The Honorable Bertila Soto, Chief Judge of the Miami-Dade Courts, has issued Administrative Order (AO) 20-13, returning emergency COVID-19 court operations to Phase 1 in order to protect the health and safety of the community and court staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The transition back to Phase 1 of court operations was determined in consultation with medical experts due to the rise of new COVID-19 cases throughout Florida and Miami-Dade County.
Under Phase 1, the Miami-Dade Courts will remain closed as established under AO 20-11, with no in-person access except for emergency or mission-critical matters, persons making court registry deposit payments with the clerk of court, or other exceptions made by memorandum of the administrative judge in circumstances that are required in the interest of justice.
Anyone entering a courthouse facility under the exceptions listed above must follow all COVID-19 precautions in place for all courthouses as listed in AO 20-11.
VIRTUAL COURT HEARINGS WILL CONTINUE
The Miami-Dade Courts remain committed to continuing to provide justice during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to hold “Virtual Courtroom” hearings where participants appear remotely via telephone or video technology. Those with questions about an upcoming Virtual Court hearing should contact the presiding judge. A judicial directory is available here.
FUTURE UPDATES
Please continue to visit our website www.jud11.flcourts.org and social media @miamidadecourts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
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The mission of Florida’s judicial branch is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes.
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If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Aliean Simpkins, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit’s ADA Coordinator at Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Suite 2400, Miami, Florida 33128; Telephone (305) 349-7175; TDD (305) 349-7174; Email ADA@jud11.flourts.or; or via Fax at (305) 349-7355, at least seven (7) days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than seven (7) days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.