Administrative Order Viewer

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

Administrative Order No. 2024–24.4

It is necessary for the prompt dispatch of the business of the circuit and county courts, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, that 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

It is necessary that county judges in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties proceed temporarily and be assigned to duty in circuit court in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties; and

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

In this time of crowded dockets and extremely limited resources in the state courts system, 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.

In accordance with Article V, §2, Florida Constitution, rule 2.215, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, and §43.26, Florida Statutes, it is therefore

Ordered

1. I do hereby assign and designate each circuit court judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida, to proceed to the county courts in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, to hear, conduct, try, and determine county court cases that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the county court, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025.
2. I further assign and designate each county court judge of Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties to proceed to the circuit court, Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida, to hear, conduct, try, and determine circuit court cases that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the circuit court, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.
3. I further assign and designate each county court judge of Sarasota County to proceed to the county courts in Manatee and DeSoto counties, to hear, conduct, try, and determine county court cases in Manatee and DeSoto counties that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the county court in Manatee and DeSoto counties, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.
4. I further assign and designate each county court judge of Manatee County to proceed to the county courts in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, to hear, conduct, try, and determine county court cases in Sarasota and DeSoto counties that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the county court in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.
5. I further assign and designate each county court judge of DeSoto County to proceed to the county courts in Sarasota and Manatee counties, to hear, conduct, try, and determine county court cases in Sarasota and Manatee counties that are brought before the judge as a temporary judge of the county court in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by the judge, including but not limited to emergency and advisory duty matters from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.
6. 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.
7. This administrative order shall be in effect until 11:59 pm on June 30, 2025, at which time it is rescinded.

Done and ordered in chambers at Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida, this 3 day of December, 2024.

Diana L. Moreland
Chief Judge