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JUDGE GRACE E.
ROBSON
Judge
Robson's Hearing Procedures
These procedures only
apply to hearings before Judge Robson
Click HERE for a printable PDF of these procedures.
EFFECTIVE Tuesday, January 2, 2024, ALL
hearings before Judge Robson will be held in
accordance with these procedures.
- ALL HEARINGS ARE IN PERSON.
- All attorneys and pro se parties must attend
all hearings in person, unless:
- an Order permits otherwise;
- the person is only observing the hearing;
- before the hearing, all interested parties
reached a clear agreement resolving all
objections to the matters set for hearing. (Note:
Lack of any filed objections to a motion
or application does not mean there is a
clear agreement between all interested
parties);
- the Court has granted leave to attend
remotely for good cause shown by motion
filed not later than two business
days before the hearing.
Parties must also email Gena_Whitsett@flmb.uscourts.gov and Chelsea_Moore@flmb.uscourts.gov with a copy of the motion once filed so the Court can promptly review it;
- the hearing is scheduled as an emergency
or on an expedited basis pursuant to Local
Rule 9013-1(d) or (e) and is not an evidentiary hearing; or
- the only matter scheduled for hearing
is consideration of a reaffirmation
agreement, in which case counsel and the
debtor(s) are permitted to appear remotely
by Zoom.
- The Office of the United States Trustee, any
attorney for the United States Trustee, or
Subchapter V Trustee residing outside of the
Orlando Division of the Middle District of
Florida may attend any non-evidentiary
hearing remotely and make substantive argument
without filing a motion requesting leave to do
so.
- In accordance with the broadcast policy of the
Judicial Conference of the United States,
effective September 22, 2023, no member of the
press or the public may observe any hearing
remotely by Zoom. Any member of the press or
public may attend any hearing in person.
- Listen Only Appearances. Parties or
counsel who want to observe hearings remotely
may do so by audio only on Zoom. Listen only
appearances must register as specified in II.A.
below.
- REMOTE ACCESS PROCEDURES.
- Advance Registration Required.
To participate in a hearing remotely via Zoom,
advance registration is required. For
non-emergency hearings, you must register by 3:00
p.m. one business day before the date of
the hearing. For emergency hearings, you must
register at least one hour before the hearing.
Upon registration, Zoom will provide a
password-protected link for the Zoom conference.
Failure to timely register in accordance with
this procedure may result in your being denied
access to the hearing via Zoom.
- Registration Process.
- To register for a remote appearance via
Zoom, click here, or manually
enter the following web address into a
browser: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdeuhrjMtG-t7cOQp3Y8nXhELTBk6IzY
- Fill out all required information on the
registration page. If you have more than one
matter set for hearing at the same date and
time, you only need to register once for
that date, but you must provide all relevant
case numbers, case names, and client names in
the registration process.
- Recording Prohibited, Official
Record. No person may record the
proceedings from any location by any means. The
audio recording created and maintained by the
Court will be the sole basis for creation of a
transcript that constitutes the official record
of the hearing.
- Conduct During Hearing. All
participants must mute electronic devices and
disable all audible alerts while on Zoom.
Although conducted using remote conferencing
technology, the hearing is a court proceeding
and the formalities of the courtroom must be
observed at all times. Counsel and parties must
dress appropriately, exercise civility, and
otherwise conduct themselves in a manner
consistent with the dignity of the Court. For
hearings with multiple matters set at the same
time, participants attending by video conference
should keep their cameras off until their matter
is called, at which time they should turn on
their cameras for their particular hearing, and
then turn them off again after their matter has
concluded.
Persons participating remotely must:
- test their equipment and internet
connection prior to the hearing to ensure it
is operating properly;
- ensure that the display name shown on Zoom
is their full name;
- state their name each time they speak;
- speak audibly, clearly, and slowly; and
- mute their microphone when not talking.
Failure to comply with these guidelines,
including equipment or internet connection
failures, may result in the Court disconnecting
your line and continuing the hearing without
you.
Please note that when appearing remotely, you
are connected directly with the sound system in
the courtroom and will be able to hear all
activity before the Court just as if you were in
the courtroom. As with appearances in person,
you must wait for the courtroom deputy to call
the case, at which point appearances will be
permitted. For hybrid hearings, the Court always
takes appearances in the courtroom first and
then by Zoom. It is your responsibility to
listen for your case to be called. At the
conclusion of your matter, you may disconnect
from the Zoom meeting without requesting to be
excused.