Roberta A. Colton
How Judge Colton rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Colton
Roberta A. Colton began federal bankruptcy service in April 2016 on the District of South Dakota bench while also serving in the Middle District of Florida. She was sworn in as a bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Florida’s Tampa Division in December 2017. She earned degrees from the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary.
Judge Colton's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Colton, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
- Judge Colton’s Hearing Procedures ↗
- Judge Colton Chapter 13 Hearing Procedures ↗
- Guidelines for Discovery Meet and Confer Requirements ↗
Key rules
Conferences
Register for a remote Zoom hearing by 3 p.m. one business day in advance; for an emergency hearing, register at least one hour ahead.
“you must register in advance, no later than 3:00 p.m. one business day before the date of the hearing. For emergency hearings, you must register at least one hour before the hearing.”
Conferences
If any matter is on Judge Colton’s Chapter 13 calendar, appear at 9:30 a.m. for the initial read-through.
“If you have any hearing on the Court’s Chapter 13 docket, including motions to extend or impose the stay (9:55 a.m.) or a miscellaneous matter (10:00 a.m.), it is important to appear at 9:30 a.m. when the read through begins.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026).
- Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Available Procedures in Student Loan Discharge Adversary Proceedings ↗
- Amended Administrative Order Providing Limited Authority to Expend Funds ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Chapter 13 Cases Filed on or After October 1, 2025 ↗
- Administrative Order Vacating FLMB-2020-4 and Reinstating Original-Signature Requirements ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Student Loan Management Program ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Sixth Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Mortgage Modification Mediation ↗
- Amended Administrative Order Requiring Photo Identification by Unrepresented Parties ↗
How Judge Colton decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Hallucination Media v. The Ritz Ybor, Colton granted the defendants summary judgment on the contract claims, holding that an agreement to agree was unenforceable.
“A mere agreement to agree is unenforceable as a matter of law.”
Procedural preferences
Competing summary-judgment motions are evaluated independently under the ordinary Rule 56 standard.
“The Court considers each motion separately, ‘resolving all reasonable inferences against the party whose motion is under consideration.’”
Cautions
A bankruptcy surrender statement does not automatically eliminate every later foreclosure defense, especially after substantial post-bankruptcy conduct by the lender.
“Failla should not be viewed as carte blanche for post-bankruptcy lender misconduct.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Trustee’s Motion to Approve the Settlement Agreement relating to debtor Kathleen M. Bishop’s products liability claim is DENIED.”
“Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Space Coast’s Motion to Reopen Chapter 7 Case and to Compel Surrender of Mortgage Property is DENIED, and the remaining requests for relief in the Motion are DENIED as moot.”
“For these reasons, the Motion to Compel is denied.”
“Accordingly, the Trustee's motion for partial summary judgment will be denied, and ADP's cross-motion for partial summary judgment on the control element of its mere conduit defense will be granted.”
“Accordingly, ADP is entitled to partial summary judgment on the issue of its good faith for purposes of its mere conduit defense.”
“It is therefore ORDERED that the Motion (Doc. 22) is DENIED.”
“Ritz and NCJ’s Amended Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment on Counts I and II of Plaintiff’s Complaint (Doc. 115) is GRANTED.”
“Defendants’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment on the Dispositive Issue is GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part, as follows.”
“Debtor’s Motion for Summary Judgment on the Dispositive Issue is DENIED, without prejudice.”
“A separate order consistent with these findings and granting Debtor’s motion shall issue shortly.”
“Based on the above, the Court finds that the lot owners are entitled to administrative expense priority for their claims of MMF overpayments to the extent that they paid MMF during the relevant period of time that contained the improperly included profit component. The lot owners do not have an administrative priority claim for any diminution damages.”
“For the reasons stated, Debtors’ Motion to Avoid Gerard’s lien will be granted.”
“This chapter 13 case shall be dismissed in fourteen (14) days, unless it is converted to chapter 7 or chapter 11 before that time.”
“Defendant Ronald Collis is preliminarily enjoined from contacting the customers and prospective customers identified on Plaintiff’s Exhibit 22 as initially presented to the court, Bates Stamp identification: ‘Vology 010739-010742.’”
“Plaintiff’s Motion In Limine (Doc. 40) is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s ore tenus Motion to Conform the Pleadings to the Evidence, is DENIED for purposes of preliminary injunctive relief, but, otherwise, without prejudice.”
Draft for Judge Colton with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Colton, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Colton's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace