Statistics

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Office of State Courts Statistics for all circuits and types of cases. Click here for more information.	2007 Circuit Court Filings

General Civil Division

Division Description - Jurisdiction of this court division includes professional malpractice, products liability, real property, foreclosure, auto negligence, eminent domain, condominium, contract and civil indebtedness and other civil matters in excess of $15,000. In addition, jurisdiction includes appeals from final administrative orders of local government code enforcement boards and the majority of appeals from county court.

There are twelve judges assigned to this division, which includes a trial division and two specialized divisions: Complex Business Litigation and Jimmy Ryce Act.

Honorable James M. Barton, II is the Administrative Judge.

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Criminal Justice & Trial Division

Division Description - Jurisdiction includes felonies and all misdemeanors arising out of the same circumstances as a felony. These offenses include capital murder, noncapital murder, sexual offenses, drugs, robbery, burglary, theft, forgery, fraud, and worthless checks, and other crimes against persons or properties that are classified as felonies.

There are fifteen judges assigned to this division, which includes two judges in trial divisions as well as judges in specialized divisions in Drug Court, Post Conviction Relief, Violation of Probation, and Sex and Child Abuse Offenses.

Honorable J. Rogers Padgett is the Administrative Judge of the Felony Division. Honorable Ronald N. Ficarrotta and Honorable Daniel L. Perry serve as Associate Administrative Judges.

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Unified Family Court: Domestic Relations/Family Law

Division Description - Jurisdiction includes domestic relations, adoptions, domestic violence, dissolutions of marriage, child support, custody, alimony, visitation and related matters. One party must file a petition initially, which identifies them as the petitioner and the other party is the respondent. The parties may or may not be represented by legal counsel.

There are nine judges, three full time general magistrates, and two child support hearing officers assigned to this division.

Honorable Herbert Baumann, Jr., is the Administrative Judge for Unified Family Court. Honorable Scott Stephens is Associate Administrative Judge.

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Unified Family Court: Domestic Violence

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Unified Family Court: Juvenile Dependency

Division Description - Judges must make decisions regarding the custodial placement of children and determine issues related to the “best interests” of the child before the court. Jurisdiction includes matters concerning children who have been allegedly abandoned, abused, neglected or surrendered for adoption. The Office of the Attorney General represents the Department of Children & Families. Parents are also entitled to legal representation; they may secure a private attorney or the court may appoint legal counsel on their behalf. In addition, the Guardian ad Litem volunteers, as a party to the proceedings, “speak up for children” involved in these cases.

There are six judges and two general magistrates in this division, which includes an Independent Living and Dependency Drug Court specialized divisions.

Honorable Katherine G. Essrig is the Associate Administrative Judge. Honorable Herbert Baumann, Jr. is Associate Administrative Judge for the Independent Living specialized division. Honorable Jack Espinosa, Jr. is Associate Administrative Judge for the Dependency Drug Court specialized division.

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Unified Family Court: Juvenile Delinquency

Division Description - Delinquency matters include juveniles who have committed a felony or misdemeanor, been found in contempt of court or violation of a local ordinance other than a traffic offense. The State Attorney’s Office files charges against the juvenile, alleging a criminal offense has occurred. Entitled to legal counsel, a private attorney or the Public Defender advises the juvenile throughout the legal proceedings. The Department of Juvenile Justice provides case management services.

There are three judges assigned to this division.

Honorable Herbert Baumann, Jr. is the Administrative Judge for Juvenile Delinquency Division.

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Guardianship, Mental Health, Probate & Trust

Division Description - Petitions alleging incapacity are filed in this division; judges must then make decisions regarding the need for and extent of guardianship. Guardians assist incapacitated people in meeting the essential requirements for their physical health and safety, in protecting their rights, in managing their financial resources and in developing or regaining their abilities to the extent possible. The probate process involves collecting a decedent’s assets, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes and distributing properties to heirs.

There is one judge and 1.5 full-time general magistrates assigned to this division.

Honorable Claudia R. Isom is the Administrative Judge.

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Emergency/First Appearance

Division Description - Florida statutes mandate that inmates have the right to appear before a judge within twenty-four hours of their arrest. A fiber optic link connects the jails and the courthouse via closed circuit television. These hearings are conducted through the use of the Court Video Network enabling inmates to appear in court without having to leave the secure confines of the jail, avoiding transportation costs and reducing the security risks.

First appearance conducts live two-way video preliminary presentations on all criminal cases, bond and ROR motions, arraignment hearings for incarcerated defendants, misdemeanor violation of probation hearings for incarcerated defendants and other emergency criminal matters.

There is one judge assigned to this division.

Honorable Walter R. Heinrich is the Administrative Judge.

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County Criminal

Division Description - Jurisdiction includes misdemeanor cases, including domestic violence-related misdemeanors heard in a specialized division, criminal traffic offenses and county ordinance/municipal violations.

There are seven judges in this division, including one judge assigned to Domestic Violence Division.

Honorable James V. Dominguez is the Administrative Judge.

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County Civil

Division Description - Jurisdiction includes civil actions, matters in equity, and landlord-tenant disputes in which the matter in controversy does not exceed $15,000. In addition, two specialized divisions are dedicated to Domestic Violence civil orders of protection (temporary and permanent domestic and repeat violence injunctions).

There are nine judges and one Civil Traffic Hearing Officer assigned to this division, which also includes two Civil Traffic Divisions and a Non-Criminal Non-Traffic Division.

Honorable Cheryl Thomas is the Administrative Judge.

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East Circuit/East County (Plant City)

Division Description - To meet the needs of citizens within specific boundaries, the East Division of the Circuit Court was established in 1979. The courthouse is situated in the northeastern corner of Hillsborough County in Plant City.

Cases are generally assigned to this division if associated with the portion of Hillsborough County that is: located east of Highway 301, or the cause of action occurred in this area, or the property is located in the area.

There are three judges assigned to this division (one circuit judge and two county judges).

Honorable Susan Sexton is the Administrative Judge for Circuit Court, and Honorable Christine K. Vogel is the Administrative Judge for County Court.

* Note: For Statewide statistics, missing data for Circuit and County Criminal, Desoto and Suwannee Counties (January – December 2007) and Monroe County (October – December, 2007) at time of report run date.

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