Following the Florida Supreme Court’s order, the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court began limiting the number of in-person hearings at the courthouses on Monday, March 23, 2020, welcoming people to its virtual courtrooms instead.  The world was fighting a virus, but the court found a way to “do justice” while keeping...

On Friday afternoon, March 13, 2020, Chief Judge Bertila Soto closed the Eleventh Circuit Courts to in-person proceedings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Immediately after, our circuit jumped headfirst into the world of remote appearance technology to explore how we could continue to provide justice to our community while...

We have transitioned from “in-the-courtroom proceedings with lots of paperwork” to video/audio court proceedings with electronic forms, filing, and signatures.  We have worked tirelessly with the clerks, public defenders office, state attorneys office, and other stakeholders to make some of these very important changes. 

Like other circuits, the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola Counties) has been utilizing technology to hold hearings remotely and to conduct meetings and town halls, for instance.  But the Ninth is especially pleased with its resourcefulness in providing court interpreting and court reporting services—two due process elements that protect...

Florida’s first remote jury selection, part of a voluntary pandemic pilot program that Chief Justice Charles Canady authorized in five circuits, began July 9 in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade). The jury selection process and trial streamed live on the 11th Circuit’s YouTube page. 

Administrative Judge Jennifer Bailey said, “We’re...

The Eighth Judicial Circuit has made it a priority to hear cases that impact children during this emergency period, whether those cases are classified as essential or are considered non-essential. Judges moved forward in unfamiliar territory to prevent these cases from being delayed.

Like all the other circuits, when the pandemic started, we developed our laundry list of essential proceedings that had to continue through the health crisis.  Most of the credit goes to Chief Judge Zambrano and the other judges of the circuit.  The judges and their respective judicial assistants pitched in...

Judge Elizabeth Krier writes for the Circuit Times, the official newsletter of the 20th Judicial Circuit.

Well before the Florida Supreme Court began issuing administrative orders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our chief judge, Anthony Rondolino, and our trial court administrator, Gay Inskeep, thought it would be a good idea if the Sixth Judicial Circuit posted on the homepage of its website and on...

The Fifth Circuit is proud of the successes of its problem-solving courts, which are specialized dockets within the criminal justice system that aim to address the underlying issues that bring people into the court system.  The Fifth Circuit has a total of 22 problem-solving courts: 10 adult drug courts, one...