The Honorable Karla R. Spaulding
United States Magistrate Judge
TEL: 407-835-4320
 Biography |
| Interest List |
| Chambers Staff |
| Case & Trial Management Preferences |
Biography:
Karla R. Spaulding graduated with a B.A., magna cum laude, from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1975. After working as a teacher for two years, Judge Spaulding attended the Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois, where she earned her J.D. degree in 1980. While at Northwestern, Judge Spaulding was the executive editor of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Following her graduation, Judge Spaulding worked for three years as an associate in the Cleveland office of Baker & Hostetler. Over the next ten years, she worked as an Assistant United States Attorney handling and supervising a variety of criminal prosecutions and civil and criminal appeals. Judge Spaulding returned to private practice in 1994, where she worked as a criminal defense attorney and represented clients in civil cases until her appointment as a United States Magistrate Judge in December, 1997.
Interests List: Back to top
The hyperlink below is a list of investments, of which the judge is aware, owned by family members or by her, which are subject to reporting on her annual Financial Disclosure Report, or which could constitute a financial interest that might necessitate recusal. This information is provided so that participants in this case will be able to advise the Court if there is any actual or apparent conflict of interest in the assignment of a case to this Judge. This information is not to be used for any other purpose. Attention is directed to the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, published in Title 5 of the United States Code Annotated, Appendix 4, Sections 101-112, for information concerning the procedure for obtaining copies of the Financial Disclosure Report.
Chambers Staff: Back to top
Edward Jackson |
Lara M. Johnson |
Christine H. Moser |
Case & Trial Management Preferences: Back to top
Oral Arguments
Hearings on motions are scheduled at the written request of the parties or, from time to time, by order of the judge without the request of the parties. Witnesses and other evidence are not permitted at oral argument unless permission to present evidence is obtained from the Court before the hearing. Counsel and unrepresented parties who wish to present argument are generally required to appear in court in person. Oral arguments and evidentiary hearings will be scheduled by the courtroom deputy.
Disputes Arising During Depositions
If a dispute arises during a deposition in a case in which Judge Spaulding is the assigned Magistrate Judge, counsel and any unrepresented parties may contact chambers to ascertain whether the Judge is available to consider the disputed issue by telephone. If the Judge is available, she will hear the dispute in a telephone conference call in which all counsel and any unrepresented parties participate.
Official Record of Proceedings
All proceedings before Judge Spaulding are recorded by the courtroom tape recording system or by a court reporter. The parties are not permitted to use a court reporter or other recording system to make a record of the proceedings conducted by Judge Spaulding except with her prior consent. Transcripts of tape-recorded proceedings can be obtained by making a written request to Judge Spaulding’s courtroom deputy clerk.
Confidentiality Orders
Confidentiality orders should be limited to documents or specific categories of documents that are subject to confidential treatment under prevailing law. Judge Spaulding will not issue blanket or umbrella confidentiality orders that provide that any information designated by the parties as confidential will be protected. The parties are free to enter into private confidentialitity agreements, however.
Emergency Motions
Emergency motions should be designated as such in the caption of the motion. See M.D. Fla L.R. 3.01(e). Counsel should also inform the Court in the body of a motion not deemed to be an emergency if the motion requires expedited consideration due to upcoming deadlines, etc. Emergency motions should be served on opposing counsel, and any necessary non-parties, by hand delivery or other equivalent method of service.
Trials
Upon consent of the parties, Judge Spaulding will schedule bench and jury trials to begin on a date certain. The parties should provide the Court with two copies of witness and exhibit lists the morning of trial. All exhibits should be marked before trial. In addition, parties should provide Judge Spaulding with a bench book containing copies of documentary exhibits they intend to use at trial, which copies should be marked with exhibit numbers. Judge Spaulding appreciates receiving a diskette containing the parties’ proposed jury instructions or proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law at the final pretrial conference.