TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties)
http://www.jud10.flcourts.org/sites/default/files/adminOrders/AO_1-53.4.pdf
- Statewide grand jury proceedings are suspended through July 26, 2020; and other jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials are suspended through July 17, 2020.
- All non-essential and non-critical proceedings shall be conducted using remote technology.
- General Procedures (outlined in AOSC20-32) are adopted to provide for the safety of those persons accessing the courthouses and court facilities.
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Miami-Dade County)
10/1/2020 County Civil Administrative Memo Re Jury Trial Procedures Phase 2
[https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/docs/County%20Civil%20Administrative%20Memo%20Re%20Jury%20Trial%20Procedures%20Phase%202%20[10-02-20].pdf]
COVID-19 Advisory #36: Miami-Dade Courts will Transition to Phase 2 COVID-19 Emergency Operations on Wed., Sept. 23rd
- VIRTUAL COURT
- To the extent possible, all court proceedings will continue to take place in “Virtual Courtrooms,” where participants appear remotely via telephone or video technology.
- Those with questions about how to access a future virtual court hearing should contact the office of the presiding judge. A judicial directory may be found here.
- TRIALS
- In-person jury trials will resume following strict safety protocols established by the CDC and other health experts with whom the Miami-Dade Courts consult regularly.
- Due to the space limitations of our courthouses and the social distancing and other safety protocols required during the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be fewer jury trials conducted than in the past. In order to ensure social distancing and keep the number of people inside our courthouses to a minimum, only the trial participants will be permitted to enter the courthouses
TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties)
09/29/2020 Court Message
- Although Governor DeSantis has lifted the health precautions and restrictions imposed on businesses throughout Florida, the courts, as a separate but co-equal branch of government, follow the requirements put in place by the Florida Supreme Court and its chief justice, Charles Canady. Chief Justice Canady has issued several administrative orders outlining measures for Florida courts to follow, including a four-phase operating procedure. These phases are separate and distinct from the State of Florida phases issued by the governor.
- Since the early stages of the pandemic, the courts have continued to operate using remote technology in a continued effort to ensure that justice is not compromised. While some cases and court proceedings are more difficult to conduct than others, we are continuing to conduct court hearings and evidentiary trials by utilizing audio/video technology within our circuit.
- Currently, all three counties in the Twelfth Circuit have transitioned to Phase 2 operations in accordance with the administrative orders.
- The four phases of the pandemic, as it relates to courthouse operations, are as follows:
- Phase 1: In-person contact is inadvisable, court facilities are effectively closed to the public, and in-person proceedings are rare;
- Phase 2: Limited in-person contact is authorized for certain purposes and/or require the use of protective measures;
- Phase 3: In-person contact is more broadly authorized and protective measures are relaxed; and
- Phase 4: COVID-19 no longer presents significant risk to public health and safety.
THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Hillsborough County)
08/31/2020 S-2020-044 -Continuity of Court Operations & Judicial Proceedings during COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts – Transitioning from Phase 1 to Phase 2
[https://www.fljud13.org/Portals/0/AO/DOCS/S-2020-044.pdf]
- Transitioning to Phase 2
- Criminal jury trials to begin October 19, 2020
FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties)
09/07/2020 COVID-19 Ninth Amended Operational Plan For The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Transitioning From Phase 1 To Phase 2
[https://www.jud14.flcourts.org/sites/default/files/media/doc/administrative_orders/2020-00-11A9.pdf]
- All counties to transition to Phase 2
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Palm Beach County)
09/23/2020 AO 12.510 Mitigating Measures in Response to COVID-19
[https://www.15thcircuit.com/sites/default/files/administrative-orders/12.510.pdf]
SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Monroe County)
Eighth Amended Exhibit A to Emergency Directive 20-03 dated May 12, 2020:
[https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/0e4/8c2/Emergency-Directive-20-03-8th-Amended-Exhibit-A.pdf]
- Non-residents can demonstrate that they have legitimate business in the Florida Keys portion of Monroe County now by providing documentation demonstrating Court business such as a hearing notice, deposition notice, subpoena, Florida Bar card or similar credential from another state.
https://0201.nccdn.net/1_2/000/000/08c/7bf/Administrative-Order-Supreme-Court-20-23.pdf
- All grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials were suspended beginning Monday March 16, 2020 and will remain suspended until May 29, 2020 or as further ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.
- Only mission critical matters to be heard.
- All other hearing postponed to be rescheduled by parties or Court.
- Where available, technological means of communication to be used.
SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Broward County)
09/25/220 AO 2020-81-Temp – Continuity of Court Operations & Judicial Proceedings During COVID-19 – Transitioning From Phase 1 to Phase 2
[http://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-81-Temp.pdf]
- Transitioning to Phase 2 effective 10/12/2020
- Civil jury selection and jury trials remain suspended until further order of the chief judge
09/25/2020 AO 2020-80-Temp – Health & Safety Requirements in Courthouse Facilities During COVID-19
[http://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-80-Temp.pdf]
EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Brevard and Seminole)
10/2/2020 Amended Phase 2 Operational Plan
[https://flcourts18.org/docs/Covid19/18th_Circuit_Amended_Phase_2_Operational_Plan.pdf]
NINETEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie)
- Jury trials to resume 10/5/2020
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
(Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee)
08/24/2020 Revisions to Twentieth Judicial Circuit Operations Plan and Resumption of Trials
[https://www.ca.cjis20.org/pdf/20thJudicialCircuitAlert_COVID-19_Advisory12.pdf]
- Resumption of criminal trials September 2020
FEDERAL COURTS
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
- The Court will hear oral arguments by telephone conference on October 5, 6, 7, 13, and 14
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
08/14/2020 Eleventh Circuit General Order No. 46 – Requirements to Enter Court Facilities and Temporary Suspension of Paper Filing Requirements
[http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/courtdocs/clk/GeneralOrder46r1.pdf]
SOUTHERN DISTRICT COURT OF FLORIDA
08/11/2020 Administrative Order 2020-53 Coronavirus Public Emergency – Sixth Order Concerning Jury Trials and Other Proceedings
[https://web.flsd.uscourts.gov/uploads/adminOrders/2020/2020-53.pdf]
- Jury trials continued to January 4, 2021
MIDDLE DISTRICT COURT OF FLORIDA
- The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued general orders supporting videoconference and teleconference civil and criminal hearings.
- The public and the media can access court proceedings remotely during the national emergency. https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/sites/flmd/files/documents/flmd-public-notice-public-access-to-videoconference-and-teleconference-hearings.pdf
- The public intake areas in the Clerk’s Offices in the Middle District of Florida are closed until further notice. Documents can be filed by CM/ECF or by dropping them off in the public drop boxes outside each Clerk’s Office.
NORTHERN DISTRICT COURT OF FLORIDA
7/13/2020 AO – IN RE: COURT OPERATIONS UNDER THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES CREATED BY COVID-19
- Effective immediately, the United States Courthouse and the Winston E. Arnow Federal Building, located in the Pensacola Division of the Court, must be temporarily closed to the public and will remain closed to the public until further notice.