8 verbatim requirements on continuances.
Eighth Judicial Circuit — DIVISION/CIRCUIT-WIDE - Judicial Assignments only. Practices change without notice; the court's own published text controls. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Verbatim from the published source, captured 2026-07-24; whitespace normalised only. No OCR was used. • Administrative Order 9.03 (2026-2) Page 1 General Assignments Effective: March 30, 2026 THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 9.03 (v 2026-2) GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS Effective March 30, 2026 In order to provide for the requirements of the Eighth Judicial Circuit with regard to the assignment of judges, in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, IT IS ORDERED: The assignments set forth in this General Assignment O rder are reflected on the Eighth Circuit Master Calendars which are published on the website of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and are revised as needed by order of the Chief Judge. The judicial assignments for the Eighth Judicial Circuit for the period March 30, 2026, through December 31, 2026, are as follows: CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS Judge County Division or Assignment Donna M. Keim, Administrative Judge Alachua Circuit Civil Division “CA1”, Division “W” (Extraordinary Writs) Gilchrist & Union Circuit Civil, Mortgage Foreclosures1, Extraordinary Writs Gloria R. Walker Alachua Circuit Civil Division “CA2” Baker Circuit Civil, Mortgage Foreclosures1, Extraordinary Writs Circuit-wide Division “AP” (Appeals) George M. Wright Alachua Circuit Civil Division “CA3” Bradford Circuit Civil, Mortgage Foreclosures1, Extraordinary Writs David P. Kreider Alachua Circuit Civil Division “CA4” Levy Circuit Civil, Mortgage Foreclosures1, Extraordinary Writs William E. Davis, Chief Judge Alachua Circuit-wide Back-up, Division “MG” Residential Mortgage Foreclosures1 Susanne Wilson Bullard Circuit-wide Jimmy Ryce Cases (including Alachua County Division “R”) 1 Some cases in this division may be covered by a magistrate or hearing officer with judicial oversight as indicated in the General Magistrate and Hearing Officer Assignments below. • Administrative Order 9.03 (2026-2) Page 2 General Assignments Effective: March 30, 2026 FAMILY AND PROBATE DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS Judge County Division or Assignment Phillip A. Pena, Administrative Judge Alachua Family Division “UFC”2, Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Dependency1, 3, Family Division “AD” (Adoptions), Alachua County Children’s Trust, Truancy, CINS/FINS, Division “RP” (Risk Protection), 1/5 Division “DV” (Domestic Violence) 4 Baker and Bradford Juvenile Delinquency Kristine Van Vorst Alachua Family Division “DR1”, 1/5 Division “DV” (Domestic Violence)4 Baker Family1, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Dependency1, Probate1, Mental Health1 Jonathan D. Ramsey Alachua Family Division “DR2”, 1/5 Division “DV” (Domestic Violence) 4 Bradford Family1, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Dependency1, Probate1, Mental Health1 Craig C. DeThomasis Alachua Family Division “DR3”, 1/5 Division “DV” (Domestic Violence) 4 Levy Family1, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Dependency1, Probate1, Mental Health1 Sean D. Brewer Alachua Family Division “DR4”, Hague Convention Cases, Family Division “N” (DOR Cases) 1, 1/5 Division “DV” (Domestic Violence) 4 Gilchrist & Union Family 1, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Delinquency (Gilchrist only), Juvenile Dependency1, Probate1, Mental Health1 William E. Davis, Chief Judge Alachua Circuit-wide Back-up, Family Division “SD”(Simplified Dissolutions)1, Pro Se Cases Assigned to All DR Divisions1, 5, Probate1, Guardianship1, Mental Health Divisions “Q” and “S”1, 4, TPR Back-Up Julie Crews Johnson Baker Truancy Court Luis Bustamante Levy Juvenile Delinquency, Truancy Court Mitchell Bishop Union Juvenile Delinquency, Truancy Court, Mental Health NOTE: • Cases involving Petitions for Judicial Waiver of Parental Co nsent for Termination of Pregnancy in Alachua County will be assigned to the Alachua Family Division judges on a rotating basis. 2 These Unified Family Court cases are family -related cases that are conjoined with a dependency, delinquency, or domestic violence case. All circuit judges and county court judges when acting as circuit judges of the Eighth Judicial Circuit are designated as juvenile court judges for the purposes of Chapters 39 and 985, Florida Statutes, and may conduct detention or shelter hearings as appropriate. A review pursuant to section 39.402(12), Florida Statutes, shall not be required when the shelter hearing wa s conducted by a juvenile court judge. 3 Shelter Hearings and TPR Back- up will be rotated among the Alachua Family Division judges, pursuant to the Alachua County Family Master Calendar. 4 Ex Parte Baker Act and Marchman Act Petitions and Domestic Violence Petitions to be reviewed by Division “DV” Judge on duty pursuant to the Alachua County Family Master Calendar. 