the hearing by email to CAD-DivisionKK1@pbcgov.org. Self-represented litigants excused from e-mail service may submit courtesy copies to the court by U.S. Mail or hand-delivered to the judicial office.
F. Emergency and Other Urgent Matters
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.
G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Submission Method:
- Original exhibits should be brought to Court for any hearing.
- In addition, Parties may submit exhibits necessary for the Court to review in anticipation of the hearing along with a courtesy copy of the motion to the division email CAD-DivisionKK1@pbcgov.org.
Format:
Exhibits must be labeled in the following format: "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
All pre-trial substantive motions for Criminal cases are heard in the trial divisions.
Pre-trial motions for Traffic cases are generally heard at the Pre-trial hearing at the Criminal Justice Complex.
I. Setting Case for Trial
All trials are heard in the trial divisions.
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, please request a court interpreter in accordance with the instructions on the circuit's Court Interpreter page.