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Courts in Florida
| More information on Florida's state courts: |
|---|
| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Florida, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Florida's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Florida and Florida judicial elections
The seven justices of the Florida Supreme Court and the 60 justices of the Florida District Courts of Appeal are selected by the governor. A judicial nominating commission screens potential judicial candidates, submitting a list of three to six nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint a judge from this list.[1] Newly appointed judges serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, judges serve six-year terms.[1]
The judges on the circuit courts and county courts are elected via nonpartisan elections to six-year terms.[1]
To read more about judicial elections in Florida, click here.
Federal courts
The federal district courts in Florida are the:
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Appeals from these districts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Active judges
Middle District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 20, 2007 - |
Vanderbilt University, 1987 |
University of Florida Law, 1990 |
||
| September 30, 2008 - |
Duke University, 1983 |
Florida State University College of Law, 1987 |
||
| May 22, 2013 - |
University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1984 |
Nova Southeastern University, 1987 |
||
| June 24, 2014 - |
University of Michigan, 1983 |
Louisiana State University School of Law, 1986 |
||
| June 27, 2014 - |
West Virginia University, 1993 |
West Virginia University, 1997 |
||
| September 10, 2018 - |
Vanderbilt University, 1980 |
University of Illinois College of Law, 1983 |
||
| July 11, 2019 - |
University of Florida, 1989 |
University of Pennsylvania, 1992 |
||
| July 29, 2019 - |
Florida State University, 1990 |
Florida State University College of Law, 1992 |
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| June 4, 2020 - |
University of Florida, 1995 |
University of Florida College of Law, 1999 |
||
| November 20, 2020 - |
Covenant College, 2009 |
University of Florida College of Law, 2012 |
||
| March 4, 2024 - |
University of Florida, 1991 |
Florida State University College of Law, 1994 |
||
| September 11, 2025 - |
Cornell University, 2007 |
George Mason University School of Law, 2010 |
This list displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president and does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 4
- Republican appointed: 8
Northern District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 21, 2003 - |
University of West Florida, 1989 |
California Western School of Law, 1992 |
||
| December 7, 2012 - |
University of Florida, 1989 |
University of Florida College of Law, 1992 |
||
| June 21, 2019 - |
Auburn University, 1997 |
University of Florida College of Law, 2002 |
||
| July 12, 2019 - |
Florida State University, 1992 |
Florida State University College of Law, 1995 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 1
- Republican appointed: 3
Southern District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 10, 1992 - |
Florida State University, 1972 |
Fordham University Law, 1976 |
||
| May 27, 1997 - |
University of Florida, 1968 |
University of Florida Law, 1972 |
||
| May 22, 1998 - |
Furman University, 1973 |
University of Florida College of Law, 1975 |
||
| September 17, 2002 - |
University of Miami, 1962 |
University of Miami School of Law, 1965 |
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| May 7, 2003 - |
Florida International University, 1983 |
Yale Law, 1986 |
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| August 4, 2011 - |
Duke University, 1978 |
University of Miami Law, 1982 |
||
| June 19, 2014 - |
Howard University, 1990 |
George Washington University Law Center, 1993 |
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| June 25, 2014 - |
University of Florida, 1984 |
University of Miami School of Law, 1988 |
||
| July 24, 2014 - |
Princeton University, 1983 |
Duke University School of Law, 1989 |
||
| April 9, 2019 - |
Columbia University, 2004 |
Yale Law School, 2007 |
||
| May 3, 2019 - |
Duke University, 2002 |
Georgetown University Law Center, 2005 |
||
| June 14, 2019 - |
Florida A&M University, 1996 |
Michigan State University, 1999 |
||
| December 20, 2019 - |
Rice University, 1986 |
Wake Forest University School of Law, 1989 |
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| November 13, 2020 - |
Duke University, 2003 |
University of Michigan Law School, 2007 |
||
| February 29, 2024 - |
University of Miami, 1991 |
Yale Law School, 1994 |
||
| March 1, 2024 - |
University of Pennsylvania, 1993 |
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2000 |
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| March 4, 2024 - |
Princeton University, 1990 |
University of Miami School of Law, 1995 |
||
| September 9, 2025 - |
Nova Southeastern University |
Georgetown University |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democratic appointed: 9
- Republican appointed: 9
District map
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There are three federal bankruptcy courts in Florida. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Florida are:
- United States bankruptcy court, Middle District of Florida
- United States bankruptcy court, Northern District of Florida
- United States bankruptcy court, Southern District of Florida
State supreme court
- See also: Florida Supreme Court
Founded in 1845, the Florida Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Carlos Muñiz.