5 In the event an attorney files a notice of appearance in a pro se case and remains attorney of record, the case may be transferred back to the original division judge. • Administrative Order 9.03 (2026-2) Page 5 General Assignments Effective: March 30, 2026 TRIAL WEEK JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS Jury trials will be scheduled during the first four weeks of the month. The first trial week will begin on the first Monday of each month. Trial Week One Alachua Circuit Civil Divisions CA1, CA2, CA3, CA4 Circuit Criminal Division I Alachua Criminal Back-Up Alachua County Civil (Monday and Tuesday only) County Division V Baker, Bradford, and Levy Circuit Civil Gilchrist Circuit Criminal, County Criminal Union Circuit Criminal, County Criminal Trial Week Two Alachua Circuit Criminal Division II County Criminal Division I Alachua Criminal Back-Up Alachua County Civil (Monday and Tuesday only) County Division IV Baker Circuit Criminal / County Criminal Trial Week Three Alachua Circuit Criminal Division III County Criminal Division II County Civil Division V Alachua Criminal Back-Up Alachua County Civil (Monday and Tuesday only) County Division V Bradford Circuit Criminal / County Criminal Gilchrist, Union Circuit Civil Trial Week Four Alachua Circuit Criminal Division IV County Criminal Division III County Civil Division IV Alachua Criminal Back-Up Alachua County Civil (Monday and Tuesday Only) County Division IV Levy Circuit Criminal / County Criminal The Master Calendars include schedule changes due to holidays and conferences, which affect the assignments in this section. The Master Calendars are incorporated into this assignment calendar and should be referred to when holidays and judicial conferences arise. • THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 9.05 ASSIGNMENT OF COURTROOMS, ALACHUA COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHEREAS, orderly and efficient judicial administration of the Circuit and County Courts in Alachua County require the use of each Courtroom by the several divisions of the Circuit and County Courts, and WHEREAS, there is a need for a weekly calendar assigning Courtrooms and other judicial facilities in order to coordinate the activities of Judges, officers of the Court, and others connected with judicial administration, WHEREAS, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration mandate th at the Chief Judge of the Circuit shall develop an administrative plan for the "regulation and use of Courtrooms," Fla‐ R.Jud.Admin. 1.050(b)(2)(7); it is therefore ORDERED: The Court Administrator shall publish a weekly Courtroom calendar fo r Alachua County for the purpose of assigning Courtrooms to the several divisions of the Circuit and County Courts and for the purpose of coordinating the activities of Judges, officers of the Courts, and others connected with judicial administration. This order renumbers and reformats prior Administrative Order No. 8.620 entitled “Assignment of Courtrooms, Alachua County Courthouse.” ORDERED ON this 8th day of October, 2012 nunc pro tunc November 13, 1984. Robert E. Roundtree, Jr., Chief Judge AO 9.05 (v1) Page 1 Assignment of Courtrooms, Alachua County Courthouse Effective: November 13, 1984 • THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 9.09 JUDICIAL ANNUAL LEAVE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE efficient and effective management of court events and judicial resources, and provide the accountability and records of judge leave, and WHEREAS, judges are constitutional officers and considered to be available for duty twenty‐four hours a day and are often required to serve on weekends and after hours without compensatory time; and WHEREAS, annual leav e assures that judges have sufficient time away from the bench to maintain good health and effectiveness and to permit time for rejuvenation and renewal; and WHEREAS, this Administrative Order is entered in accordance with the Chief Judge’s duties and responsibilities as set fo rth in Article V, section 2, Florida Constitution; Rule of Judicial Administration 2.050; and section 26.37, Florida Statutes; it is therefore, ORDERED: 1. Circuit Judges and County Court Judges are expected to take no more than 30 working days of annual leave per calendar year. For the purposes of thi s Administrative Order, “annual leave” means “time away from judicial duties to provide opportunities for rest, relaxation and personal pursuits.” Annual leave does not include sick leave, educational leave, military leave, leave to serve on court committees, or other leave in the furtherance of justice. The taking of annual leave shall not interfere with the efficient administration of a judicial officer’s docket. 2. Each judge must notify the Chief Judge of any judicial annual leave taken and must indicate the specific date(s) for which annual leave is use d by sending an email to “Judge AO 9. 09 (v1) Page 1 Judicial Annual Leave Effective: July 1, 2011 • AO 9.09 (v1) Page 2 Judicial Annual Leave Effective: July 1, 2011 Leave Calendar.” Each judge is responsible to keep their individual judge leave information current. 3. The Chief Judge shall maintain records of judicial annual leave and create a report no later then January 15 of each year for the previous year. 4. Unused judicial annual leave does not accrue from year to year. 5. Nothing herein prevent s a Chief Judge, upon good cause shown on a case‐by‐ case basis, from allowing judicial annual leave in excess of 30 working days per calendar year. This order replaces Administrative Order 8.1190(A) and becomes effective July 01, 2011. This order renumbers and reformats prior Adm inistrative Order No. 8.1190(B) entitled “Judicial Annual Leave.” ORDERED ON this 8th day of October, 2012 nunc pro tunc July 1, 2011. Robert E. Roundtree, Jr., Chief Judge • IN THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 9.10 COVERAGE FOR JUDGES WHEREAS, the Chief Judge is charged with developing and managing an administrative plan for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and WHEREAS, the administrative plan requires the Chief Judge to develop long and short range plans for judicial assignments, and WHEREAS, in the master calendar has been constructed in such a manner that the circuit judges are often double‐booked for courtroom activities during trial weeks, it is therefore ORDERED: 1. Judges are responsible for attendance at their master calendared events. 