Southern District of Florida Document Format Requirements

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Proposed jury instructions must also be emailed to the Court at scola@flsd.uscourts.gov in Word format (.doc).

The parties must jointly file their proposed jury instructions via CM/ECF, and must also submit their proposed jury instructions to the Court via e-mail at scola@flsd.uscourts.gov in Word format (.doc).

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 4, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Format

DOCX

Proposed voir dire questions must be emailed to the Court in Word format (.doc).

The proposed questions must be filed with the Court at the time of the filing of the joint pretrial stipulation, ===== PAGE 4 ===== and must also be submitted to the Court via e-mail at scola@flsd.uscourts.gov in Word format (.doc).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Agreed jury instructions must use regular typeface, plaintiff-only proposals must be underlined, and defendant-only proposals must be bold-faced.

Where both parties agree on a proposed instruction, that instruction must be set out in regular typeface. Instructions proposed only by a plaintiff must be underlined. Instructions proposed only by a defendant must be bold-faced.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Plaintiff’s exhibits must use numeric labels prefixed with “P,” and defendant’s exhibits must use alphabetic labels prefixed with “D.”

Plaintiff’s exhibits must be marked numerically with the letter “P” as a prefix. Defendant’s exhibits must be marked alphabetically with the letter “D” as a prefix.

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Civil cases

Format

PAPER ?

Section 2C of the Southern District of Florida CM/ECF Administrative Procedures requires pro se litigants to file their documents in a conventional manner, which means in person or by U.S. mail. There are no exceptions.

Summary: Pro se litigants must file documents in person or by U.S. mail with no exceptions.

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

If a party submits a proposed order to the Undersigned, then it must be in Microsoft Word format in 12-point Palatino Linotype font. The proposed order must be double spaced, justified, and the case style must mirror the case style used in this Order. If the proposed order is more than one page, then it must include page numbers, beginning on the second page.

Summary: Proposed orders must be in Word format, 12-pt Palatino Linotype, double-spaced, justified, with page numbers starting on page 2.

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Civil cases

Where the parties do agree on a proposed instruction or question, that instruction or question shall be set forth in Times New Roman 14 point typeface.

Summary: Agreed jury instructions must use Times New Roman 14 point typeface.

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Civil cases

Instructions and questions proposed only by the plaintiff(s) to which the defendant(s) object shall be italicized. Instructions and questions proposed only by defendant(s) to which plaintiff(s) object shall be bold-faced.

Summary: Objected instructions must be italicized (plaintiff) or bold-faced (defendant).

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Civil cases

Each jury instruction shall be typed on a separate page and, except for Eleventh Circuit pattern instructions clearly identified as such, must be supported by citations to authority.

Summary: Each jury instruction must be on a separate page with citations to authority (except pattern instructions).

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Civil cases

Format

DOCX ?

An additional copy of all proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (the date for filing the proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law is set forth in the pretrial scheduling order) shall be sent in Word format to the chambers e-mail account listed above. Proposed Conclusions of Law must be supported by citations to authority.

Summary: Bench trial findings must be emailed in Word format with citations to authority.

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Civil cases

All exhibits shall be pre-labeled in accordance with the proposed exhibit list, and only numerical sequences are permitted—alphabetical designations shall not be used. Exhibit labels must include the case number, the exhibit number, and the party offering the exhibit.

Summary: Exhibits must use numerical labels only with case number, exhibit number, and offering party.

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Civil cases

Third, the designated (or counter-designated) testimony for each witness must be highlighted and easy to locate and identify.

Summary: Designated testimony in notebook must be highlighted and easy to locate.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Trial Exhibits. All trial exhibits must be pre-marked. The Plaintiff’s exhibits must be marked numerically with the letter “P” as a prefix; the Defendant’s exhibits must be marked numerically with the letter “D” as a prefix. The parties must submit a list setting out all exhibits by the date of the calendar call. This list must indicate the pre-marked identification label (e.g., P-1 or D-1) and include a brief description of the exhibit. The exhibit list shall refer to specific items and shall not include blanket statements such as all exhibits produced during depositions or Plaintiff reserves the use of any other relevant evidence. Exhibits omitted from the list will not be allowed at trial.

Summary: Trial exhibits must be pre-marked with P/D prefixes and listed with descriptions by calendar call.

