AMENDED COURT PROCEDURES FOR COVID-19 DURATION
(REVISED 3/9/2021)

APPEARANCES/PLEADINGS

• At this time, there will be no in-person court proceedings.
• Please do not come to the courthouse for hearings until further notice.
• All proceedings will be held electronically by Zoom video through Courtscribes, except for hearings based on allegations of domestic violence/stalking which will be held in person in the courtroom..
• To schedule a hearing you must file a motion and then contact the Judge’s office either via email (adamshearings@ca.cjis20.org) or phone ((239) 533-8407) to obtain hearing dates/times. Next, contact opposing counsel or party to clear hearing dates/times. Then contact Judge’s office to set and confirm hearing date/time. Your hearing is not set until you confirm it with the Judge’s office.
• After your hearing is set or upon receipt of the Notice of Hearing, contact Courtscribes to arrange for your appearance at least 72 hours in advance of the proceeding via the following procedure:

  
  Go to: http://scheduling.courtscribes.com

  Create an account using the “Sign up” button on the top right. Fill out all the necessary information and return to the homepage to “Schedule Now” and input the following information:
  Case Number
  Case Name
  Date
  Time
  State
  Select a state
  Judge
  Select Judge
  Participant(s) Appearing
  Party Representing
  Select Party Representing
  Type of Hearing

  Once you have entered the above, continue the process and you will receive the zoom link. An email will also be sent to the email address you used to create your profile. Any questions, please contact CourtScribes at (833) 727-4237 Ext. 1. There is no charge for this service.

• Please include the aforementioned full procedure information for Courtscribes in any of your hearing or trial notices.
• All orders and judgments for the Court’s entry must be submitted via the E-Portal, hand delivery or US mail. If hand delivery or US mail, it must be submitted with conforming copies and self- addressed stamped envelopes. No emailed orders/judgments will be accepted unless pre-approved by the Court.

PRESENCE OF CHILDREN/WITNESSES

• During said proceeding, no one other than the parties or the witnesses should be in the room with the participant except legal counsel.
• If possible, children should be out of the home where the participant is located and under no circumstances should they be in the same room or within ear shot of said proceeding.
• It is the Court’s preference that if there are children in the residence, headphones should be used to avoid the possibility of the children accidentally overhearing the proceeding.
• If witness sequestration is requested, please notify Courtscribes at your initial contact with them and also when you log in for your court appearance.

TESTIMONY

• All Court proceedings will be conducted as if they were being held in the courtroom and all Rules of Procedure must be followed.
• Please do not interrupt while someone else is speaking. The only time interruption is permissible is for a legal objection.
• Please note that speaking objections will not be permitted.
• When someone else is speaking, you will be expected to mute your connection. Please note that all outside noises can be heard during these proceedings and should be minimized.
• Witnesses should be excluded from hearing any other person's testimony until they are done testifying.

APPROPRIATE CONDUCT

• If requested, the parties may have the proceeding legally recorded through a Court reporter or Courtscribes at their own expense.
• Under no circumstances, other than court reporting services, are these proceedings to be recorded, taped, copied or otherwise utilized or distributed in any fashion, including but not limited to, any social media.
• The Court shall impose sanctions if said rule is violated.

EXHIBITS

• Parties are to exchange exhibits with the opposing side no later than ten (10) days before a trial and no later than five (5) days before any other matters with the intent to stipulate to as much as possible.
• Parties are to e-file all exhibits in the Court file at least 72 hours before the hearing.
• The recipient must notify of any objections to exhibits with opposing side no later than three (3) days prior to said proceeding. Should you fail to notify of an objection, the opposing side may request good cause to consider that as a waiver.
• Said exhibits are to be delivered or mailed directly to the Judge’s office no later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding with the objected to exhibits provided in a separate folder or notebook and delineated as objections.
• Said exhibits are to be delivered to the Judge’s office, as well as to opposing counsel or party, in hard copy. No electronic deliveries will be accepted by the Judge’s office, however, counsel may, at their choosing, agree to accept electronic delivery.
• Any exhibits should have a cover page, an exhibit index and all exhibits should be numbered in accordance with the index.
• If a witness will need to review an exhibit at the proceeding, be prepared to send the exhibit electronically to them at the time of their testimony if not provided in advance due to an objection.

EMERGENCY OR EXPEDITED HEARINGS

• All requests for emergency or expedited hearings must be submitted to Judge Adams either by US mail or hand delivery for the Court’s determination as to how the motion should be set. We do not accept pleadings by email.

E-PORTAL FILING

• To ensure a quick response to your proposed Orders/Judgments in the E-Portal, make sure that in each case, you have included all parties with their email addresses in the e-portal list.
• When submitting Orders or Final Judgments through the e-portal, ALWAYS submit a cover letter (with any attachments, i.e.stipulations and/or motions concerning the order/judgment) and separately send the Order/Judgment. For each submission, use the Case Style and Case No. as well as indicating whether it is a cover letter, order or judgment.
• Submit all Orders and Judgments with a complete Certificate of Service. It is recommended that you use all email addresses, however, if you do not have an email address, include the full physical address including zip code in the Certificate of Service.
• If a hearing or trial has been held regarding the Order/Judgment, please include that fact and the hearing/trial date in the cover letter.
• Make sure each cover letter and order/judgment has a case number. If it does not have a case number, it will not be processed.
• Submit Orders/Judgments through the e-portal ONLY if they are agreed upon. If objections have been made to an Order/Judgment, each party should submit their own Order/Judgment directly to the Judge’s office and not through the portal. The cover letter to the Order/Judgment should reflect that there is an objection by opposing. Opposing must submit their specific objections to the order in writing to the Judge’s office in an expedited manner or the submitted Order may be entered.