Kristie M. Healis

JUDGE KRISTIE M. HEALIS

FELONY DIVISION PROCEDURES, CITRUS COUNTY

Judicial Assistant email:  JRaghunandan@Circuit5.org

Judicial Assistant phone: 352-341-6709

Email for Courtesy Copies Motions/Orders:  CitrusJudgeHealisOrderSubmissions@Circuit5.org

Link for copy of forms: Kristie M. Healis – State of Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit

These procedures regard the felony criminal docket effective June 22, 2026.  The color-coded calendar reflecting types of proceedings being held each day can be found at Kristie M. Healis – State of Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit.    From time to time this calendar can be modified.  You will also find many of the forms required for felony criminal practice, including plea forms, acknowledgement of time-served forms and applications for indigency.  Please contact the office if you have any further questions.

 I. Remote Appearances:

a. With appropriate notice, compliance with 3.180 (a)(3) and 3.220(o)(1), and considering any objections, the Court may allow appearances via Zoom pursuant to “Use of Communication Technology,” in Rule 3.116.

b. To request a Zoom link, email the judicial assistant with the defendant’s name and case number, the reason for the request, and the date of the proceeding.

 II. Changes to the Docket:

a. The Clerk of Court will prepare the docket for the Court and have it finalized within three days prior to the Court proceeding.

b. To request a continuance of any proceeding, a written motion is required. The motion can be emailed to the Judge’s office at least three days prior to the proceeding.  If a hearing is required on the motion the Judge will have it set as soon as possible.  If the other party has no objection to the continuance, the parties can submit a proposed order continuing the proceeding to the agreed upon date to the email address above.

c. Neither party is permitted to have a case moved to a different court date without permission of the court.

d. Emergency Requests: The Court considered request for adding or removing a case from its docket within twenty-four (24) hours of the scheduled court date as an emergency request.  Emergency requests should be kept to a minimum.  If the request is received after 2:00 p.m. on the day before the court proceeding it puts undue strain on law enforcement agencies, the Clerk of Court and the judicial process.

e. If an attorney wishes to effectuate an “in court add-on” of another case not on the docket, the attorney shall notify the Deputy Clerk of the Court before the Judge takes the bench, so as to allow sufficient time for the necessary paperwork to be prepared by the clerk. “In court add-ons” should not occur with frequency and shall be kept to a minimum.

III. Failure to Appear

a. Pursuant to Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, if the defendant fails to appear for a duly noticed court proceeding and the Court finds it is necessary to procure the presence of the defendant, the Court will direct the Clerk to issue immediately a capias for the arrest of the defendant.

b. Pursuant to Florida Statute §903.046 (2)(d) the Failure to Appear Capias bond will be set at the higher of $2,000.00 per count or twice the value of the original bond.

c. This process will take place on the record and in open court.

d. After a capias is executed, the deputy clerk of court will log it into their system and submit the capias to the Warrant Clerk at the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.

IV. Arraignments:

a. Assistant State Attorneys (ASAs)

1. 1. 1. At arraignment, ASAs must be prepared to provide the Court and Defendant with the following information:

 (a.) Guideline/Scoresheet points and the lowest permissible sentence and maximum possible sentence.

(b.) Any enhancements, minimum mandatory sentences, or mandatory minimum sentences.

(c.) State’s offer to resolve the case (if any).

(d.) Speedy Trial Date.

(e.) Whether discovery has been provided and the number of Category A witnesses.

2. If the State Attorney’s Office has not made a filing decision by the original arraignment date, they shall state so on the record and request a new arraignment date in open court.

b. Defense Attorneys

1. 1. 1. All Defendants must be present at Arraignment unless the Plea of Not Guilty and Waiver of Appearance have been filed pursuant to Rule 3.170 and 3.180, Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.
      2. If the case is set for Arraignment and the attorney files a Plea of Not Guilty and a Waiver of Appearance, the Clerk of Court will set the case for a status/pretrial docket approximately four weeks from the original arraignment date.
      3. The defense attorney should forward a courtesy copy of the Plea of not Guilty and Waiver of Appearance to the Court at least three days prior to the Arraignment hearing.

