Judge Howard Coates Jr.
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Demand For Speedy Trial, Notice Of Expiration Of Time For Speedy Trial
Courtesy copies
Court-wideE Filed Document
Court-wideJoint Pretrial Statement
Court-wide
Adjournments
- Every continuance request must comply with Administrative Order 4.303-9/08.
- A continuance request must be accompanied by a motion to continue and a proposed order.
- A continuance motion must state whether opposing counsel and the party agree to the requested continuance.
- +3 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Court-widePhone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-wideDuty Judge
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
All Criminal Division V orders must be submitted in Word format through the OLS system.
All Orders for Criminal Division “V” must be submitted in Word format through the Online Scheduling (OLS) system.
DOCX
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
Every notice of hearing must attach or include the American Disability Act Instructional Page at the end.
Please note that for all notices of Hearing, The American Disability Act Instructional Page must be either attached or included at the end of the notice.
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Mandatory
For every motion hearing, including motions to withdraw, a proposed order must be submitted electronically before the hearing.
Effective immediately: in preparation of all motion hearings, proposed orders must be submitted electronically prior to the hearing. This includes Orders on Motions to Withdraw.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
A post-hearing order prepared at the Court's direction must state the date the hearing occurred.
If the Court directs an attorney to prepare and submit an Order after a hearing, the Order must state the date the hearing was held.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
The agreed order must use the title “Agreed Order on (Title of Motion).”
The Order must say "Agreed Order on (Title of Motion)".
Document Type
Proposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
An agreed order changing a hearing date must state the new hearing date.
Agreed orders to change a hearing date shall include the new hearing date in the order.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026Important
Disagreement with a post-hearing order form must be noted in the cover letter to the judge.
If parties are not in agreement with the form of the Order, that must be noted in the cover letter to the Judge.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Mandatory?
All parties must have received and reviewed the Order before it is submitted through Online Services.
Summary: Before a post-hearing order is submitted through Online Services, all parties must have received and reviewed it.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders for all motion hearings, including orders on motions to withdraw, must be submitted electronically before the hearing.
Effective immediately: in preparation of all motion hearings, proposed orders must be submitted electronically prior to the hearing. This includes Orders on Motions to Withdraw.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | V Divisional News
An agreed order must be submitted to the court through Online Services.
Agreed Order must be submitted to the Court via Online Services.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Agreed Orders
All proposed orders must be filed through the Online Services system.
The Court requires all proposed orders to be filed by utilizing the on-line system (OLS).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service
Criminal Division V does not accept orders as paper copies or emailed copies.
Criminal Division “V” does not accept hard copies/emailed copies of Orders.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Proposed Orders - Submission of Orders as of 2-22-2021
Every motion must be filed with the clerk before the Judge's office is contacted for a hearing date.
All motions must be filed with the clerk of the court PRIOR to contacting the Judge's office for a hearing date.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Hearings
Orders uploaded through the Online Scheduling System may not also be sent by mail or email.
Please note: Do not send duplicate Orders in the mail or by email that have also been uploaded on the Online Scheduling System.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Agreed Orders
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Proposed orders, including orders on motions to withdraw, must be submitted electronically before the hearing.
Effective immediately: in preparation of all motion hearings, proposed orders must be submitted electronically prior to the hearing. This includes Orders on Motions to Withdraw.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Hearings
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Each proposed order must be sent to opposing counsel with opposing counsel's agreement or objection stated.
All proposed orders must be sent to opposing counsel and indicate if the opposing objects or agrees to the proposed order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service
Judge Coates requires electronic service in Division V matters.
Judge Coates requires E-Service.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service
Filing a notice of email designation does not register an attorney or party for judicial electronic service; registration with the 15th Circuit's Online Services is required.
NOTE: THE FILING OF A "NOTICE OF E-MAIL DESIGNATION DOES NOT REGISTER YOU FOR JUDICIAL E-SERVICE. YOU MUST REGISTER WITH THE 15TH CIRCUIT'S ONLINE SERVICES.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service for Proposed Orders
Division V serves orders by email to attorneys not excused in writing and to self-represented parties who designated an email address.
