Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard

Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse 701 Clematis Street, Chambers 331 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 Directions Telephonic Hearing Instructions: Dial 1-833-435-1820; Enter meeting ID 160 225 1740#; and Enter security code 576690# Email: maynard@flsd.uscourts.gov (for proposed orders, jury instructions, settlement conference memoranda, etc., or as otherwise directed by the Court) Telephonic Hearing Instructions: Dial (888) 684-8852 and enter access code 5312437. Courtroom Hearing Instructions: As a general rule, matters that are set for an in person hearing in the courtroom will be heard in Courtroom No. 4074 (the magistrate courtroom)  in the Fort Pierce Courthouse at the above address.

Chambers: (561) 803-3440 Courtroom Deputy: Please contact Shanda Walker (561) 803-3418 for all criminal scheduling matters Law Clerks: Jessica Rodriguez (civil cases ending in even numbers)

Judge's Biography

Judge Shaniek Mills Maynard Biography

Shaniek Mills Maynard was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida in June 2017. She is assigned to the Fort Pierce courthouse, where she presides over federal cases from Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Highlands counties. Prior to taking the bench, she was the Executive Director of the Roundtable of St. Lucie County where she launched a program helping young men in gangs to find jobs, finish school and become successful, contributing members of society. She also worked with the National Gang Center, training communities nationally and internationally on best practices to reduce juvenile gang violence. From 2007 to 2014, she was an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce. She prosecuted violent crimes, crimes against children, human trafficking, civil rights cases, narcotics crimes, and white-collar fraud. From 2002 to 2007, she was a litigation associate in the Washington D.C. office of Shearman & Sterling LLP. In 2001, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Catherine C. Blake, United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Judge Maynard obtained her bachelor's degree from Howard University ('98) and her law degree from Yale Law School ('01).

Communication

Law clerks may be contacted regarding procedural questions. Law clerks may not be asked substantive legal questions and they cannot provide advice on how to handle legal questions. When you contact Chambers, please have the case number and presiding Judge available as this will be the first question asked so that we may better assist you.

Electronic Equipment

Please refer to Administrative Order 2018-79 for the Court’s policy for bringing audio/visual equipment, mobile phones, and personal devices into the courtroom. Always check the Court’s website for any updates or changes to the Court’s general policy on that matter.

Regarding computer equipment that counsel intends to use in a courtroom proceeding (e.g., as the medium for presenting evidence), counsel shall comply with Administrative Order 2018-79’s requirements for obtaining leave of Court. As a practical matter, counsel shall ask for leave of Court in advance, before the day of court. It is strongly recommended that counsel test out the equipment in the courtroom in advance, as well. Ultimately it is counsel’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment works in sync with the courtroom’s equipment. Counsel also shall bring hard copies of all evidence.

Attachment: Administrative Order 2018-79

Discovery Procedures

This Court takes seriously its obligation under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 1 to “secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceeding." To that end, this Court follows the Florida Bar’s Standard Guidelines for Professional Conduct and the Chief Justice’s 2015 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary.

Attachments:
Guidelines for Professional Conduct

2015 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary

In all cases in which discovery has been referred, the Order Setting Discovery Procedures applies.

Attachment: Order Setting Discovery Procedures

Litigants also shall pay careful attention for any additional Orders that might be rendered in the case that give specific instructions on how to brief a particular discovery dispute or set a discovery dispute for a hearing. Also note, that in some, but not all, cases, this Court may render an “Order Setting Discovery Status Conference”. That Order sets a telephonic final status conference for discovery matters roughly one month before the case’s overall discovery deadline.

Attachment: Order Setting Discovery Status Conference

Settlement Procedures

Below is Judge Maynard’s Standard Order. Please note that its terms may be adjusted to fit the particular circumstances and time frame of the particular case. As the Order Requiring Joint Filing Regarding Remittal Waiver explains, Judge Maynard recuses herself from the case after conducting the Settlement Conference as a general rule. However the parties have the option a filing a notice of waiver if the parties consent to Judge Maynard remaining in the case as the paired magistrate judge.

Attachment: Standing Order Setting Settlement Conference with Checklist

Attachment: Order Requiring Joint Filing Regarding Remittal Waiver

Motion Practice-Next Generation Lawyers

Ordinarily, only one lawyer for each party may argue at a hearing. Nevertheless, the Court has a strong commitment to supporting the development of our next generation of lawyers. The Court encourages parties and senior attorneys to allow less-experienced practitioners the opportunity to argue in court. A party should advise the Court prior to the beginning of the hearing if a lawyer of 5 or fewer years of experience will be arguing the matter. In that event, the Court will allow multiple lawyers to argue on behalf of that party.