As of May 2023, all seven judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.[2]
The Florida Supreme Court meets in Tallahassee, Florida. The court hears oral arguments from August through June of every year, typically during the first full week of each month.[3]
In Florida, state supreme court justices are selected through assisted appointment with a governor-controlled judicial nominating commission. Justices are appointed by the governor with the assistance of a commission with a majority of members selected by the governor. There are 10 states that use this selection method. To read more about the assisted appointment of judges, click here.
The Florida Constitution gives the Supreme Court mandatory appellate jurisdiction over certain types of cases such as death penalty, bond validations, public utilities cases, and matters pertaining to the state constitution. It has exclusive and non-exclusive jurisdiction over writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, and prohibition.[4] It also hears cases on appeal from the Florida District Courts of Appeal.
The court may provide advisory opinions to the attorney general regarding the validity of initiative petitions and to the governor regarding constitutional powers and duties.[5]
The table below lists the current judges of the Florida Supreme Court and the appointing governor.
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Supreme Court | Charles Canady | Nonpartisan | September 8, 2008 | Charlie Crist (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | John Daniel Couriel | Nonpartisan | June 1, 2020 | Ron DeSantis (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | Renatha Francis | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2022 | Ron DeSantis (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | Jamie Rutland Grosshans | Nonpartisan | September 14, 2020 | Ron DeSantis (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | Jorge Labarga | Nonpartisan | January 6, 2009 | Charlie Crist (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | Carlos Muñiz | Nonpartisan | January 22, 2019 | Ron DeSantis (R) |
| Florida Supreme Court | Meredith Sasso | Nonpartisan | May 23, 2023 | Ron DeSantis (R) |
State court of appeals
- See also: Florida District Courts of Appeal
The Florida District Courts of Appeal are the state's intermediate appellate courts. These courts hear cases from a circuit or county court that cannot be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. There are five district courts of appeal in Florida.[6]
The following judges sit on the court:
First District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
June 11, 2015 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
December 23, 2014 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 18, 2007 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
September 15, 2009 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
2011 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
April 16, 2015 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
May 20, 2013 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
2001 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
June 30, 2020 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
June 20, 2016 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
June 17, 2025 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
Second District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
December 23, 2014 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2001 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
December 21, 2012 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 2, 2001 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
2010 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
2003 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
2005 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
August 1, 2008 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
January 6, 1997 - Present |
Lawton Chiles |
|
|
2018 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
February 1, 2019 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
August 1, 2009 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
January 1, 2025 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
July 29, 2020 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
2016 - Present |
Rick Scott |
Third District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2019 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
June 7, 2012 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
October 21, 2013 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
July 1, 2024 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
November 24, 2010 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
August 12, 2011 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
May 26, 2016 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
September 1, 2020 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
Fourth District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
June 27, 2013 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 2, 2008 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
March 7, 2013 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2011 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
December 10, 2008 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
2002 - Present |
Jeb Bush |
|
|
1995 - Present |
Lawton Chiles |
|
|
2009 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
November 4, 2016 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
2009 - Present |
Charlie Crist |
|
|
1989 - Present |
Bob Martinez |
Fifth District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2017 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
November 14, 2014 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
May 29, 2013 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
May 19, 2014 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
2018 - Present |
Rick Scott |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
April 17, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
Sixth District
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
September 5, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Ron DeSantis |
The map below shows each of those districts by county.
Trial courts
Circuit courts
- See also: Florida Circuit Court
The Florida Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit courts hear cases including criminal felonies, family law matters, civil cases (with more than $50,000 at issue), probate issues, juvenile cases, and appeals from county courts. There are 20 judicial circuit courts.[7][8]
The map below shows each of those circuits by county.
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County courts
- See also: Florida County Court
The Florida County Courts' jurisdiction includes civil disputes involving between $8,000 and $50,000, and citizen disputes such as traffic offenses, misdemeanor criminal offenses, and minor monetary disputes. There is one court in each of the state's 67 counties.[8][9]
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Gov. Charlie Crist switched parties from Republican to Democratic during his term. The judges he appointed were during his time as a Republican, so they are considered appointed by a Republican governor.
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "Visiting the Court," accessed September 13, 2021
- ↑ Florida Supreme Court, "History of the Florida Supreme Court," accessed September 13, 2021
- ↑ Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability,"State Courts System," accessed June 12, 2024
- ↑ Florida Courts, "District Courts of Appeal," accessed January 18, 2023
- ↑ Florida Courts, "Trial Courts - Circuit," accessed March 2, 2021
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Florida Bar, "Jurisdictional Changes to Civil Courts Take Effect in 2023," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ Florida Courts, "Trial Courts - County," accessed March 2, 2021
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
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