About the Court

The State of Florida is divided into 20 judicial circuits, or areas of jurisdiction, which encompass the circuit and county courts of  the Florida State Courts System. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, serving Miami-Dade County, is the largest in the state and the fourth largest trial court in the nation. It's 123 Circuit and County Court judges serve a population of over two million in a 2,000 square mile area. Eighty judges preside in six Divisions of the Circuit Court and 43 judges preside in three Divisions of the County Court. Chief Judge Joel H. Brown provides direct Judicial Administration for the circuit and county courts. Court Administrator Sandra M. Lonergan manages the Administrative Office of the Courts, whose primary purpose is to provide support to the judiciary and maintain the efficient operations of the court. Judges are assisted in the annual disposition of approximately 800,000 cases (including civil traffic infractions) by senior (retired) judges, General Magistrates, hearing officers/traffic magistrates, mediators and support services. The Eleventh Judicial Circuit has been innovative in implementing numerous Programs and Services to assist in effective case management and resolve problems which impact the court and the community. Examples of such programs which were pioneered in Miami-Dade County and which are now in effect in other circuits statewide are: Drug Court, the Domestic Violence Division, family and landlord/tenant mediation, parenting/child education classes, traffic court magistrates, witness coordination, and video jail arraignments/bond hearings.

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit has four main courthouses which house circuit and county court judges, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Clerk's Office and other court-related personnel: the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, where circuit and county criminal cases are heard; the Dade County Courthouse, where circuit and county civil and probate cases are heard; the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, where family and domestic violence cases are heard; and, the Juvenile Justice Center, where juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are heard.

To provide the public with greater access to the court, county court judges also preside in five full-service branch (or district) courts throughout Miami-Dade County and hear the following matters: misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, municipal ordinance violations, civil matters not exceeding the sum of $5,000 (small claims), uncontested and simplified dissolutions of marriage, and non-criminal domestic and repeat violence injunction matters.

The Clerk's Office is principally responsible for records management and enjoys a close working relationship with the court in maintaining support to the judiciary. It provides a number of services to the public at the main courthouses, the branch courts and other facilities in Miami-Dade County, including collecting traffic and parking fines, filing pleadings, providing case information and issuing marriage licenses.

 

Circuit and County Court Jurisdiction

Florida currently operates under a two-tier trial court system of circuit and county courts, established in 1972 with the adoption of Article V to the Florida Constitution, which defines the jurisdiction and organization of the Florida State Court System. In the circuit and county trial courts, factual disputes are resolved, either by jury trials where verdicts are rendered by the people, or by non-jury or "bench" trials where a judge decides the issues in the case. In general, County Courts, sometimes called "the people's courts", are courts of limited jurisdiction where minor criminal (misdemeanor) and civil cases are heard. In the Circuit Courts, which are the highest state trial courts in Florida, major criminal (felony), civil, family, juvenile and probate matters are heard. (A legal description of circuit and county court jurisdiction is detailed in the Florida Statutes.)

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit has 80 circuit court judges and 43 county court judges who are elected for six-year terms. At the end of this time, judges may run for reelection and serve additional terms. Chief Judge Joel H. Brown provides direct Judicial administration for the circuit and county courts of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. These courts are divided into several divisions, each of which is headed by an administrative judge.


Divisions of the Circuit Court


The Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida is divided into six divisions:


The Circuit Criminal Division, in which major criminal (felony) cases where the resulting penalty can be death or imprisonment in a state penitentiary for periods of one year (365 days) or more are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building.

The Circuit Civil Division, in which civil disputes with damages greater than $15,000 are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Dade County Courthouse.

The Family Division, in which family matters concerning dissolutions of marriage, child custody and support, adoptions, paternity, modification proceedings, name changes, UREFAS, and domestic violence permanent injunction cases where there is an open family court action are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center.

The Juvenile Division, in which cases involving delinquency, dependency, and children-in-need-of-services matters are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Juvenile Justice Center.

The Probate Division, in which probate matters such as the processing of wills and the settling of estates, as well as guardianship and mental health cases are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Dade County Courthouse.

The Appellate Division, in which county court appeals and petitions for writ of certiorari seeking review of any public body, city or county commission, council, administrative board or agency are heard. This division consists of circuit judges who sit on three-judge rotating panels at the Dade County Courthouse.

Circuit Court Judges' Photos
Circuit Court Judges' Phones/Addresses


Divisions of the County Court

The County Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida is divided into three divisions:


The County Criminal Division, in which minor criminal (misdemeanor) cases punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for less than one year (up to 364 days), municipal and county ordinance violations, and criminal traffic matters are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building and the branch courts.* Additionally, traffic magistrates hear the majority of civil traffic infractions, unless a judicial hearing before a county judge is requested by the defendant.

