Procedures verified June 25, 2026
Judge Darrin P. Gayles -- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Miami Division
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Double-spaced TNR 12pt is REQUIRED for all motions, responses, and replies -- non-compliant filings risk rejection.
- 2. Telephone appearance requires PRIOR COURT PERMISSION even for status conferences -- and only if you reside outside Miami-Dade/Broward. Never assume phone appearance is available.
- 3. In-person required for all substantive motions -- no exceptions without prior permission.
- 4. Discovery procedures page still references Judge Goodman (departed). Confirm current paired magistrate and follow that magistrate's procedures.
- 5. No pretrial conference will be set. Do not request one.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standing motion calendar. Counsel must appear in person for all substantive motions. No hearing held unless set by the Court. |
| Motion Limit | Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 20 pages maximum. |
| Reply Limit | Per Local Rules: 10 pages maximum. |
| Chambers Copies | Conditional Not required. |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. FL-SD does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | Telephone appearance permitted ONLY for status conferences and calendar calls, and ONLY for counsel residing outside Miami-Dade and Broward Counties -- and requires prior Court permission even then. Substantive motions: in-person always required. [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)] |
| Discovery | All discovery referred to assigned magistrate judge. Page expressly references the assigned magistrate's discovery procedures. |
Procedural Briefing by Motion Type
S.D. Fla. · Standing Orders
Procedural Requirements
Key Traps
Compare to Other S.D. Fla. Judges
Procedural facts only. Judges shown to illustrate variance in this district.
mail Subscribe to Judge Gayles procedures email updates
Primary sources. No fluff. Straight to your inbox.
chevron_right
Before You File
Motion Days & Times
No standing motion calendar. Counsel must appear in person for all substantive motions. No hearing held unless set by the Court.
Notice Period
Opposition due 14 days after service; reply due 7 days. Per Local Rules.
Motion Page / Word Limit
Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 20 pages maximum.
Opposition Limit
Per Local Rules: 20 pages maximum.
Reply Limit
Per Local Rules: 10 pages maximum.
Font & Formatting
Double-spaced Times New Roman 12-point typeface required for ALL motions, responses, and replies. This is explicit in Gayles's procedures. [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)]
chevron_right
At Filing
Chambers Copies
Conditional
Not required.
Proposed Orders
Microsoft Word format to gayles@flsd.uscourts.gov. [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)]
chevron_right
Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. FL-SD does not use a tentative ruling system.
Oral Argument
No hearing unless set by the Court. Request in a separate section per L.R. 7.1(b)(2). In-person required for all substantive hearings.
Remote Appearances
Telephone appearance permitted ONLY for status conferences and calendar calls, and ONLY for counsel residing outside Miami-Dade and Broward Counties -- and requires prior Court permission even then. Substantive motions: in-person always required. [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)]
chevron_right
Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Per Local Rules and Court procedures. Contact gayles@flsd.uscourts.gov for proposed orders.
Discovery Referral
All discovery referred to assigned magistrate judge. Page expressly references the assigned magistrate's discovery procedures.
Discovery Dispute Procedure Submission-first
Governed entirely by the assigned magistrate judge's procedures. Note: Gayles's page still references 'Judge Goodman Discovery Procedures' -- Goodman is no longer on the FL-SD roster. Verify current paired magistrate assignment.
Ex Parte Applications
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4(d). Title must include 'ex parte.'
Settlement Notification
Per Local Rules. No pretrial conference will be set.
Lead Counsel
Multiple plaintiffs or defendants must file joint motions with co-parties absent clear conflicts of position. [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)]
Under Seal Filings
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Per Local Rules. Calendar call typically Wednesday before two-week trial period at 9:30 a.m. No pretrial conference (Court expressly states it will not set one). [Gayles Civil Procedures (inline)]
chevron_right
AI & Style Preferences
Additional Notes
Sources: Inline Civil Procedures tab on Gayles's court page (flsd.uscourts.gov). Discovery procedures reference stale magistrate assignment (Goodman). Verify paired magistrate at case-management stage.
Sources & Currency
verified
Procedures verified June 25, 2026.
Verify now →