Hon. John Carassas — Judicial Procedures
County 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
UMC / Motion Calendar
Before scheduling a hearing, ensure the motion is on the clerk’s docket and the case is open.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Attorneys must schedule hearings in JAWS under Section 42 – Judge Carassas.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Schedule summary-judgment motions and pro se claims of exemption on the UMC Calendar; schedule other motions on the Motions Calendar.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Email the judicial assistant for instructions when a hearing requires additional time.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
When scheduling hearings, add all associated parties to JAWS and coordinate dates and times among the parties beforehand.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Do not include the judicial assistant in email threads about scheduling hearings.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Unrepresented parties must submit a written request to the clerk and send a copy to the opposing party before contacting the judicial assistant about scheduling.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
After completing the first two steps, unrepresented parties may contact the judicial assistant and should provide the case number and motion name.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Courtesy Copies
After the judicial assistant approves a JAWS hearing time, email a courtesy copy of the Notice of Hearing to the judicial assistant.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Zoom Hearings
Hearings scheduled through JAWS are conducted by Zoom, with the Zoom information provided in JAWS.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For small-claims pretrials, attorneys should use a reliable computer connection and be prepared to complete and Zoom-chat PDF documents and provide case numbers by docket time.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Proposed Orders
For represented eviction and unlawful-detainer cases, submit the proposed final judgment through the JAWS Portal; a required hearing will prompt the judge to reject the proposed order and direct contact with the judicial assistant.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For unrepresented eviction and unlawful-detainer cases, submit a hard-copy final judgment directly to the judge’s office with copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Before uploading or submitting a proposed order, ensure the underlying motion, stipulation, or waiver appears in the clerk’s docket; proposed orders are not accepted through the e-filing portal or by email to the judicial assistant.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Attorneys must submit proposed orders and correspondence through JAWS in PDF format to County Civil – Section 42 and ensure associated parties’ emails are connected to the case.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
If a pro se litigant’s email address is unavailable, mail the conformed copy and attachments to the defendant.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Unrepresented parties must submit proposed orders and correspondence in hard copy directly to the judge’s office, including copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Special Set Hearings
Schedule Landlord Tenant or Unlawful Detainer motions and final hearings on their designated calendars.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
For small-claim pretrials, e-file a stipulation invoking the civil rules or waiver of pretrial conference and submit the proposed order through JAWS at least 72 hours before the hearing.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Requests to continue small-claim pretrials must be made by written motion, e-filed with the clerk at least 72 hours before the pretrial, with the proposed order uploaded through JAWS.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Unrepresented litigants requesting a small-claim pretrial continuance must submit the request to the clerk in writing, send a copy to the opposing party, and not contact the court until filing with the clerk.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Attorneys must file returns of service with the clerk at least three days before a small-claims pretrial.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Cancellations
JAWS hearings may be canceled up to 48 hours before the hearing; for hearings less than 48 hours away, contact the judicial assistant and provide a Notice of Cancellation and succinct explanation.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Other
To schedule a trial, e-file and serve a notice that the action is at issue and ready to be set for trial, then email the judicial assistant after the notice appears on the docket.
Verified Aug 10, 2026
Contact Information
Judicial Assistant
Amber Demiduk
Phone
(727)464-3910Courtroom
2
Official 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. Brian GnageCircuit Civil
- Hon. Cathy McKytonCounty Civil