The County Civil Division, in which civil cases not exceeding damages in the amount of $15,000, including landlord and tenant cases, are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Dade County Courthouse and the branch courts.*


The Domestic Violence Division, in which criminal domestic violence-related misdemeanors and injunction violation cases, as well as civil orders of protection (temporary and permanent domestic and repeat violence injunctions) are heard. The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center.

* County judges also hear circuit court cases filed at the branch courts on a regular basis, including uncontested and simplified dissolutions of marriage, and temporary and permanent domestic and repeat violence injunctions.

County Court Judges' Photos
County Court Judges' Phones/Addresses


 

Judicial Administration

Office of the Chief Judge

Each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits are administered by a chief judge who is elected by a majority of the judges in the circuit for a term of two years. Chief Judge Joel H. Brown was elected as the chief judicial officer of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2009. He acts as liaison with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in all judicial administrative matters and is responsible for the efficient and proper administration of the circuit and county courts. As set forth in Rule 2.050, Rules of Judicial Administration, this includes developing a plan for the prompt disposition of cases; assignment of judges, other court officers and executive assistants; control of dockets; regulation and use of courtrooms; mandatory periodic review of the status of the inmates of the county jail; and, consideration of statistical data. The Chief Judge also enters administrative orders to properly direct the court's day-to-day affairs and appoints committees to serve in an advisory capacity.


Administrative Judges

The Chief Judge is assisted in judicial administration by administrative judges assigned to the nine divisions of the circuit and county courts. Within their respective divisions, they have authority over assignment or transfer of cases, assignment of judges, the physical location of judges within a courthouse, back-ups for judges, and intra-division court policy. Eight associate administrative judges assist the administrative judges in their responsibilities and assume their authority in the event the administrative judges are unavailable.
 

Division Administrative Judge Associate  Administrative Judge Circuit Criminal Hon. Bertila Soto Hon. John W. Thornton Jr. Circuit Civil Hon. Jennifer Bailey Hon. Israel Reyes Family Division Hon. Sandy Karlan Hon. Scott M. Bernstein Juvenile Division Hon. Orlando A. Prescott Hon. George A. Sarduy Probate Division Hon. Maria M. Korvick    Appellate Division Hon. Mark King Leban Hon. Kevin M. Emas County Criminal Hon. Samuel J. Slom Hon. Steve Leifman Hon. Beth Bloom County Civil Hon. Teretha Lundy Thomas Hon. Linda Singer Stein (North Dade Justice Center) Domestic Violence Hon. Carroll J. Kelly

Senior Judges

After retirement, judges may seek approval from the Supreme Court of Florida to serve as senior judges on temporary assignment to hear, conduct and try cases for the court. Senior judges of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit assist the judiciary by serving in judicial sections which are temporarily vacant and presiding over a variety of cases heard in the circuit and county courts.

Senior Judges' Photos


General Magistrates

General magistrates are widely utilized in Florida's trial courts to assist the judiciary in the effective and timely disposition of cases. They are appointed by the chief judge to hear cases and make findings of fact and recommendations in a General Magistrate's Report to judges in the Family, Circuit Civil, Juvenile and Probate Divisions. Once the general magistrate has filed a report with the sitting judge, either party in the case may appeal by making exceptions to the general magistrate's findings and recommendations. If there are no exceptions to the report, the judge generally enters an order approving the decision of the general magistrate.


General Magistrates' Photos
General Magistrates' Phones/Addresses

 

Court Administration

The Court Administrator

A court administrator in each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits is appointed by the chief judge, subject to the concurrence of a majority of the circuit and county court judges, to oversee the non-judicial administration of the court. Court Administrator Sandra M. Lonergan has served at the pleasure of the court since 2010. Court Administrator's responsibilities include budget and personnel management; representing the court at the local, state and national levels; and, administering office operations, management information, and long term strategic planning requirements. The primary purpose of the Court Administrator's office, the Administrative Office of the Courts, is to assist the judiciary in providing for the effective and efficient operations of the courts.


The Administrative Office of the Courts

The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains non-judicial staff who provide a myriad of support services which aid the judiciary in the daily operations of the court. This includes case management, courtroom assignments, trial calendar scheduling, jury pool operations, court reporting, and interpreter coordination. The Office also manages a number of programs and services which assist the judiciary in resolving problems impacting the court and the community. Additionally, it serves as liaison between the Bench, the Bar and numerous public and private organizations to handle a variety of court-related concerns.

The Administrative Office of the Courts further serves the judiciary by providing expertise in the following areas: General counsel and legal research, information and technology, fiscal, personnel and procurement management, and facilities planning. 

