Hon. Donald W. Hafele — Judicial Procedures
Circuit Criminal
Quick operational summary based on publicly available court procedure materials. Always verify with the official court source before relying on this information.
Quick Rules
UMC / Motion Calendar
UMC hearings are scheduled via email coordination with the judicial assistant, opposing counsel, and self-represented parties. Confirm the date before filing the notice of hearing.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Courtesy Copies
Submit courtesy copies of case law or other documents in PDF/a or Word format via email or mail no later than two days before any evidentiary proceeding.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Zoom Hearings
The court does not allow Zoom hearings due to signal issues at the courthouse. For eligible telephonic appearances, participants must provide call-in details at least 24 hours in advance.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Proposed Orders
Submit proposed orders in Word format with a cover letter or email certifying party agreement or stating disagreements. Deadlines depend on hearing type, but submission should occur within 10 days post-hearing.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Special Set Hearings
Special set hearings are scheduled in the afternoons Monday through Thursday and require email coordination with opposing counsel to confirm dates.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Emergency Motions
File a detailed motion labeled 'emergency' with issues to resolve, reasons for urgency, and time needed. The court schedules the hearing unilaterally if an emergency is determined.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Discovery Disputes
Submit all exhibits electronically via email for evidentiary proceedings and in paper format for the clerk and court. Label exhibits properly and send all materials three days before hearings.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Cancellations
Notify the judicial assistant immediately if a hearing is resolved or canceled. Submit an agreed order resolving the motion or email notification for compliance in 3-day RPO hearings.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Other
Interpreter requests must be submitted at least 7 days before the proceeding, with extended time for rare languages. Requests can be canceled online with a confirmation number.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
ADA accommodations can be requested via phone. For emergencies, detailed follow-up instructions are included in judicial assistant voice messages.
Verified Jun 9, 2026
Contact Information
Judicial Assistant
Denise Van Vooren
Phone
(561) 688-4599Courtroom
1
Official Page
Court WebsiteLast Verified
June 30, 2026
Official Sources
Source: Official court page or published division procedure material.
Official court pageDivision procedures pageOther Palm Beach County judges
- Hon. April BristowCounty Criminal
- Hon. Ashley ZuckermanCounty Criminal
- Hon. August BonavitaCounty Criminal
- Hon. Bradley HarperJuvenile Division
- Hon. Carolyn BellCircuit Civil
- Hon. Caryn SipersteinCircuit Civil
