(a) CLERK’S DOCKETING AND ASSIGNMENT. On receipt of an
initial paper, the clerk must classify the paper as civil, criminal, or
miscellaneous; assign the paper a distinct number; and randomly assign
the paper to a district judge, a magistrate judge, or both. The clerk
cannot change the initial assignment without an order from the judge or
the chief judge. The clerk must report promptly to the chief judge an
apparent attempt to evade the random assignment of an initial paper.
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA LOCAL RULES
(b) VEXATIOUS LITIGANT. A judge can assign review of an initial
paper from a vexatious litigant to the judge already designated to review
the vexatious litigant’s filings.
(c) ACCEPTANCE OF A PAPER FROM A PERSON IN CUSTODY. The
clerk must accept an initial paper from a person in custody even if no
filing fee or motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis accompanies
the paper.
