WHEREAS, it has been made known to the undersigned that the prompt and expeditious administration of justice in St. Johns County requires the publication of a revised case assignment order for the various divisions of the circuit court;

           NOW THEREFORE, I, LEAH R. CASE, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, hereby order that effective September 18, 2023, cases filed in the Circuit Court in and for St. Johns County are to be assigned as follows:

A. CRIMINAL

1. All circuit criminal (felony) cases are to be assigned to Division 56. All felony drug court cases are to be assigned to Division 26.

B. FAMILY LAW 

1. The following types of cases are considered part of Family Law:

• Dissolution of Marriage (includes Simplified)
• Custody, Parental Responsibility, Time-Sharing, Parenting Plans, Visitation
• Child Support (includes UIFSA)
• Temporary Custody by Extended Family (Chapter 751, Fla. Stat.)
• Separate Maintenance
• Annulment
• Declaratory action related to prenuptial, marital settlement, or postnuptial agreements
• Injunction for Protection (Domestic Violence, Repeat Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, Stalking)
• Name Change
• Paternity
• Adoption
• Pre-Adoption Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) (Chapter 63, Fla. Stat.)
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Truancy
• Sexting (Section 847.0141, Fla. Stat.)
• Juvenile Dependency
• Injunction to Prevent Child Abuse (Section 39.504, Fla. Stat.)
• Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) (Chapter 39, Fla. Stat.)
• Juvenile Emancipation
• Children / Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS)
• Waiver of Parental Notice of and Consent for Abortion

2. All Family Law cases mentioned above are to be assigned equally to Divisions 57 and 58.

3. Notwithstanding section B (2) above, subsequent “companion” Family Law cases are to be assigned to those divisions to which earlier related cases are assigned (Divisions 57 and 58).

C. PROBATE / GUARDIANSHIP / INCAPACITY / TRUST / MENTAL HEALTH / MEDICAL TREATMENT PROCEDURES 

1. All probate, guardianship, incapacity and trust cases are to be assigned to Division 59.

2. All injunctions for protection against exploitation of vulnerable adults (Section 825.1035, Fla. Stat.) amd Adult Protective Service Act (Chapter 415, Fla. Stat.) cases are to be assigned to Division 59.

3. All cases seeking expedited judicial intervention concerning medical treatment procedures are to be assigned to Division 59.

4. All cases related to the involuntary admission of an intellectually disabled person to residential services (Section 393.11, Fla. Stat.) are to be assigned to Division 59.

5. All guardianship cases involving children in juvenile dependency court are to be assigned to Divisions 57 and 58.

6. All cases seeking court approval of pre-suit settlement of minors’ claims are to be assigned to Divisions 57 and 58.

7. All Baker Act (Chapter 394, Part I, Fla.Stat.), Marchman Act (Chapter 397, Fla.Stat.) and Tuberculosis Control Act (Chapter 392, Fla. Stat.) cases are to be assigned to Divisions 57 and 58.

8. Notwithstanding section C (7) above, the judges assigned to Divisions 65, 66, and 67 are to handle Baker Act and Tuberculosis Control Act cases on a temporary basis. Likewise, the judge assigned to Division 65 is to handle Marchman Act cases on a temporary basis.

9. All firearm disability relief (Section 790.065, Fla. Stat.) and risk protection order (Section 790.401, Fla. Stat.) cases are to be assigned to Divisions 55 (67%) and 59 (33%).

D. GENERAL CIVIL

1. All circuit civil cases not specifically assigned otherwise, including, but not limited to, cases seeking court approval of pre-suit settlements of adults’ claims, and involuntary civil commitment of sexually violent predators, are to be assigned to Divisions 55 (67%) and 59 (33%).

2. Miscellaneous civil actions/writs such as habeas corpus, certiorari, mandamus, or prohibition that are related to a closed, pending, or out-of-county criminal or mental health case are to be assigned to Division 56. Any such civil actions/writs that are not related to a criminal or mental health case are to be assigned to Division 55.

E. APPEALS AND REVIEWS OF QUASI-JUDICIAL ACTIONS

1. All reviews of quasi-judicial actions and other matters in which the circuit court has appellate jurisdiction are to be assigned to Division 55.

           IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court’s office is to assign cases as specified in this Order. If any uncertainty or ambiguity arises concerning the assignment of a case, the Clerk’s office should refer the matter to the Court Administrator’s office for resolution by the Chief Judge (see Kruckenberg v. Powell, 422 So.2d 994).

           IT IS FURTHER ORDERED rescinding administrative order G-2022-044-SJ effective September 18, 2023.

TO BE RECORDED in St. Johns County, Florida.

DONE AND ORDERED in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, this 13th day of September 2023.