Administrative Order Viewer

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

Administrative Order 2021–05a.3

(Amends 2021–05.3. sections 2a and 2c)

Whereas, a caseload analysis has been completed with respect to the caseloads in Manatee felony divisions I, III and V; and

Whereas, the caseload analysis demonstrated that over the course of 2019-2020, an imbalance existed in the percentage of new cases assigned to Division I and Division III; and to a lesser extent, Division V.

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

Ordered

1. Administrative Order 2007–16.3 is partially rescinded to the extent that the assignment of cases for Manatee County felony divisions found therein is superseded by this Administrative Order. Administrative Order 2021-05.3 is amended to reflect the case distribution below.
2. Cases filed on or after March 15, 2021, including violation of probation cases, shall be assigned to the Manatee County felony divisions by the first letter of defendant’s last name as follows:
   1. Division I: B through F, plus certain specialty prosecution cases (including white collar, abuse of elderly, animal cruelty).
   2. Division III: G through O, plus A.
   3. Division V: P through Z.
   4. Cases involving codefendants charged in one Information whose last names would fall in multiple divisions shall be assigned to the division corresponding to the first listed codefendant.
   5. In cases involving multiple Defendants charged in connection with a related criminal event, however not charged in one Information and whose last names fall in multiple divisions, the State Attorney’s Office shall have the discretion to file charges against all Defendants in a single division, and shall designate said division in the body of the Information.
   6. With respect to a new case that would be affected by this reassignment in which the Defendant has a pending case or cases in the felony division, the State Attorney’s Office shall have the discretion to file the new case in the division in which the other cases are pending to avoid the unnecessary assignment of multiple attorneys.
3. Pending cases shall not be transferred to correspond with the above reassignment unless a motion or stipulation to transfer is granted by the Court.
4. This Administrative Order amends 2021–05.3 and is effective March 15, 2021.

Done and ordered in Chambers, Sarasota County, Florida, this 10^th day of March, 2021.

Kimberly C. Bonner, Chief Judge