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JUDGE TIFFANY
GEYER
Judge
Geyer’s Hearing Procedures
EFFECTIVE Tuesday, January 2, 2024, ALL
hearings before Judge Geyer will be held in
accordance with these procedures.
Click HERE for a printable PDF of these procedures.
- All participants are expected to attend
hearings in person.
- The following exceptions apply to the
in-person attendance requirement:
- an Order permits otherwise;
- a person is only observing a
hearing;
- before the hearing, all interested parties
reached a clear agreement
resolving all objections to the matters set
for hearing;
- a motion for leave to attend remotely for
good cause shown was filed no later than two
business days before the hearing
and the Court granted the
motion; (Note: parties should email
Danielle_Howie@flmb.uscourts.gov and
Alison_Hale@flmb.uscourts.gov with a copy of
the filed motion to facilitate the Court's
prompt review.);
- the hearing is scheduled as an emergency
or on an expedited basis; or
- the only matter scheduled for hearing is
consideration of a reaffirmation agreement,
in which circumstance counsel and the
parties 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. However, members of the press
or public are welcome to attend any hearing in
person.
- Listen Only Appearances. Parties,
counsel, or counsel’s staff who wish to observe
hearings remotely may do so using Zoom audio by
registering as specified in II.A. below. (Judge
Geyer does not use Court Solutions or
CourtCall.)
- 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 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/vJIscOCurjgiHQ0GwJfCq2KLa-bMTntrxmo#/registration
- Complete all required information on the
registration page. If you have more than one
matter set for hearing at the same date and
time, you need only 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 always
be observed. 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, 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 their full names are displayed on
Zoom;
- 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,
participants are connected directly with the
sound system in the courtroom and will be able
to hear all activity before the Court just as if
they are in the courtroom. As with appearances
in person, remote participants must wait for the
courtroom deputy to call the case, at which
point the Court will take appearances. The Court
takes appearances in the courtroom first and
then by Zoom. It is the participants’
responsibility to listen for their cases to be
called. At the conclusion of the participants’
matter, the participants may disconnect from the
Zoom meeting without requesting to be excused.