V. Hearings and Motions:

a. Motions: Please send a courtesy copy to the Court of all motions.  The Clerk of Court does not always send copies of motions to the Court.  The motion and any supporting authority can be emailed to the Court, with opposing party copied on the email at the above email address.

b. The Motion will not be scheduled for a hearing unless it has been filed on the docket.

c. Hearings on any motions will be scheduled by the Court within one week, depending on the Court’s trial schedule. The parties shall consider the attorneys’ schedules and witness availability before setting the motion time.  Motion dates are indicated in orange on the Court’s color calendar.  Bond hearings will be expedited.  Motions to modify pretrial conditions, including “no contact” provisions can be heard during any scheduled court proceeding and do not require a separate motion hearing date.

d. The parties should inform the Court of the number of witnesses and the anticipated length of time for the hearing. Any changes to the estimate must be communicated to the Court to allow the shift in schedule if needed.

VI. Pleas and Forms:

a. All pleas must be in writing, and the appropriate plea forms must be completed for the Court to review. Plea forms can be found at: Kristie M. Healis – State of Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit

b. All Waivers of Speedy Trial must be in writing. Waiver of Speedy Trial forms can be found at the above link.

c. The ASA and defense must document all conditions and expectations of the plea on the form and on the record at the time of the plea. The form should clearly reflect the full scope of the case’s disposition.

d. The defense attorney shall read and review the plea form with the Defendant before calling the case for a plea colloquy with the Court.

i. The ASA shall be prepared to report on the following:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Any minimum and maximum sentences, as charged in the Information or Indictment.
            2. The factual basis for the plea.
            3. Whether or not the alleged victim agrees with the disposition.
            4. Any exonerating DNA or lack thereof.
            5. Whether the plea will result in the designation of the Defendant as a Sexual Offender or Predator.

ii. The ASA and Defense shall notify the Court if there are sensitive issues related to the plea that will require a special set for the plea. The State shall ensure the listed victim or guardian of Marsy’s law are informed. If the case is called during the normal calendar, the Court will assume that the alleged victim or guardian has been informed and waived any protection provided by law.

iii. ASA and Defense shall calculate and notify defendant of the time served if applicable, and complete the Acknowledgment of Time Served form which can also be found at the link provided.

iv. Court Costs and Surcharges: All surcharges must be reviewed with the Defendant and verified that the surcharge applies to the case BEFORE THE PLEA. The attorneys are responsible for reviewing the statute and determining the applicable court costs and surcharges for the case.

VII. Final Pretrial/Calendar Call

a. The attorneys trying the case shall be present.

b. The Defendant shall be present.

c. Counsels for each party shall be prepared to report the following information:

1. 1. 1. Whether the party is ready for trial.
      2. Offers to resolve the case and rejection of said offers.
      3. Requests for number of jury panelists needed for jury selection.
      4. The estimated length of trial days.
      5. Any witness/attorney restrictions.
      6. Whether language interpreter or any other accommodation is necessary.
      7. Any outstanding Motions or evidentiary issues.

VIII. Jury Selection and Trials

a. Jury Instructions shall be circulated between the ASA and defense attorney and submitted to the Court via email with both parties included, the Friday before the trial date by 5:00pm.

b. The attorneys and Defendant are directed to be in the Courtroom by 8:30 a.m. for jury selection.

c. The trial will begin either immediately after jury selection or on a day agreed upon by both parties.

d. Plan for the trial beginning each day by 9:00 a.m.

e. Unless instructed differently, the Clerk shall bring a pool of 21 (twenty-one) jurors to Courtroom B for voir dire by 9:00 a.m.

Judge Healis- July-December 2026 Court Schedule

**IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED ORDERS**

ALL PROPOSED ORDERS shall be submitted for entry by email ONLY to CitrusJudgeHealisOrderSubmissions@circuit5.org

The case style, including case number, shall be indicated in the subject line.   PLEASE SUBMIT ORDERS IN WORD FORMAT (.docx) ONLY (NO PDF DOCUMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED) USING THE CODES LISTED IN THE ATTACHED SAMPLE ORDER (CLICK HERE).  FOR INSTRUCTIONS (CLICK HERE).

• Any email submission shall copy ALL parties by email. If one or more of the parties do not have an email, your correspondence shall indicate that a copy has been mailed to those parties.
• The attorney submitting the proposed order shall ensure that any pro se party receives a copy of the order via U.S. Mail and shall file a certificate of compliance confirming compliance with this requirement.

Please note that failure to comply with the above procedures will result in the Proposed Orders being Rejected and a delay in processing your case(s).

• Instructions to submit proposed orders
• Sample- Proposed Order

• Acknowledgment of Time Served
• Indigency Application
• Plea-Form Negotiated
• Sex Offender Probation
• Waiver of Speedy Trial