Chief Judge · Fifth Judicial Circuit Court
What applies in this courtroom
873 verified requirements and 6 rule deadlines govern practice before Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr. across the judge, division, county, circuit, and statewide layers.
The tabs below show the judge-and-division layer only. The Full Premium Report assembles the complete stack — every requirement, deadline table, ruling intelligence, live case-type scan, and source appendix in one cited document.
Your first 7 Judge Intelligence Reports are free with a free account — no payment card required.
Chief Judge, Fifth Judicial Circuit
Judge Merritt, Jr. allows in-person or Zoom appearances by attorneys. Zoom links are sent to the attorney of record the day before the scheduled hearing date. *Attorneys and defendants are required to appear in-person at the Pre-Trial Hearing before Trial. *
Published by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court on this judge's own profile page and reproduced verbatim — BenchPath does not write or paraphrase judicial biographies. Read it on the court's site →
From Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.'s own profile page on the circuit's county judiciary index, verified 2026-07-25.
Verified 2026-08-03: the 5th's own county judiciary pages render name-only rosters, and a search of the site's WordPress media library found no portrait record titled with this judge's name. No published portrait found — recorded, not guessed.
Captured verbatim from the court's own published pages and orders during circuit verification. Chambers practices change without notice — confirm anything time-critical with the judicial assistant. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Appeals from this courtroom go to the Fifth District Court of Appeal (Daytona Beach).
● LiveThat court's published bench (11): Adrian G. Soud, Brian D. Lambert, Eric J. Eisnaugle, F. Rand Wallis, Harvey L. Jay, James A. Edwards, Joe Boatwright, John M. Harris, John MacIver, Paige Kilbane, Scott Makar
Jurisdiction per § 35.043, Fla. Stat. (six-district alignment eff. Jan. 1, 2023).
Enriched from live circuit5.org profile + controlling assignment order (independently fetched and sha256-hashed 2026-07-20; 5th Circuit arbitrated upgrade).
4 verified rules specific to this judge's division, grouped by requirement category. 873 total requirements apply in this courtroom across all layers — the Full Premium Report assembles the complete stack.
No judge-level deadline on record runs shorter than a statewide deadline with the same trigger. The sentinel compares quoted timing across every published rule scoped to this judge on each visit — a clean result today is re-earned tomorrow.
No judge-scoped deadlines on this tab. Deadlines are extracted only when the source rule text states them — we never infer or calculate dates the rule does not explicitly contain. 6 rule deadlines apply in this courtroom across all layers — assembled with citations in the Full Premium Report.
Timing shown here is quoted from the rule text. Compute your actual date against the court's calendar and the rule itself — not legal advice.
No verified ruling summary yet. BenchPath generates ruling summaries from opinion and docket corpora (CourtListener where covered) and publishes them only after human review — fabricated judicial analytics are exactly what this platform refuses to ship.
Use the live case-law search below to see what exists for this judge today.
How Florida’s appellate courts disposed of the 203 opinions in BenchPath’s corpus (March 8, 2004–July 28, 2026) that name this judge as the lower-tribunal judge — the courts’ own disposition labels, counted verbatim. This is a census of the appellate record we hold, not a complete case history, an affirmance rate, or a performance rating.
Florida appellate and Supreme Court opinions naming this judge as the lower-tribunal judge, taken verbatim from each court’s official slip opinion (source-hashed). Descriptive record, not a rating. Showing the 50 most recent; all 203 are counted in the outcome census above.
last checked September 4, 2026
Research connectors
CourtListener
● liveFree Law Project
Free. Opinions, dockets, RECAP, judge metadata. Powering the case-law search on this page.
Westlaw
○ bring your licenseThomson Reuters
Bring your firm's license — enterprise connector queries your judge and related cases inside Westlaw. Phase 2.
LexisNexis
○ bring your licenseRELX
Bring your firm's license — enterprise connector for Lexis+ research tied to your matter. Phase 2.
BenchPath never scrapes licensed databases. Westlaw and LexisNexis connect only through your firm's own credentials and entitlements when the enterprise connectors ship.
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)
CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH COLLIER vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Christopher Jones v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
WILFREDO PEREIRA vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
PALA SPRINGS LAND TRUST, LUNOHAH INVESTMENTS, LLC, AS TRUSTEE vs DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE VENDEE MORTGAGE TRUST, 2011-1, ANGELO MAGLIULO, LAURA MAGLIULO AND SEVEN HILLS HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION, INC.
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JONATHAN HUFF vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
AMBER LEEANN PHELPS vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JOHN CROSBY vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DANIEL BRUNETTE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Derrel L. Thomas v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Jeffrey Colon-Hernandez v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Robert Bruce Pettyjohn, II v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Theodore Gibbs v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
James W. Holland, Jr. v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Juan F. Perez v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Brian T. Flannery v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
DALE MATTHEW HEAD VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Suzanne Parker v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
AMY LYNN REYBURN vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Sean Michael McMullen v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Samuel David Padilla v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JEREMY NEWCOMER VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
James Ray Booth v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Citation
George Norwood v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE CHALET SERIES IV TRUST VS SUSAN ROXANNE HARKE A/K/A SUSAN R. HARKE, ROBERT HARKE A/K/A ROBERT A. HARKE, DISCOVER BANK,
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
ANTHONY MARIAROSSI VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Anthony Mariarossi v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JEREMY JEROME NEWCOMER vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DERREL L. THOMAS vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Brian T. Flannery v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
James Dean Croft v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JAMES A. GEORGE, JR. VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Robert William Jardin v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Michael Corey Bowser-Jones v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JONATHAN HUFF vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JAMES RIANI vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
APRIL DALLAIRE VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
TROY RANDLE STALTER VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
J.R., FATHER OF C.R., K.R., AND C.R., CHILDREN vs DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Citrus County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
State of Florida v. Jean Paul Yanes-Blanco
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
Cheri L. Hastings v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
PATRICK KEEBLER VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
Christopher Wade Jones v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JONATHAN LEE HUFF vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Michael Reed v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
FELIX COLARTE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JASON A. STANTON VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Yahya Alverzo f/k/a Jonathan Huff v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Citation
ARNEZ ALI VS STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Juan F. Perez v. State of Florida
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
JOHNNY BURGESS VS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND STATE OF FLORIDA
Fifth District Court of Appeal · Hernando County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Citation
Answer three quick questions. The platform pulls Daniel B. Merritt, Jr.'s full public case-law record from the source, newest first — your matter never narrows the pull; it directs the relevance ranking and the dual-AI analysis. Every hit comes back Bluebook-cited with the opinion's own words quoted verbatim. The scan takes the time precision takes.
Case-law search
CourtListener · free connector · liveCoverage note: CourtListener is strongest for federal courts and state appellate courts. Florida circuit-court opinions are sparsely represented — an absence of results is a coverage gap, not evidence about this judge.
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)
Monitor: content changed at 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 5th Circuit — circuit5.org official site (AOs, judge pages, procedures)