Hon. Brian Gnage — Judicial Procedures
Circuit Civil
Quick operational summary based on publicly available court procedure materials. Always verify with the official court source before relying on this information.
Quick Rules
Courtesy Copies
Send a courtesy copy of each notice of hearing by email to the Judicial Assistant.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Zoom Hearings
A party who drives during a Zoom proceeding may be removed, lose the opportunity to be heard, and be required to appear in person at future hearings.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Do not drive while appearing through Zoom.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
If a witness will appear remotely, the parties must provide the witness with Zoom login information; if the witness cannot use Zoom, the party may arrange an in-person appearance and must notify the Court three days before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Participants in Zoom hearings must use stable internet rather than a cell-phone signal.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Participants should not disconnect if a Zoom proceeding does not start on time.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Participants should rename themselves in Zoom to show their actual names.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Minor children may not attend or be present in the room where a participant attends a Zoom hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Counsel must ensure before the hearing that counsel, clients, and witnesses have Zoom access, exhibit access, and familiarity with Zoom.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Only the Court may record a proceeding; other recordings are not official and may not be used in later trial or appellate proceedings.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Proposed Orders
Only agreed proposed orders may be uploaded to JAWS for signature by the judge.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For an unagreed order, email the proposed order to the Judicial Assistant with a cover letter explaining the disagreements.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
JAWS order submissions must include an explanatory cover letter, and all documents must be PDFs.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Do not submit proposed orders through JAWS before a scheduled hearing unless the judge specifically requests it.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Agreed proposed orders should be submitted through JAWS, with the cover letter stating whether opposing counsel or the self-represented party agrees, objects, or had an opportunity to object without doing so.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
If disagreements about an order cannot be resolved, each side should submit a proposed order with an extra copy highlighting disputed portions and a cover letter.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Proposed orders or judgments containing blanks for the judge to fill in, other than the signing date, will not be signed.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Do not send unsigned proposed orders to the Clerk of Court.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Special Set Hearings
A motion to continue must state the requested length of the continuance and whether the opposing party objects.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Temporary-motion hearings should generally not exceed one hour, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Cancellations
Parties must immediately notify the Judicial Assistant of cancelled hearings; filing a Notice of Cancellation alone does not cancel a hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Other
Motions should state whether the opposing party objects or why advance contact was unnecessary.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For evidentiary hearings, parties must exchange all hearing evidence and witness lists, including witness telephone numbers and email addresses, five days before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For evidentiary hearings, exhibits must be submitted to the Court in paper format three days before the hearing; links should not be submitted.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Email anticipated case law to the Court three days before an evidentiary hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Exchange witness lists five days before the hearing and email them to the Court three days before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Parenting education and family stabilization courses may be taken online or by distance learning without a motion or permission order.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Hearings must be coordinated with opposing counsel.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
The moving party must ensure all counsel and associated parties are in the JAWS database; failure may result in hearing cancellation.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Contact Information
Judicial Assistant
Makenzie Smith
Phone
(727)582-7200Official Page
Court WebsiteLast Verified
August 9, 2026
Official Sources
Source: Official court page or published division procedure material.
Official court pageDivision procedures pageOther Pinellas County judges
- Hon. Aaron HubbardCircuit Civil
- Hon. Amy M. WilliamsCircuit Civil
- Hon. Benjamin S. ThomasCircuit Civil
- Hon. Brett SzematowiczCounty Civil
- Hon. Cathy McKytonCounty Civil
- Hon. Christopher LaBruzzoCircuit Civil
