United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

11th Circuit Miami, Florida

About This Court

Established in 1847, the Southern District of Florida is one of the busiest federal district courts in the United States. It covers the southern portion of Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Highlands, and several other counties, encompassing a population of several million residents as well as major international ports of entry.

The court sits within the Eleventh Circuit and handles a substantial volume of complex civil and criminal litigation. Its geographic position along the Atlantic coast and proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean make it a prominent venue for international commerce disputes, immigration matters, and transnational criminal prosecutions.

The Southern District of Florida is known for handling high-profile white-collar criminal cases, large multidistrict litigation proceedings, and significant securities fraud matters. The court has multiple divisional offices to serve its geographically dispersed district.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida.

Divisions

Miami Division (Miami), Fort Lauderdale Division (Fort Lauderdale), West Palm Beach Division (West Palm Beach), Fort Pierce Division (Fort Pierce), Key West Division (Key West)

Caseload

The court carries one of the heaviest caseloads in the country, with a significant concentration of drug trafficking prosecutions, international fraud cases, securities litigation, and multidistrict class actions. Its location makes it a primary venue for cases involving cross-border financial crimes and immigration-related matters.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to the Florida Bar or otherwise eligible under the court's local rules, and must apply for admission to the bar of the Southern District of Florida. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys not admitted to the district bar.

Clerk's Office

400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33128

(305) 523-5100

Active Judges 31

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Roy Altman	Donald J. Trump	2019	Yale Law School
Cecilia Altonaga	George W. Bush	2003	Yale Law School
Edward Artau	Donald J. Trump	2025	Georgetown University Law Center
Jacqueline Becerra	Joseph R. Biden	2024	Yale Law School
Beth Bloom	Barack Obama	2014	University of Miami School of Law
Aileen Cannon	Donald J. Trump	2020	University of Michigan Law School
James Cohn	George W. Bush	2003	Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
Melissa Damian	Joseph R. Biden	2024	University of Miami School of Law
William Dimitrouleas	William J. Clinton	1998	University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law)
Darrin Gayles	Barack Obama	2014	George Washington University Law School
Alan Gold	William J. Clinton	1997	Duke University School of Law
Jose Gonzalez	Jimmy Carter	1978	University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law)
Donald Graham	George H.W. Bush	1991	Ohio State University College of Law (now Michael E. Moritz College of Law)
Paul Huck	William J. Clinton	2000	University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law)
Daniel Hurley	William J. Clinton	1994	George Washington University Law School
James King	Richard M. Nixon	1970	University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law)
David Leibowitz	Joseph R. Biden	2024	University of Pennsylvania Law School (now Carey Law School)
Joan Lenard	William J. Clinton	1995	Antioch School of Law (now University of the District of Columbia Clarke School of Law)
Kenneth Marra	George W. Bush	2002	Stetson University College of Law
Jose Martinez	George W. Bush	2002	University of Miami School of Law
Donald Middlebrooks	William J. Clinton	1997	University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law)
Kevin Moore	George H.W. Bush	1992	Fordham University School of Law
Federico Moreno	George H.W. Bush	1990	University of Miami School of Law
Robin Rosenberg	Barack Obama	2014	Duke University School of Law
Rodolfo Ruiz	Donald J. Trump	2019	Georgetown University Law Center
Robert Scola	Barack Obama	2011	Boston College Law School
Patricia Seitz	William J. Clinton	1998	Georgetown University Law Center
Anuraag Singhal	Donald J. Trump	2019	Wake Forest University School of Law
Rodney Smith	Donald J. Trump	2019	Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University College of Law)
Kathleen Williams	Barack Obama	2011	University of Miami School of Law
William Zloch	Ronald Reagan	1985	Notre Dame Law School

Local Rules

65 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 19

Rule	Title
RULE 15.1	FORM OF A MOTION TO AMEND AND ITS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
RULE 16.1	PRETRIAL PROCEDURE IN CIVIL ACTIONS
RULE 16.2	COURT ANNEXED MEDIATION
RULE 16.3	CALENDAR CONFLICTS
RULE 16.4	NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT
RULE 23.1	CLASS ACTIONS
RULE 24.1	CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE TO ACT OF CONGRESS OR STATE STATUTE
RULE 26.1	DISCOVERY AND DISCOVERY MATERIAL (CIVIL)
RULE 3.3	CIVIL COVER SHEET
RULE 47.1	TAXATION OF COSTS FOR UNDUE INCONVENIENCE TO JURIES
RULE 56.1	MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
RULE 62.1	APPEAL BONDS OR OTHER SECURITY
RULE 67.1	COURT REGISTRY AND WRITS OF GARNISHMENT
RULE A	GENERAL PROVISIONS (Admiralty)
RULE B	ATTACHMENT AND GARNISHMENT: SPECIAL PROVISIONS
RULE C	ACTION IN REM
RULE D	POSSESSORY, PETITORY, AND PARTITION ACTIONS
RULE E	ACTIONS IN REM AND QUASI IN REM: GENERAL PROVISIONS
RULE F	ACTIONS TO LIMIT LIABILITY

