Loading…
9 verbatim requirements from order [unlisted file in the court's /pdf/ao/ order directory] ao_2_39_amended.pdf.
20th Judicial Circuit. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from https://www.ca.cjis20.org/pdf/ao/ao_2_39_amended.pdf, harvested 2026-07-25; whitespace normalised only. • In AOSC-17, the Florida Supreme Court included a section entitled "MAINTAINING WORKFLOW AS FEASIBLE," which stated that "[t]o maintain judicial workflow to the maximum extent feasible, chiefiudges are directed to take all possible steps to facilitate conducting proceedings with the us e of teclmologv," and further stating that " [t]hese emergency measures are necessary to ensure public health and safety during this unprecedented pandemic; however, the co11stit11tional right of access to tlte courts by lite public must be considered bv tlte presiding judge in all cases." (emphasis added); and • ESSENTIAL OR CRITICAL COURT PROCEEDINGS - The fo llowing matters are deemed essential or critical court proceedings which the circuit and county courts are required to continue performing: a) First appearance hearings; b) Criminal arraignments, as necessary; 2 -- 2 of 5 -- c) Hearings on motions to set or modify monetary bail for individuals who are in custody; d) Juvenile dependency shelter and arraignment hearings, including shelter reviews; e) Juvenile delinquency detention and arraignment hearings, as necessary; t) Hearings on petitions for temporary injunctions relating to safety of an individual; g) Hearings on petitions for risk protection orders; h) Hearings on petitions for the appointment of an emergency temporary guardian; i) Hearings to determine whether an individual shouJd be involuntarily committed under the Baker Act or the Marchman Act; j) Hearings on petitions for extraordinary writs as necessary to protect constitutional rights; k) Hearings on petitions for judicial waiver of notice pursuant to section • HANDLING OF ESSENTIAL OR CRITICAL COURT PROCEEDINGS a) Essential or critical court proceedings shall be handled by the divisional judge, magistrate, hearing officer, or duty judge who would normally hear the matter. b) When possible, essential court proceedings shall be held remotely using communication equipment. c) However, these essential or critical court proceedings do allow for in- person court appearances as long as all available methods of "social distancing" are being taken to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure to 3 -- 3 of 5 -- individuals involved in the proceedings or the general public. d) For essential court proceedings involving in-custody defendants, the in- custody defendants shall appear remotely utilizing communication equipment. • No one shall be permitted to accompany persons who are otherwise allowed in the courthouse, and there shall be no loitering. • Any person, regardless of status, who is exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or any person who has traveled or has knowingly been in contact with another person who is suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 virus, is prohibited from entering any court facility. • HANDLING OF NON-ES SENTIAL OR NON-CRITICAL PROCEEDINGS a) Non-essential or non-critical court proceedings shall be handled by the divisional judge , magistrate, hearing officer, or duty judge who would nonnally hear the matter. b) All of the above-listed non-essential or non -critical court proceedings shall proceed and shall be held to the fullest extent possible. c) Jn accordance with the directive of the Florida Supreme Court, each of the above-listed non-essential or non-critical proceedings shall be conducted using teleph onic or oth er electronic means available, unless a judge determines that remote conduct of the proceeding is inconsistent with the • United States or Florida Constitution, a statute or a rule of court that has not been suspended by administrative order or would be infeasible because the court, the clerk, or other participant in a proceeding lacks the technological resources necessary to conduct the proceedings or, for reasons directly related to the state of emergency or the public health emergency, Jacks the staff resources necessary to conduct the proceeding. d) The above-listed non-essential or non-critical proceedings shall not be conducted through in-person bearings. • All other remedial measures established by the Florida Supreme Court or by this local Administrative Order shall remain in effect until the close of business on • This amended Administrative Order supersedes the original Administrative Order and all of this Court' s subsequently issued memorandums relating to COVID-19, and shall be effective immediately and sha ll remain in effect until the dates established herein or until superseded by further order of this Court or the Florida
In AOSC-17, the Florida Supreme Court included a section entitled "MAINTAINING WORKFLOW AS FEASIBLE," which stated that "[t]o maintain judicial workflow to the maximum extent feasible, chiefiudges are directed to take all possible steps to facilitate conducting proceedings with the us e of teclmologv," and further stating that " [t]hese emergency measures are necessary to ensure public health and safety during this unprecedented pandemic; however, the co11stit11tional right of access to tlte courts by lite public must be considered bv tlte presiding judge in all cases." (emphasis added); and
Reviewer note: Order PDF sha256: 5c0535c6fad37dd62fbbb6f0f8866024ae85b0654a94d7c14a43f209ffcc5ae8. Extracted from the order's own text layer.
Judge Bell caps motions and responses at 5 pages for UMC hearings and 12 pages for special-set hearings.
Judge Alijewicz requires every motion for attorney's fees and/or costs to attach a document detailing time records — no records, no fee award.
Judge Corlew bars informal contact: every communication with the Court must be in writing, filed with the Clerk, with copies furnished to all parties — and no calls to the JA to schedule or cancel UMC.