Florida Circuit Court Information

The court system in Florida was quite complex until 1973. Until that time there were different types of trial courts and Florida was the only state to have so many of them apart from New York. The process to change the judicial structure had already been initiated and it materialized with the introduction of a two-tier trial courts system.

The Constitution of the State of Florida states that the entire state shall be divided into different judicial circuits and each of these judicial divisions should have a circuit court of its own. There are twenty judicial circuits in the state. There is no designated number of judges for each of these circuit courts. The number of judges appointed is decided on the basis of the population of the area and the number of cases that are filed.

Florida Courts Jurisdiction

Florida circuit courts have jurisdiction over issues which are beyond the purview of the county courts. They also serve as a court of appeals for the cases that were originally filed in the county courts. Thus, it can be concluded that these are the “highest trial courts” and at the same time also the “lowest appellate courts” in the state.

The circuit courts have jurisdiction over civil matters worth greater than $15,000, juvenile crimes, issues related to possession of estates (especially those involving physically challenged individuals and minors), tax disputes, criminal prosecutions for all kinds of felonies, family law matters, cases pertaining to probate, and settlement of disputes involving the boundaries and titles of property.

The circuit courts also have the power to decide cases of declaratory judgments where the rights of the contending parties are laid out clearly in order to avoid legal hassles in the future that might lead to litigation. It may also issue injunctions in order to prevent people or organizations from acting in an unlawful manner. Florida circuit courts also have the right to issue writs such as habeas corpus, prohibition, quo warranto, certiorari and mandamus.

Florida Circuit Courts Locations

There are twenty judicial circuits in Florida and each of them has one or more than counties under their jurisdiction. Here is a list of the circuits and their constituent counties:

First Circuit

http://www.firstjudicialcircuit.org/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=1

·    Santa Rosa
·    Escambia
·    Walton
·    Okaloosa

Second Circuit

http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/2ndCircuit/

·    Jefferson
·    Wakulla
·    Franklin
·    Liberty
·    Gadsden
·    Leon

Third Circuit

http://www.jud3.flcourts.org/

·    Hamilton
·    Taylor
·    Columbia
·    Lafayette
·    Suwannee
·    Dixie
·    Madison

Fourth Circuit

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Fourth+Judicial+Circuit+Court/default.htm

·    Nassau
·    Clay
·    Duval

Fifth Circuit

http://www.circuit5.org/

·    Marion
·    Hernando
·    Sumter
·    Lake
·    Citrus

Sixth Circuit

http://www.jud6.org/

·    Pinellas
·    Pasco

Seventh Circuit

http://www.circuit7.org/

·    St. Johns
·    Flagler
·    Volusia
·    Putnam

Eighth Circuit

http://www.circuit8.org/

·    Gilchrist
·    Alachua
·    Union
·    Baker
·    Levy
·    Bradford

Ninth Circuit

http://www.circuit8.org/

·    Osceola
·    Orange

Tenth Circuit

http://www.jud10.org/

·    Polk
·    Hardee
·    Highlands

Eleventh Circuit

http://www.jud11.flcourts.org/

·    Dade

Twelfth Circuit

http://www.jud12.flcourts.org/

·    Sarasota
·    DeSoto
·    Manatee

Thirteenth Circuit

http://www.fljud13.org/

·    Hillsborough

Fourteenth Circuit

http://www.jud14.flcourts.org/

·    Holmes
·    Bay
·    Washington
·    Gulf
·    Jackson
·    Calhoun

Fifteenth Circuit

http://15thcircuit.co.palm-beach.fl.us/web/guest/cadmin

·    Palm Beach

Sixteenth Circuit

http://www.keyscourts.net/

·    Monroe

Seventeenth Circuit

http://www.17th.flcourts.org/

·    Broward

Eighteenth Circuit

http://www.flcourts18.org/

·    Seminole
·    Brevard

Nineteenth Circuit

http://www.circuit19.org/

·    Okeechobee
·    Indian River
·    St. Lucie
·    Martin

Twentieth Circuit

http://www.ca.cjis20.org/web/main/index.asp

·    Collier
·    Lee
·    Glades
·    Charlotte
·    Hendry

Each of these circuit courts has an administrative structure of their own that is locally based. The chief judge of the particular jurisdiction has control over all these courts. Operational assistance in the circuit courts is provided by a trial court administrator.  In case you want to contact the office of the State Courts Administrator, you can reach them at (850) 922-5081 or send an email at osca@flcourts.org . You can also contact them through:

State Courts Administrator
500 South Duval Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1900