Judge Profile

Joy B. Shearer

Judicial Experience:

  • 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Other Professional Experience:

  • Assistant Attorney General, Department of Legal Affairs, 1977 to 1989
  • Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc, to 1977
  • Commissioner/General Master, Palm Beach County Courthouse

Biographical Data:

  • BAR MEMBERSHIPS: The Florida Bar United States Supreme Court United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit United States District Court, Southern and Middle Districts. BAR ACTIVITIES: Cultural and Civic Affairs Committee; Appellate Practice Committee; Family Law Practice Committee. Publications: I also authored a chapter for the CLE Publication Florida Criminal Rules and Practice and revised the chapters on incompetency and insanity for the Florida Prosecutor's Manual, 2d ed. (1989)

Education:

  • J.D., University of Florida, 1975
  • Bachelor of Arts, Communications Major, Florida Atlantic University, 1973

Admission to the Bar:

  • Florida State Bar

Publications/Lectures:

  • "Insanity of the Condemned: Florida's Response to Ford", Florida Bar Journal, March 1988
  • "Post-judgment Enforcement of Visitation and Support", Palm Beach County Bar Association Bulletin, October 1990
  • "Parental Relocation: Recent Case Law", Bulletin, August 1989

Professional Civic Activities/Honors/Awards:

  • Palm Beach County Bar Association, 1976
  • Vice Chairman, Law Week Committee, l982 - l983
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers, 1977 - Present
  • President, Palm Beach County Chapter, 1983
  • Associate Editor, State FAWL Newsletter, l988 - 1989

Part Rule:


  • Discovery
    1. Do you require counsel to certify that a good faith effort has been made to resolve discovery disputes before motions are brought before you? yes 2. Do you consider motions to compel responses to written discovery where no response or objections whatsoever has been received or filed without the necessity of a hearing?yes 3. Do you have any standard limitations or procedures reguarding discovery matters not addressed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure? no

  • Motion Practice
    Do you allow hearings by conference call? Occasionally If so, what is the procedure? If parties agree, contact office assistant. Do you have a standard order for scheduling and conducting specially set hearings? no Do you allow specially set hearings to be canceled by agreement of counsel? yes What is the maximum amount of time you allow for a specially set hearing without requiring the hearing to be placed on a on-jury docket? 2 hours What is the procedure for allowing matters to be set? File motion, secure order of referral if needed, send office copy of motion and call for a hearing time/date. Do you have any preference regarding the presentation of proposed orders for specially set hearings? Bring them to the hearing. What is the procedure for scheduling emergency motions?Emergency motions are heard by the Circuit Judge. What is the procedure for scheduling hearings on motions for temporary injunctions? N/A What is the procedure for scheduling hearings on motions for rehearing or new trials? Motions will be reviewed and counsel will be contacted if hearing is to be set.

  • Trial-Related Matters
    Continuance of trials When should motions for continuance be heard? On motion calendar. Which of the following factors are important to determining whether to continue a trial? It depends on the case. When a case on the calendar is not reached: It is special set. How much notice do you give to counsel to begin trial after docket has commenced? N/A Do you specially set cases for trial and if so, under what circumstances? Yes, once a notice for trial is received. Do you generally try the oldest case first? Not necessarily. Do you use the uniform Order Setting Trial and pretrial instructions? yes Do you have any special rules and procedures for making evidence prior to trial? I prefer to have the exhibits pre-mailed with case name, case number, identify the party and line for signature. Do you utilize a writen trial conflict form for docket call?no Under what circumstances do you transfer cases over to the Trial Division? N/A

Staff:

  • Debbie Bradley, Judicial Assistant