Trial Courts - Circuit
Florida's circuit courts are trial courts with general jurisdiction. The majority of jury trials in Florida take place in the circuit courts.
Organization
Florida has 20 circuit courts, each of which serves one or more counties. Each circuit has a chief judge who is the administrative officer for the circuit and is responsible to the chief justice of the supreme court. Each circuit also has a clerk and a trial court administrator who provide operational assistance to their respective chief judges.
More information about the administration of Florida's courts is available in the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration maintained by The Florida Bar.
Links to the Circuit Courts
- 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
Circuit courts hear all criminal and civil matters not within the jurisdiction of county courts, including criminal felonies, juvenile delinquency and dependency, divorce, probate, guardianship, and civil matters over $50,000. They have limited appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals from decisions in certain administrative actions and by the county court in noncriminal violation, noncriminal infraction, and other cases as provided by general law. Additionally, like their appellate counterparts, circuit courts have the power to issue writs to complete the exercise of their jurisdiction.
Jury Service
Jury service is an essential part of the legal system and is a vital component of the circuit courts. For general information about serving on a jury, The Florida Bar has produced a helpful Handbook for Jurors.
If you have been called for jury duty and want to know more about the process, your local clerk of court's website will have specific details about jury service in your county. Visit the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website to easily find the clerk of court for your county.