Court Administration Photos

 

FLORIDA STATUTES
CHAPTER 26. CIRCUIT COURTS
 

26.012. Jurisdiction of circuit court

(1) Circuit courts shall have jurisdiction of appeals from county courts except appeals of county court orders or judgments declaring invalid a state statute or a provision of the State Constitution and except orders or judgments of a county court which are certified by the county court to the district court of appeal to be of great public importance and which are accepted by the district court of appeal for review. Circuit courts shall have jurisdiction of appeals from final administrative orders of local government code enforcement boards.

(2) They shall have exclusive original jurisdiction:

(a) In all actions at law not cognizable by the county courts;

(b) 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;

(c) In all cases in equity including all cases relating to juveniles except traffic offenses as provided in chapters39, 316and 985;

(d) Of all felonies and of all misdemeanors arising out of the same circumstances as a felony which is also charged;

(e) In all cases involving legality of any tax assessment or toll or denial of refund, except as provided in s. 72.011;

(f) In actions of ejectment; and

(g) In all actions involving the title and boundaries of real property.

(3) The circuit court may issue injunctions.

(4) The chief judge of a circuit may authorize a county court judge to order emergency hospitalizations pursuant to part I of chapter 394 in the absence from the county of the circuit judge; and the county court judge shall have the power to issue all temporary orders and temporary injunctions necessary or proper to the complete exercise of such jurisdiction.

FLORIDA STATUTES
CHAPTER 34: COUNTY COURTS
 

34.01. Jurisdiction of county court

(1) County courts shall have original jurisdiction:

(a) In all misdemeanor cases not cognizable by the circuit courts;

(b) Of all violations of municipal and county ordinances; and

(c) As to causes of action accruing:
 

1. Before July 1, 1980, of all actions at law in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of $2,500, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

2. On or after July 1, 1980, of all actions at law in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of $5,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

3. On or after July 1, 1990, of actions at law in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of $10,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

4. On or after July 1, 1992, of actions at law in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of $15,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

The party instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding pursuant to this schedule where the amount in controversy is in excess of $5,000 shall pay to the clerk of the county court the filing fees and service charges in the same amounts and in the same manner as provided in s. 28.241.

(2) The county courts shall have jurisdiction previously exercised by county judges' courts other than that vested in the circuit court by s. 26.012, except that county court judges may hear matters involving dissolution of marriage under the simplified dissolution procedure pursuant to Rule 1.611(c), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure or may issue a final order for dissolution in cases where the matter is uncontested, and the jurisdiction previously exercised by county courts, the claims court, small claims courts, small claims magistrates courts, magistrates courts, justice of the peace courts, municipal courts, and courts of chartered counties, including but not limited to the counties referred to in ss. 9, 10, 11, and 24, Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885.

(3) Judges of county courts shall be committing magistrates. Judges of county courts shall be coroners unless otherwise provided by law or by rule of the Supreme Court.

(4) Judges of county courts may hear all matters in equity involved in any case within the jurisdictional amount of the county court, except as otherwise restricted by the State Constitution or the laws of Florida.

34.011. Jurisdiction in landlord and tenant cases

(1) The county court shall have jurisdiction concurrent with the circuit court to consider landlord and tenant cases involving claims in amounts which are within its jurisdictional limitations. The county court may issue a temporary and permanent injunction where appropriate for violation of ss. 83.40 et seq.

(2) The county court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings relating to the right of possession of real property and to the forcible or unlawful detention of lands and tenements, except that the circuit court also has jurisdiction if the amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional limits of the county court or the circuit court otherwise has jurisdiction as provided in s. 26.012. In cases transferred to the circuit court pursuant to Rule 1.170(j), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, or Rule 7.100(d), Florida Small Claims Rules, the demands of all parties shall be resolved by the circuit court.
 

FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION, 1997
RULE 2.050: TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATION

(b) Chief Judge

(1) The chief judge shall be a circuit judge who possesses administrative ability.

(2) The chief judge shall exercise administrative supervision over all courts within the judicial circuit in the exercise of judicial powers and over the judges and officers of the courts. The chief judge shall be responsible to the chief justice of the supreme court. The chief judge may enter and sign administrative orders, except as otherwise provided by this rule.

(3) The chief judge shall be the chief judicial officer of the circuit, shall maintain liaison in all judicial administrative matters with the chief justice of the supreme court, and shall develop an administrative plan for the efficient and proper administration of all courts within that circuit. The plan shall include an administrative organization capable of effecting the prompt disposition of cases; assignment of judges, other court officers, and executive assistants; control of dockets; regulation and use of courtrooms; and mandatory periodic review of the status of the inmates of the county jail. The plan shall be compatible with the development of the capabilities of the judges in such a manner that each judge will be qualified to serve in any division, thereby creating a judicial pool from which judges may be assigned to various courts throughout the state. The administrative plan shall include a consideration of the statistical data developed by the case reporting system. Questions concerning the administration or management of the courts of the circuit shall be directed to the chief justice of the supreme court through the state courts administrator.