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Required

Always ?

Format

PAPER ?

All electronic devices including but not limited to Cellular Phones, Pagers, Personal Data Assistants (PDA), Laptop Computers, Tape Recorders, etc., are prohibited from being brought into any federal courthouse facility within the Southern District of Florida with the following exceptions:

Summary: Electronic devices are prohibited in federal courthouses except for specified categories.

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Civil cases

Applies to

Proposed order ?

Format

DOCX ?

If the parties file a joint motion for entry of a protective order, the parties shall promptly send to louis@flsd.uscourts.gov the proposed protective order in Word format. See S.D. Fla. CM/ECF Admin. Proc. 3I(6).

Summary: Proposed protective orders for joint motions must be in Word (DOCX) format.

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Civil cases

Labeling a Source Material as “Exhibit 1” or “Exhibit A” generally is not helpful for an Informal Discovery Hearing; please use specific, simple descriptions to title the Source Materials sent to chambers (i.e., “Plaintiff’s Supplemental Answers to Defendant’s Interrogatories”).

Summary: Source Materials sent to chambers for Informal Discovery Hearings must use specific, simple titles instead of generic 'Exhibit 1' or 'Exhibit A' labels.

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Required

Always ?

Format

PAPER ?

All electronic devices including but not limited to Cellular Phones, Pagers, Personal Data Assistants (PDA), Laptop Computers, Tape Recorders, etc., are prohibited from being brought into any federal courthouse facility within the Southern District of Florida with the following exceptions:

Summary: Electronic devices are prohibited in federal courthouses except for specified categories.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Margins

top 1 in, bottom 1 in, left 1 in, right 1 in ?

In accordance with Local Rule 5.1.a.4, all pleadings, motions, and other papers tendered for filing shall be plainly typed or written on one (1) side with one (1) inch margins on each side and properly paginated at the bottom of each page. In addition, all such papers shall be double-spaced and typed papers shall appear in twelve (12) point font size.

Summary: All pleadings must be double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, single-sided, and paginated.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Trial is scheduled to commence during the two-week period beginning Monday, [counsel to input date that is 120 days after the filing deadline for dispositive motions] 1, at 9:30 a.m. at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Courthouse, 400 N. Miami Avenue, Courtroom 11-4, Miami, Florida 33128.

Summary: Trial scheduled to commence during two-week period beginning 120 days after dispositive motions deadline.

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Civil cases

Required

Always ?

Calendar Call: Tuesday, [counsel to input date that is the Tuesday prior to the first day of trial], at 8:30 a.m. at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Courthouse, 400 N. Miami Avenue, Courtroom 11-4, Miami, Florida 33128.

Summary: Calendar call scheduled for Tuesday prior to trial commencement at 8:30 a.m.

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Format

PAPER ?

B. Any federal courthouse employee (United States Probation, Clerk's Office, Chambers Staff, and United States Marshals Service) with valid permanent government employee identification; or,

Summary: Federal courthouse employees with valid ID exempt from device restrictions.

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Format

PAPER ?

C. Any attorney or employee of the United States Attorney's Office, the Federal Public Defender's Office or the United States Bankruptcy Trustee with a valid identification card issued from that office; or,

Summary: Federal prosecutor/public defender/bankruptcy trustee staff with valid ID exempt.

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Format

PAPER ?

D. Any Special Agent for the United States Government or other law enforcement officer authorized to enforce the law within the Southern District of Florida, having official business within the courthouse facility and possessing a valid agency/department issued identification badge; or,

Summary: Law enforcement officers with valid ID and official business exempt.

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Format

PAPER ?

E. Any attorney permitted to practice law within the Southern District of Florida with a valid Florida Bar identification card or pro hac vice order having business within the facility. This applies to attorneys only and precludes staff, investigators, clients, etc.; or,

Summary: Attorneys with valid Florida Bar ID or pro hac vice order exempt.

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Format

PAPER ?

F. Prospective jurors and seated jurors and witnesses with subpoenas shall be permitted to bring in their cellular phones (with or without their integrated cameras) and electronic book readers of any kind, including but not limited to Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and any type of electronic tablet reading device; or,

Summary: Jurors and witnesses with subpoenas may bring phones and e-readers.