Administrative Order Viewer

In the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit
in and for Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto Counties, Florida

Administrative Order 2021–02.4

Whereas, this court has already entered Administrative Order 2021-1.4, authorizing circuit judges be temporarily assigned to duty in the county court and that county judges be temporarily assigned to duty in the circuit court; and

Whereas, it is necessary to also designate all circuit judges and county court judges acting as circuit judges within the Twelfth Judicial Circuit as juvenile court judges and authorize each judge to handle juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency matters; and

Whereas, consistent with Physicians Healthcare Plans, Inc. v. Pfeiffer, 846 So.2d 1129 (Fla. 2003), this order is limited in duration, it does not divest a court of jurisdiction, it does not assign a county judge to exclusively circuit work, nor does it assign a circuit judge to exclusively county work; and

Whereas, this circuit and the entire Florida State Courts System are currently operating under COVID-19 emergency procedures and mission essential functions^[1] , including crowded dockets and extremely limited resources, and it is necessary to utilize judicial resources in a cost-effective manner to maximize the efficient administration of justice. See, e.g., State v. Brady, 985 So.2d 656, 665 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008), in which the appellate court relied upon a similar order to find that a circuit court judge had jurisdiction as an acting county court judge to hear a misdemeanor DUI case; and

Thus, in accordance with Article V, §2, Florida Constitution, Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215, and §43.26, Florida Statutes, it is therefore

Ordered:

1. I do hereby assign and designate each circuit court judge and county court judge acting as circuit court judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida, as a juvenile court judge.
2. All judges are authorized to handle juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency matters which include, but are not limited to, shelter hearings, shelter care review hearings, detention hearings and detention review hearings.
3. Judges may hear, conduct, try, and determine juvenile court cases that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the juvenile court, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters through June 30, 2021
4. Each judge, under and by virtue of the authority hereof, is vested with all the powers and prerogatives conferred by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida upon the judges of the courts to which each judge is hereby temporarily assigned.
5. Effective June 30, 2021, this administrative order is hereby rescinded.

Done and ordered in chambers at Sarasota County, Florida, this 15^th day of January, 2021, nunc pro tunc to January 1, 2021.

Kimberly C. Bonner
Chief Judge

1. See AOSC20–23 – Amendment 8, AOSC 20–32 – Amendment 6, and Twelfth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order 2020–04a.2, titled Revisions to COVID–19 Emergency Procedures and Mission Essential and Critical Court Functions.