Trials & Special Sets Over 15 Minutes Are In Person — Division AF
Summary
Judge Bell holds all trials and special-set hearings over 15 minutes in person; Zoom appearances must be on camera — no phone.
Applies to
Florida > Fifteenth Judicial Circuit > Palm Beach County > Civil Division AF (Judge Carolyn Bell)
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"all Division AF Trials and Special Set Hearings more than 15 minutes long are conducted with counsel and self-represented parties appearing in person" / "Must appear via video (phone appearances or appearances without camera are not permitted)"
- Official source
- 15th Cir. — Division AF Instructions (Judge Bell)
- Source health
- Healthy · checked July 7, 2026
- Effective date
- —
- Last verified
- July 5, 2026Live fetch of official division page — 2026-07-05
Reviewer note: Verified against the live official page on 2026-07-05. 30-day recheck scheduled.
Change history
- July 7, 2026Monitor: content changed at 15th Cir. — Division AF Instructions (Judge Bell). Review before republishing dependent rules.
Related rules
Hearings ≤30 Minutes Default to Zoom; Telephonic Allowed Absent Objection — Division CV-A
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Hybrid Zoom by Party Agreement; Notice Must Name Hearing Room 701 — Division CV-B
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Zoom Is a Privilege; Remote TESTIMONY Requires Written Motion and Leave — Division CV-C
In CV-C, appearing by Zoom is a privilege (log in five minutes early; Court hosts); presenting testimony remotely — any hearing or non-jury trial, any length — requires a written motion showing good cause under Rule 2.530(b)(2).
4:00 P.M.+ Hearings Are Zoom-Only; Calendar Call Prefers In Person — Division AI
Judge Curley runs every hearing starting at 4:00 p.m. or later electronically via Zoom only, while in-person appearance at calendar call is strongly preferred — and jury panels max out at 42 without a prior court order.