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Florida's Court System

Choosing an Attorney ♦ General Resources ♦ 
Government Resources ♦ Florida's Court System
 
Legal claims are settled in many ways. The most common route to resolution is through the court system. Depending on what area of the law an individual's claim falls under, it can be heard by a specific court in the complex system. Claims brought to court in the United States start at the county level in each state and can progress to the Supreme Court if necessary. This page provides an overview of the state court system and links to each court's website. Your claim can be handled in many jurisdictions by an experienced lawyer at the Coye Law Firm if you decide to pursue justice.
 
County Courts

County courts in Florida are likely to hear misdemeanor, small claims, civil, and traffic cases. These smaller courts are designed to deal with the routine claims that can arise in any of Florida's 67 counties. Find your county's court website through this link. If the law has been broken in a more serious way, or an individual wants to appeal the county court's ruling, the case goes to circuit court. A chart breaking down the jurisdiction of the courts is provided by the Florida Court System.

Florida's Court System

County Court⇒

Circuit Court⇒

District Court⇒

Supreme Court
 
Circuit Courts

More than 1.3 million Orange and Osceola county residents can bring their civil, traffic, probate, criminal, and other matters to court in the Ninth Circuit Court of Florida. The Ninth Circuit Court has 65 judges who hear over 590,000 new cases each year. An outline of the circuit courts in Florida is available here. If an individual choose to appeal their claim, it may be referred to the district court of appeals. Use the following links to find the circuit court where you live. Each county has a clerk of court web site, where you can get more information as well.
 
First Circuit:

District Courts

The District Courts of Appeal in Florida were developed in 1957 to help distribute the case load of the state's Supreme Court. The district court that takes on cases in the Orlando area is the Fifth District Court of Appeal. A breakdown of the districts is available here. For more serious criminal matters, or further appealed decisions, cases can be heard by the Florida Supreme Court.

Supreme Court

There are seven justices that serve the Florida Supreme Court. This team of legal minds decides some of the most serious cases in the state, including death penalty sentences and constitutionality of laws. The court has a database of court rulings set up for those involved in the cases, as well as public information regarding recent decisions. The Florida Supreme Court is also responsible for regulating the admission of lawyers to the Florida Bar.

Another version of the jurisdiction flowchart is available here.

Federal Court System

If a case goes beyond the Florida Supreme Court, it is filed on a federal level. The state falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, located in Atlanta, Georgia. The court hears cases originating in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. If the case is further appealed, it moves onto the court of "last resort," the United States Supreme Court.

The Orlando lawyers of the Coye Law Firm are experienced in all levels of the court system. Beyond the state courts, three of our attorneys are licensed to practice in the United States Tax Court and admitted to other state bar organizations. Investigate our website to see the ways in which our Orlando lawyers can pursue justice for you and your family. Call our offices today to gain the experienced and aggressive legal representation of the attorneys & staff at the Coye Law Firm.

 

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