Community Court continues to help the homeless overcome their obstacles, recently helping two with cancer obtain treatment, complete community service and graduate!

County Court Jurisdiction Changes

On January 1, 2020, changes in Florida state law and the Florida Rules of Procedure will go into effect, changing where a variety of court actions are heard.

• County court jurisdictional thresholds increase to $30,000 on January 1, 2020.
• Small claims cases as of January 1, 2020, will include amounts in dispute up to $8,000.
• Filers will be required to include a civil cover sheet specifying the dollar amount in dispute in cases exceeding $8,000 in value.
• The new law maintains current rules that limit the provision of subsidized court mediation services to county court cases with an amount in controversy up to $15,000.
• State law provides that on January 1, 2020, appeals of county court orders or judgments with an amount in controversy greater than $15,000 will be heard by the district courts of appeal until January 1, 2023, when the provision repeals.

For more information, visit, https://www.flcourts.org/Know-Your-Court/

Last Friday, the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit and the Broward County Bar Association hosted its annual New Attorney Orientation at the central courthouse. The new attorneys were able to hear from a panel of judges, each representing a different division, about what to expect as an attorney, and what’s expected of them by the judiciary. After the panel discussion, the group got a tour of the judicial complex.

This morning, representatives from two of the three branches of government met at the central courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale to discuss legislative issues and priorities over coffee and light breakfast. Several senators, house representatives, and legislative aides sat down with members of the 17th Circuit judiciary for a casual dialogue about initiatives, priorities and updates. A special thanks to the Broward Legislative Delegation for their involvement in this event.