Civil Docketing

Getting on the Civil Docket

This page was designed to give you as much information as possible in scheduling hearings/motions/trials/etc. on the Civil Docket. Please click on the links below for standard answers to your questions. We have also provided an email link for the submission of docket requests via email.

General Information

Setting Motions Monday through Thursday

Motions can be NOTICED in 30 minute increments between 9:00 am and 11:00 am that will not take longer than 30 minutes. These type of motions are not set with the Civil Docket Clerk.

Please submit a Notice of Hearing with the date and time selected and file with the Clerks office of the Norfolk Circuit Court. Notices must be received at least two days prior to the date selected for hearing to be placed on the docket for the selected hearing date.

These motions will be heard by the Duty Judge.

Setting Motions on Friday Motions Day

Motions can be NOTICED for any Friday in 30 minute increments between 9 am and 10:30 am. These type of motions are not set with the Docket Clerk.

Please submit a Notice of hearing with the date and time selected and file with the Clerk’s Office of the Norfolk Circuit Court. Notices must be received by Noon on the Friday before the date selected (one week prior).

Please be advised that there are certain Fridays the Court is closed for Holidays and/or Judicial Conferences and Friday Motions Day is moved to Thursday.

Setting Motions longer than 30 minutes

Motions that may take longer than 30 minutes must be set with the Civil Docket Clerk. You must have all parties available dates prior to contacting the Civil Docket Clerk.

Setting Un-Contested Divorces

Un-contested Divorces are set Monday through Thursday in 10 minute increments beginning at 9:00 am. You must contact the Civil Docket Clerk with available dates to set an Un-Contested Divorce Hearing.

Setting Non-Jury Trials

All Non-Jury trials are set Monday through Thursday at 9:30 am. All Non-Jury Trials must be set with the Civil Docket Clerk. You must have all parties available dates prior to contacting the Civil Docket Clerk.

Setting Jury Trials

All Jury Trials are set Monday through Thursday at 9:30 am except on the 1st Wednesday of every month.

All Jury Trials must be set with the Civil Docket Clerk. You must have all parties available dates prior to contacting the Civil Docket Clerk.

Any Jury Trial to be set for more than 2 days, must be set with the Judicial Docket Administrator or call (757) 600-4277

Setting cases that are Pre-Assigned to a Judge

All hearings to be set for any case that is pre-assigned to a specific Judge must be set with the Judicial Docket Administrator

Request for Continuance of Trial

Any requests for continuances of Civil (Law or Chancery) bench or jury trial must be directed to the Judges office of the Honorable Everett A. Martin, Jr. or the Honorable David W. Lannetti

Removal of Hearings/Motions set by Notice

Motions set by the requesting party may be removed upon request to the Civil Docket Clerk. Please contact the Civil Docket Clerk with case name, case number and hearing date and time of motion to be removed. Please provide name of caller, date and time of call for documenting purposes.

Scheduling Conferences at 2:30 pm

Cases in which an Order to Attend a Scheduling Conference are issued by the Court requiring all parties and/or counsel to appear before the Court to set a trial date. In order to excuse appearance at the scheduling conference, a trial date must be set with the Civil Docket Clerk and a Scheduling Order must be received in the Clerk’s Office the day before by Noon. The Civil Docket Clerk will not set any cases after Noon the day before regarding cases on the docket for a scheduling conference.

All general questions regarding the procedures for setting cases on the civil docket are answered on our website.

All cases are to be set with the Civil Division Docket Clerk. Call (757) 600-4277.