Judge Thompson

Thomas P. Thompson, III.

County Judge

Judicial Assistant: Christina Jones
Office: 352-401-7888
Fax: 352-401-6776

*NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:* The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the Judges of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to discuss pending cases with the public. Please do not call the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. The Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in the courtroom and in documents properly filed by actual parties in the case as authorized by law and the Rules of Court. The Court cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case. Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judges.

GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR JUDGE THOMAS P. THOMPSON, III

(All are subject to change at the Court’s discretion)

EC3

“EC3” is Judge Thompson’s “Expedited Criminal Case Calendar”.

For a case to be considered on any particular EC3, all of the following requirements must be complied with:

  • To be added to a specific EC3, contact Suzanne Watson, with the State Attorney’s Office, to be added to that specific EC3.
  • You must obtain the consent of an Assistant State Attorney to have your matter taken up on a specific EC3;
  • You must contact the Court’s Clerk no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the specific EC3 you desire to request that all pleadings are docketed pertaining to the matter you want the Court to consider. Email the Court’s Clerk at: hearingnotification@marioncountyclerk.org.
  • You must also bring a copy of all filings you want the Court to consider;
  • You must contact the Court’s Certified Spanish Language Interpreter no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to the specific EC3 you desire to request the Interpreter’s presence if your client needs services. Request a Court’s Certified Spanish Language Interpreter at:  circuit5.org/programs-services/interpreting-services.
  • If your client needs some other interpreter services, then you must make the necessary arrangements to have such services available;
  • You must make all necessary arrangements for timely transport if your client is in custody;
  • You must not bring a matter to EC3 that cannot reasonably be completed within 15 minutes; and
  • Failure to comply with all of these requirements will result in your matter being passed to a later date.
Procedures for Scheduling Hearings

When e-mailing or calling to obtain available hearing time, please have available the case number, case style, type of motion to be scheduled, and the amount of hearing time requested.  The Motion must be filed prior to obtaining hearing time.  Once hearing time is coordinated with all counsel, confirm the date with this office prior to preparing your Notice of Hearing, to assure that time is still available, as hearing dates cannot be “held.”

Please provide the Court with a courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing, once filed, by e-mail at cjones@circuit5.org.

Cross-Noticing Hearings

Cross-noticing a hearing without the Court’s approval is not permitted.  If a case has been set for a hearing and opposing counsel is requesting the setting of additional motions at this previously scheduled hearing (a/k/a piggy-backing or cross-noticing motions), prior to noticing these additional motions for hearing, you must contact the Judge’s office who will determine if sufficient time is available to have the additional motion(s) heard.

Procedures for Cancelling Hearings/Trials

In addition to filing your notice of cancellation, immediately notify this office by telephone or e-mail, when a hearing is to be cancelled.  If a case has settled and should be removed from the trial docket, please file something in the court file to indicate that the matter has settled, until the closing documents are filed.  Only the party that scheduled the hearing, or the Court, has the authority to cancel the hearing.

Telephonic Appearances

Telephonic appearances are typically permitted for most hearings and require a Motion for Telephonic Appearance and the submission of a proposed order for the Court’s consideration.  The call-in number for telephonic appearance is (352) 401-7888.  We do not use CourtCall.

Personal appearances are required for Trials, Small Claim Pre-Trial Conferences and Lack of Prosecution Hearings.

Proposed Orders

A proposed order should always be submitted immediately, upon filing the following motions:

Motions for Extensions of Time

Motions to Appoint Process Server

Motions for Telephonic Appearance

Motion to Continue Pre-Trial Conference (Small Claims)

Notice/Motion Showing Good Cause

 

Proposed orders are not accepted through the Florida Courts E-portal at this time.

Proposed orders must be submitted either by US Mail or by email, in Word format (but please, not both).

Proposed orders may be submitted by email at cjones@circuit5.org, if all parties are represented by counsel.  If there are any pro se parties, conformed copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes will need to be submitted with the proposed order, via U.S. Mail, or hand delivery.

All proposed orders shall include a certificate of service, with the names of all parties/counsel to be served.

Motions for Writ of Garnishments are to be mailed only.

Final Judgments for Possession are to be mailed only, when the tenant is pro se, and must include self-addressed stamped envelopes.

Default Final Judgments and Final Judgments are to be mailed only when the Defendant is pro se and must include self-addressed stamped envelopes.