Rule 5.393. Setting trials and long-cause hearings

(a) Definitions For purposes of this rule:

(1) A “trial day” is defined as a period no less than two and a half hours of a single court day.

(2) A “long-cause hearing” is defined as a hearing on a request for order that extends more than a single court day.

(3) A “trial brief” or “hearing brief” is a written summary or statement submitted by a party that explains to a judge the party’s position on particular issues that will be part of the trial or hearing.

(b) Conference with judge before trial or long-cause hearing The judge may schedule a conference with the parties and their attorneys before any trial or long-cause hearing.

(1) Time estimates

(2) Trial or hearing brief

(c) Sequential days Consistent with the goal of affording family law litigants continuous trials and long-cause hearings without interruption, when trials or long-cause hearings are set, they must be scheduled on as close to sequential days as the calendar of the trial judge permits.

(d) Intervals between trial or hearing days When trials or long-cause hearings are not completed in the number of days originally scheduled, the court must schedule the remaining trial days as soon as possible on the earliest available days with the goal of minimizing intervals between days for trials or long-cause hearings.