The Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Issues an Emergency Order Suspending Jury Trials in Florida and Extending Other State Legal Deadlines Through the End of May Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Florida’s Chief Justice Canady issued an emergency order April 6 suspending jury trials in Florida and extending other state legal deadlines through the end of May due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The April 6 order combines provisions of several previous administrative orders into a single document. It emphasizes the need for courts to continue applying social distancing...

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Issues New Statewide COVID-19 Emergency Order Extending Speedy Trial Deadlines in Traffic Infraction Cases

Florida’s Chief Justice issued a new administrative order on March 30 suspending speedy trial deadlines in noncriminal traffic infraction cases. Under the new order, speedy trial deadlines for traffic fractions will be suspended at least through April 20, 2020, subject to further extensions that may be needed by the public health emergency. However, Florida judges also are allowed to conduct...

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Orders Emergency Procedures in Relation to Visitation for Children Under the Protective Supervision of The Department of Children and Families

Florida’s Chief Justice issued a new administrative order on March 27 imposing health-related limitations on court-ordered child and family visitation through April 17 for children under the protective supervision of the Department of Children and Families. The order can be found at floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/632718/7189517/AOSC20-18.pdf.  

IMPORTANT: Eighth Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Update:

Administrative Order 11.25 (Revised Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19) Emergency Procedures), signed by Chief Judge Nilon, March 26, 2020.  To view go to Courts & Judges above and then click on Administrative Orders.

All courthouses continue to remain open.

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

The Court Reporting Department in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union Counties is Temporarily Closed to Walk-in Visitors

The Court Reporting Department in all counties is temporarily closed to walk-in visitors in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19. To order a written transcript or CD, please visit the Ordering Transcripts section of our website, or call 352-384-3080 for assistance.

Depositions scheduled in Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, or Union County Courthouses canceled.

Please be advised that Chief Judge James P. Nilon has directed that all depositions scheduled to take place in the Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, or Union County courthouses are canceled through March 27, 2020.

Self-Help Center Closed to Walk-In Visitors

The Self-Help Center is temporarily closed to walk-in visitors until further notice out of an abundance of caution in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Self-Help services are still available, and we encourage you to call 352-548-3781 or email our Self-Help staff at selfhelp@circuit8.org with further procedural questions.

COVID-19 Information and Updates

Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, the Courts have called off jurors through April 17, 2020. Summonsed jurors SHOULD NOT report.        

Judge Moseley to be Chief Judge

We are pleased to announce that the Honorable Mark W. Moseley has been unanimously elected to serve as Chief Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit following Judge Nilon’s retirement at the end of this year. Judge Moseley, who has served on the circuit bench since 2005 and has been the Administrative Judge for Circuit Criminal since 2014, will complete...