Emergency
INFORMATION ON COVID-19 EMERGENCY ORDERS & ADVISORIES
Transcript of the Chief Justice's Message
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All Florida courts are responding to the COVID outbreak. Read Advisories from the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator.
Information is also available from clerks of court in each county. The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers website has links to each.
Statewide Emergency Orders, Rules & Advisories
During the emergency, Florida's Chief Justice Charles Canady will issue statewide emergency orders setting the larger framework for the statewide emergency response. Keep in mind that these statewide orders will be supplemented by local orders issued by authorities in each of the counties and in each of the appeals courts. For information on these more specific local orders, please check the links listed below for each court.
Statewide Pandemic Orders, Rules & Advisories (in reverse chronological order)
- Case SC19-240 - Order on Emergency Petition re: Statewide Grand Jury #20 (5/28)
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Press Release - On May 21, 2020, pandemic orders
(5/22) - AOSC20-32 - COVID-19 public health & safety precautions in the state courts for Phase 2 (5/21)
- AOSC20-31 - Remote Civil Jury Pilot Program (5/21)
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Amendments to AOSC20-23 - Order extending COVID emergency procedures to early July (5/21)
- Amendments to AOSC20-14 - Order on self-quarantine for personal travel by court employees (5/14)
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Press Release: June Florida Supreme Court arguments to be held by teleconference (5/13)
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Memorandum on "Best Practices" for pandemic court hearings and related Press Release (5/11)
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Amendments to AOSC20-23 - Order extending COVID emergency procedures to early July (5/4)
- AOSC20-29 - Order waiving in-person continuing education requirements for judges (4/29)
- AOSC20-28 - Order creating Court Continuity Workgroup on pandemic response (4/21) | Continuity Workgroup webpage
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Press Release: May 6 Florida Supreme Court arguments to be hold by teleconferencing (4/14)
- AOSC20-27 - Order on Bar regulations during the pandemic (4/9)
- Case SC20-392 - Rule on Florida Bar regulation (4/9)
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AOSC20-23 - Order extending COVID emergency procedures through May (4/6)
- AOSC20-22 - Order on deadlines for county-by-county eFiling reports (4/1)
- AOSC20-21 - Order on continuing judicial education deadlines (3/31)
- AOSC20-20 - Order on court language interpreter regulations (3/31)
- AOSC20-19 - Order on speedy trial deadlines in traffic infraction cases (3/30)
- AOSC20-18 - Order on health-related limitations in DCF family visitation cases (3/27)
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Assignment Order 2020-92 assigning judges to statewide duty in certain criminal matters (3/26)
- AOSC20-17 - Order extending suspension of jury trials & related matters (3/24)
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Case SC20-392 - Order suspending deadlines in Bar regulation cases (3/20)
- Press Release: More COVID Emergency Orders to Follow (3/19)
- AOSC20-16 - Order on administering oaths via remote audio-video equipment (3/18)
- AOSC20-15 - Order on essential & critical trial court proceedings (3/17)
- AOSC20-14 - Order on self-quarantine for personal travel by court employees (3/16)
- AOSC20-13 - Order on jury trials (3/13)
- Case SC20-346 - Rule on public health emergencies (3/13)
- AOSC20-12 -Order on monitoring and planning in response to COVID-19 (3/11)
COURT CLOSURE UPDATES & INFORMATION
TRIAL COURTS
Alachua County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Baker County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Bay County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Bradford County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Brevard County. Read the March 26 Message from Chief Judge Davidson. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Broward County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for updates and current status of court operations.
Calhoun County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Charlotte County. Read the May 29 Advisory #10. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Citrus County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Clay County. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Collier County. Read the May 29 Advisory #10. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Columbia County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Desoto County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Dixie County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Duval County. Read the April 1 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Escambia County. Read the April 7 Order and others on the local Court Website.