Pursuant to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516(h)(1), Criminal Division “V” will serve all orders by "email to all attorneys who have not been excused from e-mail service in writing and to all parties not represented by an attorney who have designated an e-mail address for service."
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service for Proposed Orders
Criminal Division V electronically serves orders to attorneys and parties who register primary and secondary email addresses with the 15th Circuit.
Criminal Division “V” electronically serves orders to attorneys/parties that have registered their primary and secondary e-mail addresses with the 15th Circuit.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | E-Service for Proposed Orders
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The Court must receive a courtesy copy of every filed speedy-trial demand or notice of expiration of time for speedy trial.
The Court shall be provided a courtesy copy of all FILED demands for speedy trial or notices of expiration of time for speedy trial.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Demand for Speedy Trial and/or Notices of Expiration of Time for Speedy Trial
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A final violation-of-probation hearing continuance requires an e-filed motion, a hearing, an emailed copy to CAD, and contact with the Judicial Assistant for a hearing date.
To continue a Final VOP hearing, a Motion for Continuance shall be e-filed and a hearing is required. Once the Motion is e-filed, please send a copy of the Motion to the CAD email and contact the Judicial Assistant for a hearing date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances for Final Violation of Probation (VOP) Hearings
Every continuance request must comply with Administrative Order 4.303-9/08.
All requests for continuance must comply with Administrative Order 4.303-9/08.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances
A trial-docket continuance motion must be electronically filed and scheduled for hearing before the Judicial Assistant sends the e-calendar form.
Motions for Continuance for matters on the trial docket must be e-filed and scheduled for hearing prior to the Judicial Assistant emailing the e-calendar form to the parties.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances for 2-hr Call/Trial Docket Matters
A continuance request must be accompanied by a motion to continue and a proposed order.
No requests for continuance will be entertained without an accompanying motion to continue and a proposed order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances
When special circumstances arise after the e-calendar form is emailed, the continuance motion must be e-filed and a copy emailed for court review.
In the event there are special circumstances that require a continuance after the form has been emailed, please e-file the Motion and send a copy to the CAD email for the court's review.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances for 2-hr Call/Trial Docket Matters
A continuance motion must state whether opposing counsel and the party agree to the requested continuance.
All motions shall indicate whether opposing counsel and party are in agreement.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
After filing an emergency motion, counsel must contact the Judicial Assistant before 4:00 p.m.
Pursuant to A.O. 4.101 only after the Emergency Motion has been filed with the Clerk of Court, counsel shall contact the Judicial Assistant prior to 4:00 p.m..
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Emergency Hearings
If a hearing remains necessary after consulting opposing counsel, the requesting party must email the Division V address with specified case and hearing information.
Please contact opposing counsel to see if the matter is agreed upon. If the parties still require a hearing, please email CAD-DivisionV@pbcgov.org and include the case number, the Defendant's name, the type of hearing needed and the amount of time needed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Hearings
Qualifying hearings under 15 minutes must be scheduled by email with the Judicial Assistant and may not be set unilaterally.
Hearings (evidentiary hearings; morning docket hearings and hearings requiring testimony) requiring less than 15 minutes are set by emailing CAD-DivisionV@pbcgov.org to obtain available dates and times for hearing. No hearings shall be set unilaterally without coordinating with the Judicial Assistant.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Hearings
For motions requiring more than 15 minutes, the moving party must communicate the requested hearing duration, coordinate proposed dates, and email the agreed date to the Judicial Assistant.
Motions requiring more than 15 minutes should be submitted to the Court with a cover letter or an email to the Court's divisional email stating how much time is requested for the Motion. The Judicial Assistant will email the parties with available dates. Parties will be given several potential dates in order to coordinate with the other side. Once a date is agreed upon, moving party is to email the Judicial Assistant to set the date on the Judge's calendar.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | Hearings
Contact the Judicial Assistant through the Division V email address.
Please Contact the Judicial Assistant via the Divisional Email Address Division V email: CAD-DivisionV@pbcgov.org
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026 · Criminal cases
Page 1 | V Divisional Instructions
Contact the judicial assistant through the Division V email address.
Please Contact the Judicial Assistant via the Divisional Email Address
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below. · Criminal cases
Page 1 | V Divisional News