Florida circuit courts

Updated on Nov 17, 2023

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The Florida circuit courts are state courts, and are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution (the other three being the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida District Courts of Appeal, and the Florida county courts).

The circuit courts primarily handle civil cases where the amount in controversy is greater than $15,000, and felony criminal cases, as well as appeals from county courts.

Circuits

There are 20 judicial circuits in Florida, all but five of which span multiple counties. They are:

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

As authorized by the legislature, and in addition to the power to issue various injunctions and other necessary orders, the circuit courts more specifically have the following jurisdiction:

Original jurisdiction

Original jurisdiction is as follows:

"[A]ll actions at law not cognizable by the county courts . . . ." Therefore, all actions except: most misdemeanor cases, violations of municipal and county ordinances, some disputes occurring in homeowners' associations, and cases where the amount in controversy is equal to or less than $15,000 ("Exclusive of interest, costs, attorneys fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts").

"[P]roceedings 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 . . . ."

All cases of equity, including those related to juveniles, except for traffic offenses.

Felonies.

All cases involving the legality of state tax assessment, toll, or denial of refund.

Ejectment (But not eviction, which may be brought in county court).

Title and boundaries of real property.

Appellate jurisdiction

Appellate jurisdiction is as follows:

Appeals from county courts (except from orders or judgments declaring invalid a state statute or provision of the State Constitution, or any orders or judgments certified by the county court as a matter of great public importance and accepted for review by a District Court of Appeal).

Appeals from final administrative orders of local government code enforcement boards.

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.

References

Florida circuit courts Wikipedia

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