Criminal Rules 9

Rule	Title
RULE 88.1	APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
RULE 88.10	CRIMINAL DISCOVERY
RULE 88.11	AFTER HOURS CRIMINAL DUTY PROCEDURES
RULE 88.2	POST CONVICTION, HABEAS CORPUS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROCEEDINGS
RULE 88.3	PETTY AND CERTAIN MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES
RULE 88.5	SPEEDY TRIAL REPORTS
RULE 88.7	RETAINED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
RULE 88.8	PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS
RULE 88.9	MOTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES AND JURY INSTRUCTIONS

General Rules 22

Rule	Title
RULE 1	AUTHORITY OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES
RULE 1.1	SCOPE OF THE LOCAL RULES
RULE 2	ASSIGNMENT OF MATTERS TO MAGISTRATE JUDGES
RULE 3	PROCEDURES BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
RULE 3.1	DOCKETING AND TRIAL
RULE 3.8	NOTICE OF TRANSFER OF REFILED AND SIMILAR ACTIONS AND PROCEDURES
RULE 5.1	FILING AND COPIES
RULE 5.2	PROOF OF SERVICE AND SERVICE BY PUBLICATION
RULE 5.3	FILES AND EXHIBITS
RULE 5.4	FILINGS UNDER SEAL; DISPOSAL OF SEALED MATERIALS
RULE 7.1	MOTIONS, GENERAL
RULE 7.2	MOTIONS PENDING ON REMOVAL OR TRANSFER TO THIS COURT
RULE 7.3	ATTORNEYS FEES AND COSTS
RULE 7.6	CONTINUANCES OF TRIALS AND HEARINGS
RULE 7.7	CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COURT
RULE 77.1	PHOTOGRAPHING, BROADCASTING, TELEVISING
RULE 77.2	RELEASE OF INFORMATION IN CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
RULE 7.8	NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORITY
RULE 87.1	AUTHORITY OF BANKRUPTCY JUDGES TO MAKE LOCAL RULES
RULE 87.2	REFERENCE OF BANKRUPTCY MATTERS
RULE 87.3	MOTIONS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF REFERENCE OF CASE OR PROCEEDING FROM THE BANKRUPTCY COURT
RULE 87.5	DESIGNATION OF BANKRUPTCY JUDGES TO CONDUCT JURY TRIALS

Attorney Rules 13

Rule	Title
RULE 10	DISCIPLINE ON CONSENT WHILE UNDER DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION
RULE 11	INCAPACITY
RULE 11.1	ATTORNEYS
RULE 12	REINSTATEMENT
RULE 13	DUTIES OF THE CLERK WITH RESPECT TO CONVICTIONS OR DISCIPLINE BY OTHER COURTS
RULE 14	ATTORNEYS SPECIALLY ADMITTED
RULE 15	APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
RULE 16	SERVICE OF PAPER AND OTHER NOTICES
RULE 5	STUDENT PRACTICE
RULE 6	COMMITTEE ON ATTORNEY ADMISSIONS, PEER REVIEW, AND ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE
RULE 7	ATTORNEYS CONVICTED OF CRIMES
RULE 8	DISCIPLINE IMPOSED BY OTHER COURTS
RULE 9	DISCIPLINE ON CONSENT, RESIGNATION, OR INACTIVE STATUS IN OTHER COURTS

Appellate Rules 2

Rule	Title
RULE 4	REVIEW AND APPEAL (Magistrate Judge Rules)
RULE 87.4	BANKRUPTCY APPEALS

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 11th Circuit

Middle District of Alabama Montgomery, Alabama Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida Middle District of Georgia Macon, Georgia Northern District of Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Northern District of Florida Tallahassee, Florida Northern District of Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Southern District of Alabama Mobile, Alabama Southern District of Georgia Savannah, Georgia