UPDATED INFORMATION FOR FLORIDA COURTS

STATE COURTS

08/12/2020 Amendment 6 to AOSC20-23 – Order on COVID emergency measures in the state courts
[https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ezs3download/download/642474/7297339]

08/12/2020 Amendment 3 to AOSC20-32 COVID-19 health & safety procedures in the state courts
[https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ezs3download/download/642473/7297334]

• Providing updated criteria for the transition to different phases
• Requiring a human resources policy at each court to address potential COVID-19 exposure of court employees and judges
• Updating health screening criteria for entry into a courthouse
• Providing updated guidance for courts in monitoring local conditions and public health data when expanding in-person proceedings
• Providing a methodology to determine deteriorating local health conditions that would require an amendment to a local operational plan or a return to an earlier phase

10/2/2020 Amendment 7 to AOSC20-23 – Order on COVID emergency measures in the state courts
[https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/672679/file/AOSC20-23-Amendment-7.pdf]

9/30/2020 Amendment 1 – AOSC20-12 – Order on monitoring and planning in response to COVID-19
[https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/672284/file/AOSC20-12-Amendment-1.pdf]

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ezs3download/download/637809/7251452

Statewide grand jury proceedings shall remain suspended through July 26, 2020.

All other jury proceedings, including grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials, shall remain suspended until 30 days after the chief judge of a judicial circuit has determined that the circuit or a county within the circuit has transitioned to Phase 2 pursuant to Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC20-32.

Essential and critical trial court proceedings should continue to be conducted remotely or, if necessary, in person.

In re: Remote Civil Jury Trial Pilot Program, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC20-31, judicial circuits selected to participate in the program may during and after COVID-19 conduct remote civil jury trials pursuant to the requirements established by the workgroup.

AOSC20-23 Updates new deadlines and address new Phase 3 guidelines –  https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ezs3download/download/639134/7265622
                                                                                                                  

AOSC20-32  Establish a certification process for moving to Phase 3  – https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ezs3download/download/639136/7265632

INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURTS

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

• August and September Oral Arguments conducted on zoom video platform. The resulting video and audio will be available to the public on the court’s website at https://www.1dca.org/
• Following Florida Supreme Court directives.

Message to the Public (updated 8/03/2020)
[https://www.1dca.org/content/download/639002/7264019/A%20MESSAGE%20TO%20THE%20PUBLIC_updated%208-3-20.pdf]

SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

• The Second DCA will be conducting oral arguments remotely beginning in May.

THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

09/04/2020 Notice – THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL BUILDING RE-OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

In view of the decline of the positivity rate for  COVID-19 cases, and the related decline in hospitalizations and emergency department visits in our district, the Third District Court of Appeal, has met the Florida State Courts guidelines to advance to the next phase of post-COVID-19 reopening.

As a result, the courthouse building is now open to the public.  The following safety requirements must be observed:
 

• Persons visiting the Clerk’s Office will be allowed entry after successful completion of a COVID-19 health screening and temperature check.
• While on the premises, all persons must wear a face covering and gloves.  If needed, mask and gloves will be provided at no charge, at the security checkpoint.
• Current CDC social distancing guidelines must be observed at all times.
• The courtroom remains closed as oral arguments continue to be conducted remotely.
• All other visitors must make an appointment with the Marshal at (305)229-3200 ext.0.
• Attorneys and pro se litigants should continue to file documents electronically, via the Florida E-Filing portal at www.myflcourtaccess.com.

FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

• The Court’s in-person oral argument sessions scheduled through July 28th have been canceled.
• Oral arguments which will be conducted by audio or video conference will be streamed for the public on the Court’s website.
• The court may reschedule future oral arguments or conduct oral argument by remote means.
• No oral arguments will be held in the month of August.

FIFTH DISTRICT COURT OR APPEAL

https://www.circuit5.org/

• Essential Hearings and Approved Non-Essential hearings are being conducted via electronic means.
• Following the directive of Florida Supreme Court.

CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURTS

FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Supreme Court issued “Best Practices” guidelines on May 11, 2020, that were developed by a statewide COVID-19 Workgroup to help people navigate new remote procedures used by state courts in the coronavirus pandemic
• Court will reschedule proceedings or arrange for remote capabilities
• Mediation may be conducted by video conference or telephone when possible.
• Following Florida Supreme Court directives

THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Non-essential proceedings to be held remotely, if possible.
• Jury trials suspended.
• Zoom video tutorials  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials

FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• AO 2020-18 Extension of Phase II Operational Plan for COVID-19 Emergency Through July 31, 2020
• All criminal and civil jury trials are suspended through July 31, 2020
• The Phase II Operational Plan is attached to this Order as Appendix A.
• Hearings shall be conducted either by telephonic means or video conference utilizing the Zoom Application or Skype.

FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Non-essential hearings to be conducted electronically.
• Following Florida Supreme Court directives.

SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Following Florida Supreme Court directives. https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/637271/7239420/AOSC20-23%20Amendment%203.pdf
• The Florida Supreme Court has extended the suspension of all criminal and civil jury trials from July 2 through July 17, 2020.
• All time periods involving the speedy trial procedure from July 6 through July 20 for all criminal and juvenile court proceedings.

NEW ORDERS SETTING HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES IN COURTS

AOSC20-23 Amendment 2 Comprehensive COVID-19 Emergency Measures

AOSC20-32 In re COVID-19 Public Health and Safety Precautions for Phase 2 expands the type of hearings that can be held face-to-face when the Circuit meets the criteria.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit Covid-19 Information and Updates http://www.jud6.org/Covid-19Information07062020.pdf. 

SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

07/02/2020 Re:  Phase 2 Transitions for Court Facilities

[http://www.circuit7.org/Communications/Phase_2.pdf]

EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

07/27/2020 AO 11.35
[https://circuit8.org/wp-content/uploads/11.35-Alachua-County-Transition-to-Phase-2.pdf]

• Alachua County transitioning to Phase 2 effective 07/28/2020

NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Jury trial to resume in October

Continued updates on the Tenth – Twentieth Judicial Circuit and Federal Courts here.