Procedures verified June 25, 2026
Magistrate Judge Edwin G. Torres -- 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. Boilerplate objections (vague, overbroad, unduly burdensome) are disregarded as if no objection was made -- they must specifically explain what is withheld and why.
- 2. Objections must state specifically what is being withheld. A blanket objection followed by a partial response does not preserve objections to the withheld material.
- 3. Email alone does not constitute adequate conferral. You must actually speak with opposing counsel.
- 4. The 28-day motion window under L.R. 26.1(g) is strictly enforced. Missing it forfeits the right to seek court intervention.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No standing motion calendar. Court decides whether to hold a hearing after reviewing the fully briefed motion. [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. [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 in published procedures. |
| Discovery | This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Torres operates under Model C: personal conferral, then file a discovery motion. [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 decides whether to hold a hearing after reviewing the fully briefed motion. [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). Strictly enforced. [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. [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. [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 in published procedures.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
No published individual restrictions beyond the Model C procedure. Do not contact chambers to request a discovery hearing -- file the motion.
Discovery Referral
This judge is the assigned magistrate judge for discovery disputes referred by the district court. Judge Torres operates under Model C: personal conferral, then file a discovery motion. [S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(b)(3)]
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
Model C -- Traditional. Required sequence: (1) Personal conferral (in-person or phone required; email alone is not adequate conferral). (2) File discovery motion. Court determines whether to hold a hearing. Discovery Procedure Order PDF (Mar. 2022, 9 pages) governs and covers: objection standards, privilege log requirements, the 28-day motion window, and references to the Florida Bar Standard Guidelines for Professional Conduct. Strictly enforces L.R. 26.1(g) 28-day motion window. [Judge Torres Discovery Procedure Order (Mar. 2022)]
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 Torres's Discovery Procedure Order PDF (9 pages, Mar. 2022). Miami division. Model C. The order explicitly references the Florida Bar Standard Guidelines for Professional Conduct as the standard for conferral conduct.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 25, 2026.
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