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19 verbatim requirements extracted from 14304-01__2025-06.pdf, across 2 topics.
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie). Check the order's own effective and rescission dates before relying on it. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
HEARING TIME & ARGUMENT LIMITS • WHEREAS, Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officers may be appointed pursuant to Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.491 and are authorized to conduct proceedings related to the establishment, enforcement, and modification of child support obligations in both Title IV -D and non- Title IV-D cases; and • WHEREAS, the Florida Supreme Court has authorized, by administrative order dated November 16, 1994, the use of Child Support Hearing Officers in this Circuit pursuant to Rule 12.491 (formerly Rule 1.491, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure); and • WHEREAS, sections 318.30–318.38, Florida Statutes, and Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.630 authorize counties to participate in the Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer Program, under which the Chief Judge may appoint traffic hearing officers to hear non-criminal traffic infractions; and • WHEREAS, this order seeks to update, consolidate, and formalize the appointments of General Magistrates, Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officers, and Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officers • 1. Appointments: a. Each person listed in Appendix A is hereby appointed as a General Magistrate for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit under Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.490, Fla. Prob. R. 5.095 and 5.697, Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.257 and 8.625(h), Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.490, sections 394.467, 397.681, and 744.369(2), Fla. Stat. , and any other statutory or rule provision authorizing the appointment of a general magistrate or general master. b. Each person listed in Appendix B is hereby appointed as a Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer pursuant to Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491. c. Each person listed in Appendix C is hereby appointed as a Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer pursuant to Fla. R. Traf. Ct. 6.630 and section 318.30, Fla. Stat. d. The Court may amend Appendices A, B, and C from time to time as needed to appoint or remove general magistrates, child support enforcement hearing officers, and civil traffic infraction hearing officers without the need to amend this administrative order. • 2. Each General Magistrate shall: a. Serve at the pleasure of the judges of this circuit and are generally appointed through this administrative order. In individual cases, a separate order of appointment or referral shall be entered to designate the magistrate assigned to that matter. This structure is consistent with the authority granted under the applicable rules of court. b. Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar; c. Be authorized to hear matters in civil, family, probate, guardianship, dependency, delinquency, and mental health divisions as designated by the Chief Judge; d. Have the authority to: i. Conduct hearings; ii. Take evidence; iii. Administer oaths; iv. Issue reports and recommendations; v. Require the production of documents; vi. Accept voluntary agreements and stipulations; vii. Recommend findings of fact and conclusions of law; viii. File reports and recommended orders with the referring judge for approval within a reasonable time from the hearing date; • ix. Serve copies of the recommended order on all parties within a reasonable time from the date of the hearing; x. Be subject to motions to vacate or exceptions as provided by the applicable Florida Rules of Civil, Family, or Juvenile Procedure; xi. Ensure compliance with time standards for post -hearing review as monitored by the Chief Judge or designee; e. Not enter final orders except as permitted by law or administrative order; f. Conduct hearings that must be recorded by a court reporter or approved electronic means, as required by the applicable rules of procedure; g. Ensure that the parties are advised of: i. Their right to file written objections to the referral (where applicable), and ii. Their right to file exceptions to the recommended order; h. Only proceed in the absence of a party if proper notice was provided and no objection or exception has been timely filed; i. Refrain from presiding over jury trials or criminal matters not authorized by law; j. Be assigned matters under: i. Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.490 for general civil referrals; ii. Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.490 for family law referrals; iii. Fla. Prob. R. 5.095 and 5.697 for guardianship monitoring and emergency relief; iv. Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.257 and 8.625(h) for dependency and delinquency proceedings, subject to the limitations in those rules; v. § 394.467, Fla. Stat., for Baker Act proceedings; vi. § 397.681, Fla. Stat., for Marchman Act proceedings; vii. § 744.369(2), Fla. Stat., for guardianship file reviews and orders to show cause; k. Refrain from presiding over cases involving involuntary placement under Chapter 394 or 397 unless properly referred and subject to statutory safeguards; l. Conduct all proceedings in accordance with the applicable Florida Rules of Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Probate Procedure, and with all relevant Florida Statutes; m. Be subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct in the same manner as a judge; n. Perform any and all additional duties and obligations as may be authorized or required by applicable statute, rule, or administrative order. • 3. Each Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer shall: a. Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar, unless otherwise waived by the Chief Justice; b. Serve at the pleasure of the Chief Judge and a majority of the circuit judges of the circuit; c. Be appointed by the Chief Judge in the number deemed necessary to timely adjudicate Title IV-D and other support matters; d. Have the authority to: i. Issue process; • ii. Administer oaths; iii. Require the production of documents; iv. Conduct hearings for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of child support, and for the enforcement of related arrearage obligations; v. Accept voluntary acknowledgments of paternity and stipulated agreements regarding child support; vi. Establish a hearing schedule and provide proper notice to all parties; vii. Take testimony and create a formal hearing record in accordance with Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.535(h); viii. Issue recommended orders approving agreed -upon parenting plans in Title IV -D cases when both parties are present, in agreement, and the arrangement is in the child’s best interest; ix. Evaluate the evidence and submit a recommended order to the court containing findings of fact; e. Not hear contested paternity cases; f. Promptly submit a recommended order to the court for review. The presiding judge shall enter the order unless good cause exists to amend, conduct further proceedings, or return the matter to the hearing officer; g. File and serve copies of the recommended order on all parties within a reasonable time from the date of the hearing; h. Be subject to a motion to vacate by any party within 10 days of the entry of the court’s order and a cross -motion to vacate within 5 days, as provided in Fla. Fam. L.R.P. 12.491(f); i. Have all motions to vacate heard within 10 days of a hearing request, absent good cause for delay; j. Acknowledge that any party may seek modification of the support order at any time; k. Ensure the record for any review includes all required transcripts, depositions, and exhibits. The party seeking review shall initially bear the cost of the transcript, subject to equitable allocation. If additional portions are designated by another party, that party shall bear the corresponding initial expense. l. Perform any and all additional duties and obligations as may be authorized or required by applicable statute, rule, or administrative order. • 4. Automatic Referral to a Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer a. Upon the filing of any action where the Florida Department of Revenue is a party and the sole issue is the establishment, enforcement, or modification of child support, the action shall be automatically referred to the appropriate Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer. b. No objections to a referral to a Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer pursuant to this section will be entertained by the Court. • c. Either party may set the action for hearing before the assigned Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer. d. The Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer will proceed with the hearings and preparation and filing of a recommended order pursuant to Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491. • 5. Recommendation of Immediate Incarceration On any recommendation for a finding of contempt by a General Magistrate or Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer, in which a recommendation of immediate incarceration is made, the matter should be transferred instanter to the appropriate circuit judge assigned to the case. • 6. Each Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer shall: a. Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar; b. Have completed the 40 -hour standardized training program approved by the Florida Supreme Court, which includes instruction in ethics, courtroom control, traffic law and evidence, DMV procedures, participant perspectives, sentencing, jurisdiction, and mock proceedings, as well as direct court observation and mentored participation; c. Complete a minimum of 4 hours of continuing legal education annually, including at least 2 hours in ethics or professionalism and 2 hours in civil traffic infraction-related topics; d. Serve at the pleasure of the Chief Judge; e. Be subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct as provided in the application section of the Code; f. Not wear judicial robes while presiding; g. Not preside over any matter involving an accident resulting in injury or death, a criminal traffic offense, or a civil infraction issued in conjunction with a criminal offense; h. Not hold any person in contempt of court, but may file a verified motion for order of contempt in accordance with Fl. R. Crim. P. 3.840; i. Refer any request for assignment to a county court judge if made by the defendant in writing within 30 days of the citation; j. Not have authority to certify questions to a district court of appeal. k. Perform any and all additional duties and obligations as may be authorized or required by applicable statute, rule, or administrative order. • 7. Recission of Prior Appointments As to any General Magistrate, Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer, or Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officer not expressly identified in this Administrative Order, all prior appointments such personnel are hereby rescinded. Furthermore, upon the removal of any individual’s name from the Appendices attached hereto, the previously entered order of appointment for that individual shall likewise be deemed rescinded. • DONE AND ORDERED in at Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida on the 25th day of September 2025. _____________________________ Charles A. Schwab Chief Judge Copies to: All Circuit and County Judges Court Administration Clerks of Court General Magistrates and Hearing Officers • Appendix B – Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officers Name Bruce Baillie Kameisha Presley • Appendix C – Civil Traffic Infraction Hearing Officers Name Jeffrey Battista Robert Goldman Ryan Grazi Jessica Sebag PROPOSED ORDERS • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2025-06 (Supersedes Administrative Order 2022-03) • 8. Effective Date and Vacation of Administrative Order 2022-03. This administrative order is effective on September 25, 2025. Administrative order 2022- 03 is hereby vacated.
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2025-06 (Supersedes Administrative Order 2022-03)
Reviewer note: Document sha256: d504ade1e8fe420432ed40034bcb1cdafc8bc0dd49f79e41f5b42b5c24873166. One rule per order rather than per topic, so an order's requirements stay together. Published during the completeness pass. Text layer cleaned 2026-09-08 (Phase 3g): 1 kerning-split word rejoined; wording untouched. Verbatim from the order, captured 2026-07-24; whitespace normalised only. No OCR was used anywhere in this chain. [moved from the text 2026-09-14]
4 verbatim requirements on hearings.
2 verbatim requirements on hearing time in LAUREN N. PEFFER's division.