Congratulations to Judge Edward Merrigan who was appointed to the Circuit Court bench on Friday, March 20 by Governor Rick Scott. A County Court judge since 2009, Judge Merrigan has presided in the county criminal division as well as Broward Veterans’ Treatment Court. 

Judge Merrigan received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law and began his career as an attorney in 1989. He also serves in the U.S. Army Reserve and was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel. 

On behalf of the entire 17th Circuit family, well done Judge Merrigan! 

In consultation with the Hon. Howard Forman, Clerk of the Courts, the following divisions will start mandatory efiling effective 1/6/14. All other divisions are already getting e filed documents. 

Appeals (for criminal)

Circuit Criminal

County Criminal

Civil Traffic

Criminal Traffic

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile Dependency

The 17th Circuit’s own Judge Edward Merrigan was officially promoted to the rank of Colonel, United States Army Reserve, in early December. Judge Merrigan has served in the U.S. armed forces for nearly 20 years, and is a combat veteran.

First appointed to the county bench in 2009, Judge Merrigan has been able to utilize his military familiarity in the courtroom since being chosen to preside over Broward’s Veterans Treatment Court, established in 2012. 

The 17th Circuit family wishes you a heart-felt congratulations, Judge Merrigan! 

NOTICE TO ALL ATTORNEY’S FILING CASES IN THE COMPLEX BUSINESS AND COMPLEX TORT DIVISIONS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 17^TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

For all attorneys filing new cases in the circuit civil division of the 17^th Judicial Circuit, with the advent of E filing, there is no known method to direct file complex business and complex tort cases through the State E file portal.

In an attempt to remedy this situation all attorneys/parties who wish to direct file a case meeting criteria for filing in complex business and tort – per Administrative Order 2013-11-Civ – must file with their complaint the attached “Notice of Intent to file New Case in the Complex Business and Tort Division”

By filing the new complaint with this “Notice of Intent to file New Case in the Complex Business and Tort Division” the clerk will direct file the case into divisions (07) Business only; division (19) Business and Tort; and division (26) Complex Tort only.

The administrative order for complex business and tort can be found at: http://www.17th.flcourts.org/images/stories/17th_pdf_files/2013-11-civ.pdf

Jack Tuter

Administrative Judge Circuit Civil