Requirements & Information

JACS
Attorney
Public
Locations
Self Help Center

Honorable Dana Moss

Circuit Court Judge

Contact Information

Judge Dana moss

Judicial Service

  • Circuit Court Bench, November 2022
  • County Court Bench, August 2018

Education

  • JD, Florida Coastal School of Law, 2005
  • BS, Penn State University, 2002
Judicial Assistant
Karina
Phone
(941) 861–7950
Chamber
Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center
Physical Address
2002 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34237
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 48927, Sarasota, FL 34230
Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed for lunch Noon-1 p.m.
Courtroom
Proceedings are held in Courtroom 5C
Division Email
Email proposed orders to Felony6@jud12.flcourts.org

Division Assignment(s)

Notice to the public: The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the Judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit to discuss pending cases with the public. Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case. The Court is only allowed to consider arguments made in the courtroom and in documents properly filed by actual parties in the case as authorized by law and the Rules of Court. The Court cannot ethically read or consider any other opinions or arguments about the case. Communications that do not meet these legal requirements cannot be forwarded to the Judges.

Requirements & Information

Standards of Professionalism

All attorneys must adhere to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s Standards of Professionalism, also available on the websites of the Manatee County Bar Association and the Sarasota County Bar Association.

A. Remote Appearance

These events will be held in-person in Courtroom 5C or in the jail courtroom as scheduled: case management, trial, docket sounding, evidentiary hearings, and motions to recall failure to appear warrants. The parties may motion the Court for alternative appearance methods.

Parties appearing via Zoom must activate the video and audio functions. The Notice of Hearing for a Zoom event must include the correct Zoom credentials. The perpetual Zoom Credentials for Division 6 are:

  • Meeting ID: 992 9762 3629
  • Password: 419147

B. Hearing Procedures

  1. Motions must be filed prior to requesting hearing time. Please note, motions filed with the Clerk are not forwarded to the Court. Thus, it is the filing party’s responsibility to bring the motion to the attention of the Court and request hearing time.
  2. Please contact the Judicial Assistant at 941–861–7950 for available hearing time.
  3. The party scheduling the hearing shall file the Notice of Hearing, which should include the date, time, duration, matter to be heard (include DIN), and whether the hearing will be conducted via Zoom or in person. Hearings via Zoom must include the Zoom credentials in the notice.
  4. Please submit courtesy copies of motions, notices of hearing, and case law to the court no less than 3 days before the scheduled hearing.

C. Communications with the Court

Ex parte communications with the Court are prohibited. Written communications and pleadings must include a copy to all parties. Communications with the Court may be hand delivered to Judge Moss, 2002 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237; emailed to Felony6@jud12.flcourts.org; or sent via U.S. mail to P.O. Box 48927, Sarasota, FL 34230.

D. Submission of Orders

Parties may submit proposed orders via the ePortal or email them to Felony6@jud12.flcourts.org.

E. Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies of supporting materials and case law must be submitted no less than 3 days prior to the hearing to allow sufficient time for the Court to review.

F. Emergency & Other Urgent Matters

Speedy Trial

When a party files a Demand for Speedy Trial, they shall immediately call or email the Judicial Assistant at Felony6@jud12.flcourts.org advising that the Demand has been filed with the Clerk so that a Calendar Call may be held within 5 days.

Uncharged Defendants

When a party files a Motion to Release an Uncharged Defendant, the party shall also provide a courtesy copy to the Court so that it may be addressed in a timely manner. The State will be given an opportunity to respond. The State shall provide a copy of the Information or Case Action to all parties, as well as the Court.

G. Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings

Parties must bring their exhibits to the courtroom on the day of the hearing or trial. The Courtroom Clerk will provide labels for the exhibits at that time. The best practice is to have the clerk pre-label the exhibits prior to the start of the proceeding. Not all courtrooms are outfitted with the technology to play videos and project images on a screen. If such equipment is needed, it is the parties’ responsibility to request the Technology Cart within 48 hours of the proceeding from the Technology Services department.

H. Pretrial Procedures & Conferences

Case Management

  1. Case Managements will be on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. as posted on the Division 6 calendars. Attorneys and defendants must appear, unless excused by the Court. If a defendant is in the Sarasota County Jail and represented by PD/ORC, the Court will arrange to address those cases on the same day but at 8:30 a.m. in person at the jail.
  2. The State and Defense shall comply with Circuit Criminal Administrative Order 2009-1 which outlines the procedures for Case Management hearings, including the timely conveyance by the State of a sentence recommendation to the defense.
  3. Stipulations to set a trial date must be on the approved Stipulation for Trial Date form found on the Criminal Division page or in print in the courtroom. The form must be filled out with the defendant’s signature. If parties cannot agree on a trial date, the Court will select one.
  4. Stipulations should be submitted to the Court no later than the close of business on Tuesday before Case Management in order to cancel the Case Management date. It is the parties’ obligation to confirm that any submitted Stipulations are approved prior to assuming that the Case Management conference has been cancelled.
  5. The Court accepts pleas at Case Management. Please immediately notify the Court and Clerk of a request to add a case to the docket for purposes of a plea.

Docket Sounding

  1. Docket Soundings will be on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. as posted on the Division 6 calendars.
  2. Defendants and attorneys must appear in person, unless excused by the Court.
  3. Defendants in custody at the Sarasota County Jail are subject to having their cases heard in person in the jail courtroom on the Thursday following Docket Sounding.
  4. The Court will accept pleas at Docket Sounding.
  5. Oral motions to continue trial are not permitted. All motions to continue should be written and scheduled for a hearing at least two business days prior to Docket Sounding.

I. Setting Case for Trial

  1. The Court’s trial periods are posted in Division 6’s Calendars and Forms.
  2. Parties shall appear at 8:30 a.m. on the first Monday of the trial period before the assigned judge, unless ordered otherwise.
  3. Unless a case is given a date certain to commence trial, all cases must be ready to begin trial on the first Monday of the trial period.
  4. If a defendant is in custody, it is the attorney’s responsibility to ensure that the defendant’s clothing for the entire trial is delivered to the front security area of the courthouse no less than 2 business days before the trial is to begin.

J. Preferred Division Forms

To access forms, visit the Criminal Division page.

K. Other Division Procedures

Language Interpreter

It is the parties’ responsibility to submit the Interpreter Request Form 5 days in advance of a hearing.