Procedures verified June 25, 2026
Judge Rodney Smith -- 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. No published standing order. All civil motion practice governed entirely by the Federal Rules and the S.D. Fla. Local Rules. Individual judge preferences will arrive via the case scheduling order.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No published individual procedures. Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1): no hearing held unless set by the Court. Request hearing in a separate titled section of your motion or opposition. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1)] |
| Motion Limit | Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2): 20 pages maximum for motion and incorporated memorandum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)] |
| Reply Limit | Per 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 published. |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. FL-SD does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order. |
| Discovery | All discovery referred to the assigned magistrate judge. Follow that magistrate's individual discovery procedures. [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 published individual procedures. Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1): no hearing held unless set by the Court. Request hearing in a separate titled section of your motion or opposition. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(1)]
Notice Period
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(1): opposition due 14 days after service; reply due 7 days after service of the opposition. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(1)]
Motion Page / Word Limit
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2): 20 pages maximum for motion and incorporated memorandum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)]
Opposition Limit
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2): 20 pages maximum. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(2)]
Reply Limit
Per 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 published.
Proposed Orders
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(a)(2): Word format emailed to smith@flsd.uscourts.gov for routine motions. [Judge Smith -- Chambers Page] [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
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(2): no hearing unless set by the Court. Request in a separate titled section. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(2)]
Remote Appearances
No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
No published individual procedures. Follow Federal Rules, Local Rules, and any case-specific administrative orders.
Discovery Referral
All discovery referred to the assigned magistrate judge. Follow that magistrate's individual discovery procedures. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(3)]
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
Governed by the assigned magistrate judge's individual procedures. Check those procedures for the operative model.
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
No published individual procedures. Follow any case-specific scheduling order instructions.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Per S.D. Fla. L.R. 5.4.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
No published individual procedures. Follow the case scheduling order.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Judge Smith has not published individual civil procedures. Proposed orders and jury instructions go to smith@flsd.uscourts.gov in Word format per L.R. 7.1(a)(2). Fort Lauderdale division judge. All other practice follows the Local Rules and any case-specific orders.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 25, 2026.
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