United States District Court
Middle District of Florida

Amended Local Rules Effective November 1, 2025

Effective November 1, 2025, the Local Rules are substantively amended as follows:

• 1.04(a) moves Hernando County from the Tampa Division to the Ocala Division.
• 1.10(a) adds a requirement and deadline for filing a waiver of service of process.
• 3.01 is re-numbered to add a section on properly counting the pages of a motion, brief, or memorandum.
• New 3.01(a) provides that certain parts of a paper are excluded from the page count.
• Re-numbered 3.01(b) adds that an objection to a magistrate judge’s order must not exceed ten pages.
• Re-numbered 3.01(c) adds that a response to an objection to a magistrate judge’s order must not exceed ten pages.
• Re-numbered 3.01(e) adds that no response to a motion for leave to reply is permitted.
• 3.01(g)(1) adds that a movant need not confer before filing a Rule 11 motion (Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(c)(2) still governs the opportunity to cure prohibited conduct).
• 3.03 eliminates the requirement of a disclosure statement in a criminal case (unless required by the presiding judge or Fed. R. Crim. P. 12.4) and requires the use of a new form. 

The judges of the Middle District thank those who after public notice commented on the proposed amendments and especially thank the members of the Lawyer Advisory Committee on the  Local Rules. 

Click here to view the amended rules.

Click here to view Chief Judge Howard's order adopting the amended rules.