Procedures verified June 25, 2026
Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt -- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Broward County Courthouse, 299 E. Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Do not call chambers seeking an immediate ruling during a deposition. This is an explicit prohibition. All discovery disputes go through the motion process per the case scheduling order.
- 2. Mediation is mandatory in all civil cases. Counsel must submit a proposed order referring the case to mediation -- do not wait for the court to raise this.
- 3. Trial dates are NOT automatically set. They are set after conferring with lead counsel. Do not assume a trial date is on the calendar without confirming through the scheduling process.
- 4. For consent cases: Plaintiff may NOT make a rebuttal argument during opening statements -- this is an explicit trial rule unique to Judge Hunt among FL-SD magistrates.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standing motion calendar. Court issues a discovery scheduling order per case with specific deadlines and procedures. Standard motion pathway: file after conferral; court schedules hearing if warranted. Do NOT call chambers to request an immediate ruling during a deposition. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1)] |
| Motion Limit | Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 20 pages maximum for motion and incorporated memorandum. Per-case scheduling order may set specific discovery briefing limits. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)] |
| Reply Limit | Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 10 pages maximum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)] |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required Not required. |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. FL-SD does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | Not specified for discovery matters. Trial dates set after conferring with lead counsel (not automatically set). |
| Discovery | This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Hunt operates under Model C: confer in person or by phone, then file a motion per the case-specific scheduling order. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(3)] |
Procedural Briefing by Motion Type
C.D. Cal. · Standing Orders
Procedural Requirements
Key Traps
Compare to Other C.D. Cal. Judges
Procedural facts only. Judges shown to illustrate variance in this district.
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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
No standing motion calendar. Court issues a discovery scheduling order per case with specific deadlines and procedures. Standard motion pathway: file after conferral; court schedules hearing if warranted. Do NOT call chambers to request an immediate ruling during a deposition. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1)]
Notice Period
Per Local Rules. Discovery disputes governed by the 28-day window under S.D. Fla. L.R. 26.1(g). Case-specific scheduling order sets all discovery deadlines. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(1)]
Motion Page / Word Limit
Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 20 pages maximum for motion and incorporated memorandum. Per-case scheduling order may set specific discovery briefing limits. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)]
Opposition Limit
Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 20 pages maximum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)]
Reply Limit
Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)): 10 pages maximum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)]
Font & Formatting
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.1 (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point).
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✗ Not required
Not required.
Proposed Orders
Per Local Rules (S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(a)(2)): Word format emailed to chambers per CM/ECF Administrative Procedures. Law clerk contact: Kaylyn Ling (954) 769-5470; Heath Hooper (954) 769-5471. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(a)(2)]
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. FL-SD does not use a tentative ruling system.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
N/A.
Oral Argument
No hearing unless set by the Court. Court decides after full briefing. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(2)]
Remote Appearances
Not specified for discovery matters. Trial dates set after conferring with lead counsel (not automatically set).
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Do not call chambers to seek an immediate ruling during a deposition. All discovery disputes handled through the motion process per the case scheduling order. Law clerk phone numbers: Kaylyn Ling (954) 769-5470; Heath Hooper (954) 769-5471.
Discovery Referral
This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Hunt operates under Model C: confer in person or by phone, then file a motion per the case-specific scheduling order. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(3)]
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
Model C -- Traditional per case-specific scheduling order. Required sequence: (1) Personal conferral (in-person or phone required; email alone insufficient). (2) File motion per the discovery scheduling order issued in the case. Court decides whether to hold a hearing. Do not call chambers to seek an immediate ruling during a deposition. Mediation required in all civil cases; counsel must submit a proposed order referring to mediation at the case outset. [Judge Hunt -- Chambers Procedures]
Ex Parte Applications
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4(d): Include 'ex parte' in title; restricted from public docket upon submission. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4(d)]
Settlement Notification
Mediation is mandatory in all civil cases. Counsel must submit a proposed order for mediation referral at case outset. Judge Hunt does not automatically set trial dates -- they are set after conferring with lead counsel. [Judge Hunt -- Chambers Procedures]
Lead Counsel
Trial dates set after conferring with lead counsel. Counsel must be available for scheduling conferral.
Under Seal Filings
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Contact law clerks (Kaylyn Ling or Heath Hooper) regarding scheduling matters. Trial dates set by conferral -- not automatically imposed.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Sources: Judge Hunt's chambers page (8 tabs -- most comprehensive of any FL-SD magistrate), Sample Discovery Order PDF, and Sample Pretrial Scheduling Order PDF. Fort Lauderdale division. Model C. Law clerks: Kaylyn Ling (954) 769-5470; Heath Hooper (954) 769-5471. Mediation mandatory in all civil cases.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 25, 2026.
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