IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PINELLAS AND PASCO COUNTIES, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 88- 48 S1788048

RE: TELEPHONIC HEARINGS IN CIRCUIT CIVIL, COUNTY CIVIL
AND SMALL CLAIMS CASES

WHEREAS, Rule 2.071, Rules of Judicial Administration, provides for the use of communication equipment for motion hearings, pretrial conferences or status conferences, and

IN ORDER to set forth uniform procedure to be utilized throughout the county regarding the scheduling and conduct of telephonic hearings, it is

ORDERED:

1) That any party may schedule a telephonic hearings by the filing of a notice or cross-notice of telephonic hearing.

2) Prior to noticing for telephonic hearing, the noticing party shall:

a) Schedule the hearing time with the judge's office, and inform the judge's judicial assistant that the hearing will be conducted telephonically, and

b) Contact and confer with all other parties or their counsel and determine which of the parties or their counsel will appear in person at the judge's chambers to participate in the hearing, and which parties or their counsel will appear telephonically.

3) The notice or cross-notice of telephonic hearing shall reflect:

a) The date and time of hearing,

b) The subject matter to be heard telephonically, and

c) Which parties and/or their counsel will appear telephonically, and which parties and/or their counsel will appear in person.

4) The party initiating the telephonic hearing shall take such action as is necessary to provide that the communication equipment required for the telephonic hearing will be available at the scheduled date and time.

5) Telephonic hearings shall not be permitted when:

a) Live testimony is to be presented to the Court during the course of the hearing, or

b) When any judge directs that hearings through communications equipment shall not be held.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, this 4th day of May, 1988.

/s/Philip A. Federico
Philip A. Federico, Chief Judge