Highest Court
The highest court in Florida is the Supreme Court of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of 7 justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Appeals from District Court of Appeal. (2) Direct appeals on constitutional questions, death penalty, bond violation, and cases of great public interest. (3) Regulation and discipline of the Bar and judiciary. (4) Advisory opinions.
Intermediate Courts
District Court of Appeal
The District Court of Appeal consists of 62 judges. It
has jurisdiction over (1) Appeals from Circuit Court and administrative
agencies.
General Courts
Circuit Court
The Circuit Court consist of 527 judges. It has
jurisdiction over (1) Actions at law over $15,000, domestic relations,
probate, guardianship, mental health, juvenile delinquency, and dependency.
(2) Exclusive felony jurisdiction, and jurisdiction over misdemeanors arising
out of the same circumstances as a felony.
Appeals from county court.
Limited Courts
County Court
The County Court consists of 280 judges. It has jurisdiction
over (1) Actions at law under $15,000. (2) Misdemeanors, ordinance violations,
first appearance, (felony and misdemeanor) (3) Traffic (4) Simplified dissolutions at discretion
of Chief Judge of Circuit.
No jury trials are overseen by this court.
Additional Information
25.073 Retired justices or judges assigned to
temporary duty; additional compensation; appropriation.
As stated, a "retired justice" or a "retired judge" is
a former justice or judge who has not been defeated in election to judicial
office or defeated in a reelection, or who has not failed to be retained
in seeking retention in his/her last judicial office and is not engaged
in the practice of law. Any retired justice of the Supreme Court, the District
court of Appeal, Circuit or County Court assigned to temporary duty of
those courts will be compensating according to this statute.
25.331 Reports to remain the property of the
state
The opinions of the Supreme Court and the District Court
of Appeal shall be available to and furnished to the public officers of
Florida. These reports shall remain public property of the state
and the appropriate public office. Copies of the previous reports
may be exchanged for an available alternate format in accordance with guidelines
established by the Supreme Court.
25.351 Acquisition of books
Books for the library of the Supreme Court may be acquired
by purchase or by exchange.
25.384 Court Education Trust Fund.--
A Court Education Trust Fund is created through the Florida
Court Educational Council, for the purpose to provide judicial education
for judges, the State Courts Administrator ( and his/her staff), trial
court administrators, and appellate court law clerks. The Supreme
Court shall be the administrator of this fund.
34.017 Certification of questions to district
court of appeal
A county court is has the power to allow for the certification
of a question to the district court of appeal in a final judgment if the
question may have a statewide application AND is of great public importance
OR will affect the uniform administration of justice. The trial court
in the final judgment shall make the findings of fact and conclusions or
law and state concisely the question to be certified. If the district
court agrees to answer the certified questions, it shall decide all appealable
issues that stem from the final judgment. If the district court declines
to answer the certified questions, the case shall be transferred to the
circuit court which has appellate jurisdiction.
34.131 To be open for voluntary pleas of guilty
All county courts in Florida, shall at all times, except
Sundays, be open for voluntary please of guilty in all criminal cases.
Likewise, the judges of said courts, shall at all time, except Sundays,
may receive such voluntary pleas of guilty by the accused. Upon receiving
the please, the judge may pronounce judgment of conviction and sentence
upon such pleas and direct the entry of the same of record by the clerks
of said courts.
34.161 Persons convicted in county court allowed
48 hours to pay fine before being worked.
A person convicted of a crime in the county court may
at any time within the 48 hours from sentencing, pay the said fine and
cost or give the bail for the payment of such fine and cost of prosecution.
This person may not be transferred or relieved to persons working the county
prisoners until the expiration of 48 hours from sentencing by the court.