Flagler County. Read the May 29 Amended Emergency Court Procedure. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Franklin County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Gadsden County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Gilchrist County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details
Glades County. Read the May 29 Advisory #10. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Gulf County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Hamilton County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Hardee County. Read the May 29 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Hendry County. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Hernando County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Highlands County. Read the May 29 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Hillsborough County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Holmes County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Indian River County. Read the March 27 Message. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Jackson County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Jefferson County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Lafayette County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Lake County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Lee County. Read the May 29 Advisory #10, Lee County Criminal Court Schedule (June 1). Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Leon County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Levy County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details
Liberty County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Madison County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Manatee County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Marion County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Martin County. Read the March 27 Message. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Miami-Dade County. Read the May 29 Advisory. Check the local Court Website for more details and court operations announcements.
Monroe County. Read the March 18 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Nassau County. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Okaloosa County. Read the April 7 Order and others on the local Court Website.
Okeechobee County. Read the March 27 Message. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Orange County. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Osceola County. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Palm Beach County. Read the March 25 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Pasco County. Read the March 27 Web Notice on Court Protocols on the local Court Website for more details.
Pinellas County. Read the March 27 Web Notice on Court Protocols on the local Court Website for more details.
Polk County. Read the May 29 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details, orders, and notices.
Putnam County. Read the May 29 Amended Emergency Court Procedure. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Santa Rosa County. Read the April 7 Order and others on the local Court Website.
Sarasota County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
St. Johns County. Read the May 29 Amended Emergency Court Procedure. Check the local Court Website for more details.
St. Lucie County. Read the March 27 Message. Check the local Court Website for more details and updates.
Seminole County. Read the March 26 Message from Chief Judge Davidson. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Sumter County. Read the April 2 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Suwannee County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Taylor County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Union County. Read the March 26 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Volusia County. Read the May 29 Amended Emergency Court Procedure. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Wakulla County. Read the March 27 Order. Check the local Court Website for more details.
Walton County. Read the April 7 Order and others on the local Court Website.
Washington County. Read the March 16 Order and March 24 Press Release. Check the local Court Website for more details.
DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEAL
1st District Court (Tallahassee). Read the message about court operations. Check the local Court Website for details and updates.
2nd District Court (Lakeland/Tampa). Read the message about April's oral arguments. Check the local Court Website for details and updates
3rd District Court (Miami). Read the message about April's oral arguments. Check the local Court Website for details and updates
4th District Court (West Palm Beach). Read the message about court operations. Check the local Court Website for details and updates.
5th District Court (Daytona Beach). Read the message to the public. Check the local Court Website for details and updates.
SUPREME COURT
Administrative Orders, Press Releases & Court News. Read the message about April's oral arguments. You also can find information on Supreme Court case filing procedures during the crisis along with information on the cancellation of tours and educational events at the Supreme Court.
OFFICE OF THE STATE COURTS ADMINISTRATOR
The State Courts System emergency management group continues to monitor the situation closely. Check the FLCourts.org COVID emergency webpage for information for judges, court staff, and the public.
THE FLORIDA BAR
The Florida Bar regulates the legal profession under rules established by the Florida Supreme Court. Information on its emergency operations during the crisis also is available.
THE FLORIDA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners regulates the admission of new attorneys under rules established by the Florida Supreme Court. It also supervises the examinations and background checks given to Bar applicants. Information on its emergency operations during the crisis also is available.
OTHER INFORMATION
Orders Extending Deadlines
Orders extending legal deadlines due to the emergency are on our website under Administrative Orders. The Florida Supreme Court issues retroactive orders extending deadlines on a county-by-county basis for periods of time when state courts are closed due to an emergency. Keep in mind that, due to the COVID outbreak, many courts will be open on a limited basis to handle emergency cases.
About This Web Page
This page is used for informing the public about developments in the public health emergency. This website will be updated regularly as long as the public health emergency exists. Check back here for updated information.
Telephone Hotline
During emergencies, the Court puts information on its emergency hotline at (850) 921-8552. This includes information for Court staff, the press, and the public.
Emergency Contacts
You can ask court-related questions by email to publicinformation@flcourts.org.