(4) The chief judge shall assign judges to the courts and divisions, and shall determine the length of each assignment. All judges shall inform the chief judge of any contemplated absences that will affect the progress of the court's business. If a judge is temporarily absent, is disqualified in an action, or is unable to perform the duties of the office, the chief judge or the chief judge's designee may assign a proceeding pending before the judge to any other judge or any additional assigned judge of the same court. The chief judge may assign any judge to temporary service for which the judge is qualified in any court in the same circuit. If it appears to the chief judge that the speedy, efficient, and proper administration of justice so requires, the chief judge shall request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign temporarily an additional judge or judges from outside the circuit to duty in the court requiring assistance, and shall advise the chief justice whether or not the approval of the chief judge of the circuit from which the assignment is to be made has been obtained. The assigned judges shall be subject to administrative supervision of the chief judge for all purposes of this rule. When assigning a judge to hear any type of postconviction or collateral relief proceeding brought by a defendant who has been sentenced to death, the chief judge shall assign to such cases the judge who presided over the original proceeding if that judge is active or otherwise available to serve unless otherwise directed by the supreme court. Nothing in this rule shall restrict the constitutional powers of the chief justice of the supreme court to make such assignments as the chief justice shall deem appropriate.

(5) The chief judge may designate a judge in any court or court division of circuit or county courts as "administrative judge" of any court or division to assist with the administrative supervision of the court or division. The designee shall be responsible to the chief judge, shall have the power and duty to carry out the responsibilities assigned by the chief judge, and shall serve at the pleasure of the chief judge.

(6) The chief judge may require the attendance of prosecutors, public defenders, clerks, bailiffs, and other officers of the courts, and may require from the clerks of the courts, sheriffs, or other officers of the courts periodic reports that the chief judge deems necessary.

(7) The chief judge shall regulate the use of courtrooms, regularly examine the dockets of the courts under the chief judge's administrative supervision, and require a report on the status of the actions on the dockets. The chief judge may take such action as may be necessary to cause the dockets to be made current. The chief judge shall monitor the status of all pending postconviction or collateral relief proceedings brought by defendants who have been sentenced to death and shall take the necessary actions to assure that such cases proceed without undue delay. On July 1 and October 1, 1996, and on the first day of every January, April, July, and October thereafter, the chief judge shall inform the chief justice of the supreme court of the status of all such pending cases.

(8) The chief judge or the chief judge's designee shall regularly examine the status of every inmate of the county jail.

(9) The chief judge may authorize the clerks of courts to maintain branch county court facilities. When so authorized, clerks of court shall be permitted to retain in such branch court facilities all county court permanent records of pending cases, and may retain and destroy these records in the manner provided by law.

(10) The chief judge shall ensure that no judge presides over a capital case in which the state is seeking the death penalty or collateral proceedings brought by a death row inmate until that judge has served a minimum of 6 months in a felony criminal division and has successfully completed the "Handling Capital Cases" course offered through the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies. Each judge must complete the "Handling Capital Cases" course as soon as practicable upon entering the criminal division. Once a judge successfully completes the "Handling Capital Cases" course, the judge must thereafter attend a "refresher" course during each of the subsequent continuing judicial education reporting periods. The chief justice may waive the course requirement in exceptional circumstances at the request of the chief judge. This requirement shall not preclude a judge from presiding in collateral proceedings in a case in which the judge presided over the trial or an earlier collateral proceeding.

(c) Selection The chief judge shall be chosen by a majority of the circuit and county court judges within the circuit for a term of 2 years commencing on July 1 of each odd-numbered year, or if there is no majority, by the chief justice, for a term of 2 years. The election for chief judge shall be held no sooner than February 1 of the year during which the chief judge's term commences beginning July 1. All elections for chief judge shall be by secret ballot. Any circuit or county court judge may nominate a candidate for chief judge and proxy voting shall be permitted. A chief judge may be removed as chief judge by the supreme court, acting as the administrative supervisory body of all courts, or may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the active judges. The purpose of this rule is to fix a 2-year cycle for the selection of the chief judge in each circuit. A chief judge may serve for successive terms. The selection of the chief judge should be based on managerial, administrative, and leadership abilities. A chief judge who is to be temporarily absent shall select an acting chief judge from among the circuit judges. If a chief judge dies, retires, fails to appoint an acting chief judge during an absence, or is unable to perform the duties of the office, the chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint a circuit judge to act as chief judge during the absence or disability, or until a successor chief judge is elected to serve the unexpired term. When the office of chief judge is temporarily vacant pending action within the scope of this paragraph, the duties of court administration shall be performed by the circuit judge having the longest continuous service as a judge or by another circuit judge designated by that judge.