2. Judges should not calendar judicial proceedings during planned annual leave. 3. Events on the master calendar occurring during periods of annual leave should be rescheduled where possible. 4. In the event that a judge discovers a need for backup coverage for master calendared events the judge shall determine the availability of coverage from the judges in the same division, or in the case of the county court judges in Baker, Bradford, Union, Gilchrist, and Levy counties from another available judge. If the judge is unable to find coverage, the judge may request coverage from the court administrator’s office by using the coverage request form provided by the court administrator's office, which can be submitted by e‐mail. 5. In response to the coverage request, the court administrator’s office will first contact circuit judges to cover circuit judges and county judges to cover coun ty judges. If none are available, the court administrator’s office shall determine the availability of all judges. If no judges are available, the court administrator will forward the request for coverage to the chief judge, who will determine whether a senior judge will be used. The court administrator’s office will notify the requesting judge whether coverage will be provided. AO 9.10 (v1) Page 1 Coverage for Judges Effective: November 29, 1995 • 6. If coverage is not provided, the requesting judge is responsible for canceling any schedules proceedings and notifying the parties and others who may be affected, including the office of the Clerk of Court, court reporter and bailiff. COVERAGE FOR DOUBLE BOOKING ON MASTER CALENDAR During trial weeks, circuit judges are double booked on the master calendar, i.e., scheduled for more than one event at a time. If the circuit judge becomes unavailable due to double booking, an available county judge shall cover for the circuit judge. The circuit judge will request this coverage from the Court Administrator’s office following the above procedure. If the circui t judge later becomes available, that judge shall resume the responsibility for the circuit event. COVERAGE OF SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS Coverage for prolonged leaves of absense will be provided by special assignment. Special assignment coverage takes priority over coverage assignments on the master calendar. COVERAGE OF DUTY JUDGE Judges are to adhere to the Duty Judge Schedule. A judge who needs duty judge coverage is responsible for finding a substitute judge and notifying the court administrator’s office of the change. The court administrator’s office will not be responsible for providing this coverage. COVERAGE FOR WEEKEND FIRST APPEARANCE FOR BAKER, BRADFORD, LEVY , GILCHRIST AND UNION COUNTIES A judge who needs coverage for first appearance in these counties shall determine the availability of coverage from another judge with jurisdiction. If another judge with jurisdiction is available for coverage, the judge needing coverage shall notify the court administrator’s office of the change and coverage arrangements. AO 9.10 (v1) Page 2 Coverage for Judges Effective: November 29, 1995
Administrative Order 9.03 (2026-2) Page 1 General Assignments Effective: March 30, 2026 THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 9.03 (v 2026-2) GENERAL ASSIGNMENTS Effective March 30, 2026 In order to provide for the requirements of the Eighth Judicial Circuit with regard to the assignment of judges, in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, IT IS ORDERED: The assignments set forth in this General Assignment O rder are reflected on the Eighth Circuit Master Calendars which are published on the website of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and are revised as needed by order of the Chief Judge. The judicial assignments for the Eighth Judicial Circuit for the period March 30, 2026, through December 31, 2026, are as follows: CIRCUIT CIVIL DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS Judge County Division or Assignment Donna M. Keim, Administrative Judge Alac
Reviewer note: Source sha256: 6423131833df195e8ce914fc9f1bcf6205c82d23764fb29f0daa4937cb5ce360, 3734cdcb16452832131786e2a9e98345906e3664b31e5f675c8dfc0209f83c64, 7c1c27e3ab8169b3a1dab6864a162f098be3cb8ea57eeed0ec059f710bfa596b, bd2872dd3e9e5a134243be0077a4e9dc61ee31647b256d5a209fdeec48c3505d. Corpus categories: SCHEDULING_OR_CANCELLATION, CONTINUANCES | SCHEDULING_OR_CANCELLATION. Operative status as recorded: CURRENT_DIRECTORY_CURRENT_VERSION. Published during the 2026-07-24 completeness pass.
Florida follows the federal summary-judgment standard. The motion must be served at least 40 days before the hearing; the nonmovant's response is due no later than 20 days before the hearing.
How Florida procedural deadlines are computed: exclude the trigger day; count every day for periods of 7 days or more; for periods under 7 days, skip intermediate weekends and legal holidays; roll forward when the last day is a weekend or holiday.
Judge Siperstein requires every motion to be set within 5 days of filing and heard within 60 days, or it may be deemed abandoned.