Circuit court (Florida)

{{Short description|State court in Florida, United States}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Politics of Florida}} The '''Florida circuit courts''' are [[State court (United States)|state courts]] and [[trial court]]s<ref name="CC">{{FLStat|26.012|2007}}</ref> of [[original jurisdiction]] for most controversies. In Florida, the [[circuit court]]s are one of four types of courts created by the [[Florida Constitution]] (the other three being the [[Florida Supreme Court]], [[Florida district courts of appeal]], and [[county court (Florida)|Florida county courts]]).<ref>Fla. Const. of 1968, Art. V, § 1 (1998).</ref>

The circuit courts primarily handle [[felony]] criminal cases; family law matters; [[Civil law (common law)|civil cases]] where the [[amount in controversy]] is greater than $50,000; probate, guardianship, and mental health cases; juvenile dependency and delinquency cases; and appeals of decisions in certain administrative, noncriminal infractions, and other types of cases.<ref>{{cite web |title=Know Your Courts |url=https://www.flcourts.gov/Know-Your-Court |website=Florida Courts |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

== Circuits == [[File:Labeled map of Florida circuit courts.svg|thumb|right|Map of the judicial circuits]] There are 20 judicial circuits in Florida, all but five of which span multiple [[List of counties in Florida|counties]]. They are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Trial Courts - Circuit |work=Florida's Circuit Courts |publisher=[[State of Florida]] |url=https://www.flcourts.gov/Florida-Courts/Trial-Courts-Circuit |date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=May 19, 2024}}</ref>

# First Circuit – [[Escambia County, Florida|Escambia]], [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa]], [[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa]], and [[Walton County, Florida|Walton]] # Second Circuit – [[Franklin County, Florida|Franklin]], [[Gadsden County, Florida|Gadsden]], [[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson]], [[Leon County, Florida|Leon]], [[Liberty County, Florida|Liberty]], and [[Wakulla County, Florida|Wakulla]] # Third Circuit – [[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia]], [[Dixie County, Florida|Dixie]], [[Hamilton County, Florida|Hamilton]], [[Lafayette County, Florida|Lafayette]], [[Madison County, Florida|Madison]], [[Suwannee County, Florida|Suwannee]], and [[Taylor County, Florida|Taylor]] # Fourth Circuit – [[Clay County, Florida|Clay]], [[Duval County, Florida|Duval]], and [[Nassau County, Florida|Nassau]] # Fifth Circuit – [[Citrus County, Florida|Citrus]], [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]], [[Lake County, Florida|Lake]], [[Marion County, Florida|Marion]], and [[Sumter County, Florida|Sumter]] # Sixth Circuit – [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]] and [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas]] # Seventh Circuit – [[Flagler County, Florida|Flagler]], [[Putnam County, Florida|Putnam]], [[St. Johns County, Florida|St. Johns]], and [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia]] # Eighth Circuit – [[Alachua County, Florida|Alachua]], [[Baker County, Florida|Baker]], [[Bradford County, Florida|Bradford]], [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]], [[Levy County, Florida|Levy]], and [[Union County, Florida|Union]] # Ninth Circuit – [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]] and [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]] # Tenth Circuit – [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee]], [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands]], and [[Polk County, Florida|Polk]] # Eleventh Circuit – [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade]] # Twelfth Circuit – [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto]], [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee]], and [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota]] # Thirteenth Circuit – [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough]] # Fourteenth Circuit – [[Bay County, Florida|Bay]], [[Calhoun County, Florida|Calhoun]], [[Gulf County, Florida|Gulf]], [[Holmes County, Florida|Holmes]], [[Jackson County, Florida|Jackson]], and [[Washington County, Florida|Washington]] # Fifteenth Circuit – [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach]] # Sixteenth Circuit – [[Monroe County, Florida|Monroe]] # Seventeenth Circuit – [[Broward County, Florida|Broward]] # Eighteenth Circuit – [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard]] and [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole]] # Nineteenth Circuit – [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River]], [[Martin County, Florida|Martin]], [[Okeechobee County, Florida|Okeechobee]], and [[St. Lucie County, Florida|St. Lucie]] # Twentieth Circuit – [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte]], [[Collier County, Florida|Collier]], [[Glades County, Florida|Glades]], [[Hendry County, Florida|Hendry]], and [[Lee County, Florida|Lee]]

==Jurisdiction== Florida circuit courts have original jurisdiction not vested in the county courts, direct review of administrative action, and the power to issue [[writs]] of [[mandamus]], [[quo warranto]], [[certiorari]], [[prohibition (writ)|prohibition]], and [[habeas corpus]], as well as any other writs necessary to exercise their jurisdiction.<ref>Fla. Const. of 1968, Art. V, § 5(b) (1972).</ref>

As authorized by the legislature, and in addition to the power to issue various injunctions and other necessary orders,<ref name="CC" /> the circuit courts more specifically have the following jurisdiction:

===Original jurisdiction=== [[Original jurisdiction]] is as follows:

*In all actions at law not cognizable by the county courts;<ref name="CC"/> *Of proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of decedents and minors, the granting of letters testamentary, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, the determination of incompetency, and other jurisdiction usually pertaining to courts of probate;<ref name="CC2">{{FLStat|26.012|2020}}</ref> *In all cases in equity including all cases relating to juveniles except traffic offenses as provided in chapters 316 and 985;<ref name="CC2"/> *Of all felonies and of all misdemeanors arising out of the same circumstances as a felony which is also charged;<ref name="CC2"/> *In all cases involving legality of any tax assessment or toll or denial of refund, except as provided in s. 72.011;<ref name="CC2"/> *In actions of ejectment;<ref name="CC2"/> and *In all actions involving the title and boundaries of real property.<ref name="CC2"/> ===Appellate jurisdiction=== [[Appellate jurisdiction]] is as follows: * Appeals from final administrative orders of local government code enforcement boards and of reviews and appeals as otherwise expressly provided by law.<ref name="CC2"/>

== Florida's Business and Commercial Court Tracks == Four of Florida's Circuit Court's have issued orders creating specialized complex [[Business courts|business and commercial court]] programs, including the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola Counties) Business Court,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Court {{!}} Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida |url=https://ninthcircuit.org/divisions/business-court |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=ninthcircuit.org}}</ref> the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade County) Complex Business Litigation Division,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Complex Business Litigation |url=https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/About-the-Court/Ourt-Courts/Civil-Court/Complex-Business-Litigation |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.jud11.flcourts.org}}</ref> the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (Hillsborough County) Business Court,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Court - The Complex Business Litigation Division |url=https://www.fljud13.org/businesscourt.aspx |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.fljud13.org}}</ref> and the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Broward County) Complex Litigation Unit consisting of a business and tort subdivision.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Circuit Civil Complex Litigation – Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida |url=https://www.17th.flcourts.org/circuit-civil-complex-litigation/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida's business courts |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/655/floridas-business-courts |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida's business courts |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/655/floridas-business-courts |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref>

In 2004, Ninth Circuit chief judge [[Belvin Perry]] made Judge [[Renee A. Roche]] Florida's first specialized business court judge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Mike |title=First business court in Florida opens in Orlando (Associated Press February 4, 2004) |url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2004/02/04/first-business-court-in-florida-opens-in-orlando/31296863007/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=The Star Banner |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This Court Means Business |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/11042/this-court-means-business |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref> Judge Roche, along with Florida judge John E. Jordan<ref>{{Cite web |title=John E. Jordan {{!}} Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida |url=https://ninthcircuit.org/judges/circuit/john-e-jordan |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=ninthcircuit.org}}</ref> (Ninth Judicial Circuit), have served as business court representatives to the [[American Bar Association]]'s Business Law Section.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Business Court Representatives |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/about/awards-initiatives/business-court-representatives/}}</ref> A specialized business court in Orlando (Orange County) was first suggested by [[Thomas Benton Smith (judge)]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Judges Mourn the Passing of Retired Judge Thomas B. Smith {{!}} Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida |url=https://ninthcircuit.org/news/judges-mourn-passing-retired-judge-thomas-b-smith |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=ninthcircuit.org |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, the Ninth Circuit business court expanded from Orange County to add Osceola County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Court {{!}} Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida |url=https://ninthcircuit.org/divisions/business-court |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=ninthcircuit.org}}</ref>

Judge [[Gill S. Freeman]] was the first judge presiding over Miami's Complex Business Litigation Section, serving in that role for five years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Assignment of Circuit Court Judge Gill Freeman to the Complex Business Litigation Section (Section 40) in the Circuit Civil Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Administrative Order No. 11-13 (April 7, 2011) |url=https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Administrative_Orders/2-11-13-Assignment%20of%20Judge%20Freeman%20to%20Section%2040.pdf}}</ref> She is co-chair of the [[Florida Bar Association]]'s Business Law Section Business Courts Task Force, which was formed in 2018 to study the merits of implementing a statewide business court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taking a hard look at business courts |url=https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/taking-a-hard-look-at-business-courts/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=The Florida Bar |language=en-US}}</ref> In early 2020, on the precipice of the COVID pandemic, the task force recommended a proposed statewide business court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section calls for statewide business courts |url=https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/section-calls-for-statewide-business-courts/ |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=The Florida Bar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Business Court Task Force White Paper for Statewide Business Court |url=https://www.flabizlaw.org/files/Proposed%20RJA%20for%20Business%20Court%20-%20White%20PaperCLEAN.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=COVID-19 may stall Florida Bar's push for a statewide business court system |url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/29443/covid-19-may-stall-florida-bars-push-for-a-statewide-business-court-system |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Florida Trend}}</ref>

Judge Richard A. Nielsen was the first presiding judge in the Thirteenth Circuit's Complex Business Litigation Division in Tampa, in 2007, where he served for 5 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-10-02 |title=Adjudicated: Success |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2008/oct/02/adjudicated-success-0/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Business Observer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Richard (Rick) A. Nielsen, Curriculum Vitae |url=https://nielsenmediations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Rick-Nielsen-CV-1.pdf}}</ref>

In 2008, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Broward County) chief judge Victor Tobin issued an administrative order creating a Complex Litigation Unit with subdivisions for complex tort cases and complex business court cases. Judge Robert Rosenberg, who had suggested the idea of a specialized business court in the Seventeenth Circuit was appointed as one of the initial complex business case judges, with Judge Charles Greene to handle complex tort cases and Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld to handle complex tort and business cases.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broward County, Fla. Court's New Complex Litigation Unit Opens Doors |url=https://www.law.com/almID/900005500202/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Law.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Circuit Civil Complex Litigation – Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida |url=https://www.17th.flcourts.org/circuit-civil-complex-litigation/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County Florida created a separate International Commercial Arbitration Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Commercial Arbitration |url=https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/About-the-Court/Court-Divisions/Civil/International-Commercial-Arbitration |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.jud11.flcourts.org}}</ref> As of May 2024, Judge [[Lisa S. Walsh]] serves as both a Complex Business Litigation Division Judge and a presiding International Commercial Arbitration Court Judge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Complex Business Litigation |url=https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/About-the-Court/Ourt-Courts/Civil-Court/Complex-Business-Litigation |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=www.jud11.flcourts.org}}</ref> Judge [[Jennifer D. Bailey (judge)|Jennifer D. Bailey]] also served both as a Complex Business Litigation Division judge and International Commercial Arbitration judge in the Eleventh circuit, among her many contributions to that court.

==Election== Circuit court judges are elected by the voters of the circuits in nonpartisan, contested elections against other persons who choose to qualify as candidates for the position. Circuit court judges serve for six-year terms, and they are subject to the same disciplinary standards and procedures as Supreme Court Justices and district court judges.<ref>{{cite web |last=State of Florida |title=General Information |work=Florida's Circuit Courts |url=http://www.flcourts.org/courts/circuit/cir_description.shtml |access-date=January 13, 2009}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Judiciary of Florida]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.flcourts.org/core/fileparse.php/240/urlt/circuit-court-map-distribution.jpg Map of District Court's Jurisdiction] * [http://www.floridacivpro.com/ The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure]

[[Category:Florida state courts]] [[Category:Circuit courts in the United States|Florida]] [[Category:Courts and tribunals with year of establishment missing]]