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Section and division assignments across Polk, Highlands and Hardee are set by Administrative Order 1-1.69, signed by Chief Judge James A. Yancey on June 2, 2026, which superseded AO 1-1.68 on July 6, 2026.
All divisions in Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties. Note two things a stale roster gets wrong: the Highlands County Court seat is VACANT under this order (published by the court at /gallery/vacant), and Polk County Criminal Section M6 is also vacant (/gallery/vacant-1). Both are open seats, not judges.
AO 1-1.69 assigns judges to sections and divisions for July 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Effective July 6, 2026, the Polk, Highlands and Hardee County Clerks assign cases to sections and divisions per the ratio in Exhibit A. Exhibits B through F assign additional duties. The order supersedes AO 1-1.68. A special order signed July 17, 2026 amends AO 1-1.69 effective August 1, 2026 to change the Administrative Judge of the Polk Felony Division from Circuit Judge J. Kevin Abdoney to Circuit Judge Gerald P. Hill, II.
This Order is effective immediately for planning and implementation as indicated herein and shall SUPERSEDE Administrative Order No. 1-1.68 on July 6, 2026. ... ORDERED and DIRECTED that, effective August 1, 2026, Administrative Order No. 1-1.69 is amended to change the Administrative Judge of the Polk Felony Division from Circuit Judge J. Kevin Abdoney to Circuit Judge Gerald P. Hill, II.
The 17th Circuit's circuit-wide AI disclosure/certification mandate (Jan 2026, twice amended) was VACATED in its entirety effective June 15, 2026 by Chief Judge Phillips's AO 2026-19-Gen, expressly citing the statewide framework (AOSC26-12; Rule 2.515(d)(2), SC2026-0673). Several division procedure pages still cite the vacated order.
Every circuit-civil case reviewed within 120 days of commencement and assigned a track (complex, streamlined, or general); case management orders required; firm continuance policy; sanctions for missed deadlines. Rescinds AO 21-09.
Circuit-civil hearing-availability standards: motion calendars ~2 weeks from request; 15-30 min special sets within 45-60 days; longer special sets scale.