Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Encyclopedia
The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida is composed of Brevard
and Seminole
Counties. The Chief Judge is J. Preston Silvernail.
There is over 80 miles (128.7 km) between the courthouse in Viera
(Melbourne
) and the Criminal Justice Center in Sanford
. There are a total of six courthouses in the circuit with main facilities located at Viera and Sanford.
In 2011, the Brevard Clerk employed about 250 preople with an additional 127 former employees contracted through a private company.
Courts and a Small Claims Court
. Additionally, each municipality had a Municipal Court.
The Circuit Court in Brevard County had jurisdiction to try capital cases and civil actions beyond the County Judge's Court or the Magistrate's Court.
In Seminole County the Circuit Court had jurisdiction to try all felony
cases, including capital cases, and civil actions beyond the jurisdiction of the County Court or the Small Claims Court
. The Court of Record in Brevard County was a criminal court that tried all criminal cases except capital cases. The reorganization of the court system in Florida in 1972 caused many of the courts to be abolished and resulted in statewide uniformity. The only trial courts remaining after the reorganization were the Circuit Court and the County Court. The judges of the abolished courts in Brevard County became Circuit Judges.
The population of the Circuit has grown since 1972. In 1973 there were a total of 13 Circuit Judges. In 2004 there are 24.
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
and Seminole
Seminole County, Florida
Seminole County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. Located between Orlando to the south and Deland and Daytona Beach to the north, it is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Its county seat and largest city is Sanford...
Counties. The Chief Judge is J. Preston Silvernail.
There is over 80 miles (128.7 km) between the courthouse in Viera
Viera, Florida
Viera is a master planned community located in the central coastal region of Brevard County, Florida. It is part of an unincorporated section adjacent to the Melbourne, Florida area.-Geography:...
(Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
) and the Criminal Justice Center in Sanford
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
. There are a total of six courthouses in the circuit with main facilities located at Viera and Sanford.
Public prosecutor
The DUI conviction rate was 95% in 2008. 94% of the cases are resolved through plea bargaining. Out of 47 which actually went to trial, 55% were convicted.Clerks of the Court
There are two counties in the circuit, Brevard and Seminole.In 2011, the Brevard Clerk employed about 250 preople with an additional 127 former employees contracted through a private company.
History
Before 1967, Brevard and Seminole were part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit along with Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, and St. Lucie Counties. Prior to the organizational change in the court system which occurred in 1972, the Eighteenth Circuit had a variety of courts including the Circuit Court, the Court of Record of Brevard County, the Brevard County Magistrate's Court, County Judge's Courts, Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
Courts and a Small Claims Court
Small claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...
. Additionally, each municipality had a Municipal Court.
The Circuit Court in Brevard County had jurisdiction to try capital cases and civil actions beyond the County Judge's Court or the Magistrate's Court.
In Seminole County the Circuit Court had jurisdiction to try all felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
cases, including capital cases, and civil actions beyond the jurisdiction of the County Court or the Small Claims Court
Small claims court
Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...
. The Court of Record in Brevard County was a criminal court that tried all criminal cases except capital cases. The reorganization of the court system in Florida in 1972 caused many of the courts to be abolished and resulted in statewide uniformity. The only trial courts remaining after the reorganization were the Circuit Court and the County Court. The judges of the abolished courts in Brevard County became Circuit Judges.
The population of the Circuit has grown since 1972. In 1973 there were a total of 13 Circuit Judges. In 2004 there are 24.