Procedures verified June 25, 2026
Magistrate Judge Eduardo I. Sanchez -- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33128
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. If the district judge's order prohibits filing discovery motions but has not established an alternative procedure, do NOT guess -- email sanchez@flsd.uscourts.gov for instructions. Acting without instructions in this scenario creates procedural error.
- 2. No reply permitted. Full stop. Do not file a reply brief on a discovery motion without express court permission.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standing motion calendar. Court enters a scheduling order if it determines a hearing is necessary after full briefing. [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 non-discovery motions. Discovery disputes: 5-page limit. [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 for non-discovery motions. Discovery replies: not permitted. [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 in published procedures. |
| Discovery | This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Sanchez operates under Model C: personal conferral, then file a discovery motion. EXCEPTION: if the district judge's order prohibits filing discovery motions and no alternative procedure has been established, email sanchez@flsd.uscourts.gov for instructions. [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 enters a scheduling order if it determines a hearing is necessary after full briefing. [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). [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 non-discovery motions. Discovery disputes: 5-page limit. [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 for non-discovery motions. Discovery responses: 5 pages within 5 business days. [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 for non-discovery motions. Discovery replies: not permitted. [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. [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 the court enters a scheduling order after full briefing. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(2)]
Remote Appearances
Not specified in published procedures.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Email sanchez@flsd.uscourts.gov if the district judge has prohibited filing discovery motions and no alternative procedure has been set -- this is a limited special-case exception, not the general gateway.
Discovery Referral
This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Sanchez operates under Model C: personal conferral, then file a discovery motion. EXCEPTION: if the district judge's order prohibits filing discovery motions and no alternative procedure has been established, email sanchez@flsd.uscourts.gov for instructions. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(3)]
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
Model C -- Traditional. Required sequence: (1) Personal conferral (in-person, phone, or Zoom; email alone insufficient). (2) File discovery motion (5-page limit). Motion purpose is to frame the issues, not argue extensively. Must attach all relevant exhibits (pertinent discovery requests and responses). (3) Response within 5 business days (5-page limit); no reply permitted. (4) Court enters a scheduling order if it determines a hearing is necessary. Parties are encouraged to continue pursuing resolution even after a hearing is scheduled. SPECIAL CASE: If the district judge has prohibited filing of discovery motions AND neither the district judge's order nor a subsequent order by Magistrate Sanchez has established an alternative procedure, email sanchez@flsd.uscourts.gov for instructions before doing anything. [Judge Sanchez Discovery Procedures PDF]
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
Not specifically addressed in published procedures. Follow the district judge's settlement instructions in your case.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Per Local Rules. Contact chambers to reschedule any hearing set.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Sources: Judge Sanchez's Discovery Procedures PDF (4 pages). Miami division. Model C. The email fallback for cases where the district judge has prohibited discovery motions is unique to this judge's published procedures.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 25, 2026.
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