Patricia Ann Muscarella

JUDICIAL PRACTICE PREFERENCES
CIVIL SECTION 7
Patricia A. Muscarella, Circuit Judge
December 12, 2025
315 Court Street, Room 423
Clearwater, FL 33756
Lidia Torres, Judicial Assistant
727-464-3263
section7@jud6.org
2026 REGULAR CASES UMC DATES:
1/20/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00PM
3/24/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00PM
5/19/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00PM
7/14/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00 PM
8/25/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00PM
11/3/26 @ 2:00 AND 3:00PM
2026 FORECLOSURE UMC DATES:
1/21/26 @ 3:00PM
3/25/26 @ 3:00PM
5/20/26 @ 3:00PM
7/15/26 @ 3:00PM
8/26/26 @ 3:00PM
11/4/26 @ 3:00PM
2026 FORECLOSURE NON-JURY TRIALS
2/12/26 @ 3:00PM
5/21/26 @ 3:00PM
8/27/26 @ 3:00PM
11/19/26 @ 3:00PM
2026 2026 2026
PRE-TRIAL DATE CALENDAR CALL TRIAL WEEKS
1/12/26 1/22/26 JANUARY 26
2/9/26 2/19/26 FEBRUARY 23
3/16/26 3/26/26 MARCH 30
4/13/26 4/23/26 APRIL 27
6/8/26 6/18/26 JUNE 22
7/6/26 7/16/26 JULY 20
8/24/26 9/3/26 SEPTEMBER 7
10/26/25 11/5/26 NOVEMBER 9
11/16/26 12/3/26 DECEMBER 7
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Help for Self-represented Parties Page 2
Telephonic Hearings Page 2
Zoom Hearings Page 3
Motions Page 4
JAWS Page 4
Other Motion Practice Page 6
Pre-trial and Trial Practice Page 7
Mortgage Foreclosure and Case Procedure Page 8
Assessing Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Page 9
Other Practice and Procedure Pointers Page 10
Courtroom Technology Page 10
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HELP FOR PARTIES WITHOUT ATTORNEYS
The Judicial Assistant CANNOT answer legal questions, or “explain” things to the Judge.
Your opportunity to speak to the Judge happens in Court only. The Clerk of the Court has a
Self Help Program for self-represented litigants in the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater.
Gulfcoast Legal Services can be reached in Clearwater (727) 443-0657 or St. Petersburg (727) 821-
0726. Bay Area Legal Services is available at 1-(800)-625-2257. Lawyer referral services of the
Clearwater and St. Petersburg Bar Associations are at (727) 461-4880 and (727) 821-5450
respectively.
IN PERSON, TELEPHONIC, OR ZOOM HEARINGS:
ALL DOCUMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE JUDGE’S
OFFICE VIA US MAIL/FEDEX/UPS/COURIER AT LEAST 5 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR
TO THE SCHEDULED HEARING (NOT EMAIL).
PLEASE DO NOT FILE THE NOTICE OF HEARING UNTIL YOU
RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FROM JAWS THAT THE
HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED. YOU SHOULD REVIEW THE
“ADDITIONAL NOTES” IN THE CONFIRMATION FOR ANYTHING
THAT IS TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR NOTICE OF HEARING.
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Unless otherwise approved by the Court, hearings will be telephonic. Generally,
telephonic hearings may be set for any hearings 1 hour or less, by using the Judge’s
conference line - see below. PLEASE DO NOT GENERATE A NOTICE OF
HEARING UNTIL YOU RECEIVE CONFIRMATION VIA JAWS THAT IT HAS
BEEN SCHEDULED.
• FOR CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES (CMC): AFTER YOU
RECEIVE CONFIRMATION FROM JAWS THAT IT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED,
PLEASE EDIT OUR ORDER TO APPEAR FOR TELEPHONIC CASE
MANAGEMENTCONFERENCE WITH THE CASE NUMBER, CASE STYLE,
THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING AND THE SERVICE LIST AND
UPLOAD IN JAWS. IF THERE IS A PRO SE PARTY ON THE SERVICE LIST,
THE COMPLETEDORDER TO APPEAR FOR TELEPHONIC CASE
MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE MUST BE MAILED TO THE JUDGE ALONG
WITH SUFFICIENT COPIES OF THE ORDER AND POSTAGE- PAID
ENVELOPES FOR ALL PARTIES.
The Notice of Hearing should state the following: THE HEARING IS
TELEPHONIC AND ANY PARTY WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
HEARING IS TO CALL 1 888 585 9008 AND ENTER ACCESS CODE: 717-253-
391 NOTE: PLEASE MUTE ON YOUR END. DO NOT PLACE ON HOLD OR
EVERYONE WILL ONLY HEAR MUSIC. ALL DOCUMENTS TO BE
CONSIDERED MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE JUDGE’S OFFICE VIA US
MAIL/FEDEX/UPS/COURIER (NOT EMAIL) AT LEAST 5 BU

[Excerpt — full preferences at the official source link.]