William S. Henry

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Revision Date 02/12/26
Administrative Procedures for
Judge William S. Henry
Index
I. Civil Cases
a. Hearing Time
i. General Procedures Pg. 2
ii. Motion Calendar Docket Pg. 5
b. Good Faith Certification for Motions Pg. 6
c. Setting Trials Pg. 7
d. Jury Trial Dockets Pg. 8
e. Zoom Instructions Pg. 9
f. Submission of Proposed Orders Pg. 10
g. Submission of Hearing Materials Pg. 12
h. Cancellations Pg. 14
i. Certification Regarding Standing Order Pg. 15
And Administrative Procedures
II. Family Law Cases
a. Hearing Time General Procedures Pg. 16
b. Motion Calendar Docket Pg. 18
c. Good Faith Certification for Motions Pg. 19
d. Final Hearing Dates Pg. 20
e. Zoom Appearances Pg. 21
f. Submission of Proposed Orders Pg. 22
g. Submission of Hearing Materials Pg. 24
h. Cancellations Pg. 25
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Revision Date 02/12/26
Civil – Hearing Time
General Procedures
1. Verify Judge Henry is the judge assigned to the case.
2. PLEASE NOTE, for any matter that has not been set for hearing as of the effective
date of this update, all specially set hearings (not including the Court’s Motion
Calendar Docket) will be held IN PERSON (not via Zoom) at the Bay County
Courthouse, unless the Court specifically grants a request to appear via Zoom. Just
because an attorney’s office may be located outside of Bay County is not grounds to
request to appear via Zoom. Frivolously requesting to appear via Zoom without
demonstrating good cause or need may result in the imposition of sanctions.
Other than matters set on the Court’s Motion Calendar Docket (see pg. 5), all specially
set hearings will be for at least a thirty-five (35) minute hearing time.
3. DO NOT call the judge’s office to request hearing time.
4. Email any request for hearing time to Judge Henry’s assistant, Brittany Smith, and CC
opposing counsel. These requests can be sent to smithb@jud14.flcourts.org. Use Bay
County case number and style of case as your subject line
5. Provide the following information in the hearing time request email:
a. Type of motion(s) to be heard
b. Actual amount of time needed for counsel to argue motion(s)
c. First date movant is available for hearing (see #7 below)
d. Names of attorneys that will attend hearing
e. Attach a copy of the motion(s) to the email
6. Please be accurate in the amount of time needed for the hearing. Failure to have sufficient
time for the hearing may result in the motion or request being denied or the hearing
continued.
7. Most motions, except dispositive motions, should be set for hearing within sixty (60) days
of being filed, with simpler motions (such as motions to compel) being set for hearing
within thirty (30) days of filing. Failure to timely set a hearing on a motion may result in
the motion being summarily denied without hearing.
8. The judicial assistant will “reply all” to the email with available dates, times and
instructions. READ ENTIRE EMAIL. Be aware that Bay County is in the central time
zone. Outside of the Motion Calendar Docket (see pg. 5), all hearing times are in fifteen
(15) minute increments.
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Revision Date 02/12/26
9. The judicial assistant will provide up to five (5) dates and times for a hearing. IN THE
EVENT COUNSEL CANNOT AGREE on a mutually convenient date and time for the
hearing from the dates and times provided, the Court may unilaterally set the matter for
hearing or alternatively enter an order on the matter without hearing. If the Court
unilaterally sets the matter for hearing, the hearing cannot be canceled without a Court
order. If the parties resolve the issue prior to the Court-scheduled hearing, they shall submit
an agreed upon proposed order more than one (1) business day prior to hear

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