Administrative Order Viewer

In the Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit in and for
Manatee County, Florida

Administrative Order No. 2026–04.4

Due to a new Manatee County Court judge position created by the enactment of Senate Bill 2508 in 2025, a redistribution of Manatee County Court cases is required to ensure equity among all County Court divisions.

Therefore, in accordance with Article V, section 2(d) of the Florida Constitution, section 43.26, Florida Statutes, and Rule 2.215(b), Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, it is, accordingly, Ordered as follows:

1. In Manatee County there are established five (5) County Court divisions: Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Cases shall be assigned to these divisions as follows:

All Criminal cases

2. All Criminal cases filed on or after May 31, 2026, will be assigned to the County Court division corresponding to the first letter of the last name of the defendant as follows:

   Division 3 – A-E, I, U
   Division 4 – M, O-T, V-Z
   Division 5 – F-H, J-L, N

3. Criminal cases filed before May 31, 2026, with court dates set after June 1, 2026, will be reassigned to their new divisions by alphabet, and new notices must be sent by the Clerk.
4. Criminal cases involving co-defendants will be assigned to the division corresponding to the first listed defendant.
5. When there are multiple cases involving multiple defendants charged in connection with a single related event, all cases will be assigned to the division corresponding to the first listed defendant of the first case filed (lowest open case).
6. Where a defendant in a new case already has a pending misdemeanor or criminal traffic case, the new case will be assigned to the same division assigned to the pending case(s), unless the pending case(s) or the new case involves co-defendants or multiple defendants in connection with a single related event. In this circumstance, the new case will be assigned pursuant to paragraphs 4 or 5 above, as appropriate.
7. The Office of the State Attorney (SAO) is required to inform the Clerk at or before arraignment of the case relationships between co-defendants and multiple defendant cases so that the appropriate division assignment is made.
8. In all instances where the SAO is contemplating the filing of a case outside its normal alphabetical assignment, other than as permitted by paragraphs 4-6, it shall request such assignment by the County Court Administrative Judge, in writing, with copies to opposing counsel, or if unrepresented by counsel, to the defendant or defendants. In such instances, the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge’s designee, upon consultation with the County Court Administrative Judge and consideration of the written request, shall make the final decision.
9. In the unusual circumstance in which the Office of the Public Defender, private defense counsel, or a pro se defendant believe a co-defendant or multiple defendant related cases should be assigned to more than one judge, respective counsel or defendant may request such assignment by the County Court Administrative Judge in writing, with copies to opposing counsel, counsel for the other defendants, or if unrepresented by counsel to the other defendant(s). In such instances, the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge’s designee, upon consultation with the County Court Administrative Judge and consideration of the written request, shall make the final decision.
10. Where a defendant has previously been sentenced to probation and is subject to a violation of probation proceeding based upon a new charge, any proceeding initiated by the State upon the new charge will be assigned by the Clerk to the same division assigned to the violation of probation proceeding.
11. All re-filed or reopened criminal cases will be assigned to the division assigned to the previously dismissed or disposed case.

County Civil cases

12. County Civil cases will be assigned to County Divisions 1 and 2 by equal blind assignment.

Small Claims cases

13. Small Claims cases filed on or after May 31, 2026, will be assigned by equal blind assignment across Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 5.
14. Of the Small Claims cases filed before May 31, 2026 (presently assigned to County Divisions 1 and 2), twenty-five percent (25%) of those cases will be reassigned to Division 3 and twenty-five percent (25%) of those cases will be reassigned to Division 5. The clerk shall reassign those cases; however, if a case has a hearing or trial date with a Division 1 or Division 2 judge scheduled on or after June 1, 2026 (excluding all Small Claims Pretrial hearing dates, small claims mediations, or a hearing with the General Magistrate), the case shall remain in its current division and not be reassigned to Division 3 or 5.

Civil Traffic and Code Enforcement cases

15. Civil traffic cases and code enforcement cases filed on or before May 31, 2026, will be reassigned to Division 4.
16. All new civil traffic cases and code enforcement cases filed after May 31, 2026, will be assigned to Division 4.

Summary of Divisions

17. The caseload of each Division is as follows:

    1. Division 1: 50% county civil; 25% small claims
    2. Division 2: 50% county civil; 25% small claims
    3. Division 3: criminal letters A-E, I, U; 25% small claims
    4. Division 4: criminal letters M, O-T, V-Z; all civil traffic and code enforcement cases
    5. Division 5: criminal letters F-H, J-L, N; 25% small claims
18. Exceptions to this Administrative Order may be made at the discretion of the Chief Judge.
19. To the extent that this Administrative Order may conflict with any rule, law, or statute, the rule, law, or statute shall prevail.
20. This Administrative Order is effective June 1, 2026.

Done and Ordered in Chambers in Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida on April 17, 2026.

Diana L. Moreland, Chief Judge