The Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued two new and two amended administrative orders late on November 23, 2020, addressing court operations during the pandemic. They extend the term of the court COVID-19 Workgroup to July 2, 2021, and update requirements, benchmarks, and guidelines for the four phases of a return to normal statewide court operations as a vaccine is deployed.

The new orders are AOSC20-109 on appellate courts and AOSC20-110 on the Workgroup’s term. The amended orders are AOSC20-23 on trial courts and AOSC20-32 on updates to the four phases. Previously, a single order governed both appellate and trial courts, but the two have been separated now for clarity.

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Administrative Order 11.36, Rescinding AO 11.29, Suspension of Certain Eviction and Mortgage Foreclose Actions, entered by Chief Judge Nilon on August 3, 2020. This order rescinds Administrative Order 11.29 (Suspension of Certain Eviction and Foreclosure Actions) and authorizes the presiding judge to determine the applicability of the Governor’s Executive Order 20-180 (Limited Extension of Mortgage Foreclosure and Eviction Relief)...

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Chief Judge James P. Nilon has entered Administrative Order 11.35 - Alachua County Transition to Phase 2. The Order authorizes Alachua County to move to Phase 2 beginning  July 28, 2020, and to conduct in-person court events as set forth in AO 11.33, paragraphs 3 C, D & E. https://circuit8.org/wp-cont https://circuit8.org/wp-content/uploads/11.35-Alachua-County-Transition-to-Phase-2.pdf    

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Administrative Order 11.27 (version 4)- Emergency Procedures Relating to the Post Arrest Detention of Juveniles, entered by Chief Judge Nilon, July 23, 2020.  AO 11.27 v.4 modifies the emergency procedures for the post arrest detention of juveniles, effective immediately. https://circuit8.org/wp-content/uploads/11.27-Emergency-Procedures-Relating-to-the-Post-Arrest-Detention-of-Juveniles.pdf  

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Administrative Order 11.34 - Bradford County Transition to Phase 2, entered by Chief Judge James P. Nilon, July 9, 2020.  

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady Issued Two New Administrative Orders on July 2, 2020, to Provide More Detailed Guidance on the Four-phase System the State Courts Will Use to Govern Pandemic Operations

Updated Administrative Order AOSC20-32. The first amended order revises AOSC20-32 originally issued on May 21, 2020. The July 2 amendments establish a certification process for moving to Phase 3 – the time when in-person contact is more broadly authorized and protective measures are relaxed. That process requires local chief judges to monitor public health reports, consult health experts, and be...

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Administrative Order 11.33 - Procedures for Phase 2 Transition and Additional Modified Phase 1 Safety Precautions, entered by Chief Judge Nilon, July 1, 2020.  

Effective June 1, 2020, the Following Changes Will Take Place Regarding First Appearance

Alachua County First Appearances will be conducted by the Alachua County Court Judges as set forth in the Eighth Circuit Master Calendar. There will no longer be an Essential Court Proceeding/Emergency docket to handle Circuit Court matters following First Appearance. Alachua County Detention and Shelter Hearings will continue to heard on a rotating basis by the Circuit and...

A Message From Eighth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Nilon Regarding Family Law Time Sharing Matters

As the Chief Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, I have elected at this time NOT to enter an Administrative Order in Family Law cases regarding primarily time-sharing matters.  I have considered doing one as other circuits have, but, at this point in time, I have consciously chosen not to do so.  It is my thought that in our...

All courthouses continue to remain open.

At this time, all courthouses in the Eighth Judicial Circuit will continue to remain open.