BREVARD COUNTY – Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts

2025 Admin Order 26-23-b

Web Manager — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 14:36:10 +0000

CREATION OF DIVISIONS: The Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Brevard County consists of four divisions designated as Domestic Relations. One of the judges serving in the Domestic Relations Division shall be appointed as Administrative Judge by the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF JUDGES: The judge of each Domestic Relations Division shall be responsible for the progress and conduct of all cases assigned to that division from inception to conclusion, including, but not limited to, pretrial, trial, and post-trial motions, and shall exercise supervision over the preparation of all calendars and dockets of cases assigned to the division.
ASSIGNMENT OF CIRCUIT DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES: The Clerk of the Court shall programmatically assign, on a rotation, all Domestic Relations cases including the Domestic Violence Injunction cases (excluding non-domestic violence injunction cases) to the four Domestic Relations Divisions located at the Moore Justice Center in Viera, Florida.
ASSIGNMENT OF CIRCUIT NON-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INJUNCTION CASES: Effective July 1, 2026, the Clerk of the Court shall assign all Non-Domestic Violence Injunction cases to Judge Katie Jacobus, Division 11, located at the Melbourne Courthouse.
COORDINATION OF RELATED CASES: All related Domestic Relations cases must continue to follow the order for the Model Family Court pursuant to Administrative Order 24-14.
JUDGE/DIVISION REASSIGNMENTS: Upon Judge/Division reassignments, Domestic Relations cases that are unresolved and pending shall remain with the division currently assigned. The case will not follow the currently assigned judge; rather, the case will remain with the division, and the new judge assuming the division will be assigned the case.
DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE: The Administrative Judge of the Domestic Relations Division, in addition to those duties specifically assigned herein, shall be responsible for the general supervision of that department and shall perform those administrative duties necessary to its efficient and effective operation in conformity with the applicable policies, procedures, and rules governing the administration of that department as contemplated by Rule 2.215(b)(5), Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration..
The Clerk of the Court is directed to modify its procedures as necessary to implement this Order.

DONE AND ORDERED this 28^th day of May 2026.

MELANIE CHASE

CHIEF JUDGE

Additional Information:

2024 Admin Order 24-28-b

Web Manager — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:33:49 +0000

EXCERPT: “WHEREAS the Chief Judge “shall regulate the use of all court facilities,” as provided in 2.215(b)(7), Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration; IT IS ORDERED that all locked jury restrooms are to be used only by the jurors or as any Judge directs. (Open AO for more information.)”

1999 Admin Order 99-27-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:31:59 +0000

EXCERPT: “From time to time, there are inmates in the Brevard County Detention Center who have been arrested pursuant to Writs of Bodily Attachments issued in family law cases for failure to appear and show cause at enforcement hearings concerning child support, alimony or attorneys’ fees.
IT IS ORDERED:
1. The First Appearance Judge shall see all such inmates and shall give effect to any purge amount set forth in the Writ of Bodily Attachment; and if there is no stated purge amount, then the First Appearance Judge shall set a purge amount, if appropriate. Additionally, the First Appearance Judge shall enter an Order for the arrestee to appear before the appropriate judge or hearing officer within 48 hours as designated by the chief judge. Prior to the end of the next business day after said First Appearance, the Clerk of the Court shall telephonically advise said judge’s judicial assistant or hearing officer of said person’s incarceration and forthwith send the judge or hearing officer and all parties in the case a copy of the Writ of Bodily Attachment, together with Form 923.01.
2. The Jail Oversight Review Committee shall immediately commence to monitor the above-described inmates and report to the judge or hearing officer whose order led to the arrest, any inmate who has been confined for 48 hours.
3. This order does not apply to inmates who are confined pursuant to Court Orders finding them to be in contempt of court and imposing a jail sentence without an opportunity to purge (criminal contempt) or imposing a jail sentence with an opportunity to purge (civil contempt).
Done and Ordered this 8th day of September 1999.”

1995 Admin Order 95-25-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:29:04 +0000

EXCERPT: “WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has enacted Section 948.08(6)(a), Florida Statutes (1993), enabling the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida to approve a Pre-Trial Substance Abuse Education and Intervention Program; and . . . (Open AO for more information.)”

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1986 Admin Order 86-34-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:26:50 +0000

EXCERPT: “The 1975 legislature abolished misdemeanor probation services to County Courts previously furnished by Florida Probation and Parole. The Salvation Army provided such services in Brevard County until August 18, 1986. Effective that date, the “Court Services Program” was created by the Brevard County Commission to assume probation services for Misdemeanants placed on probation. It is thereupon (Open AO for more information.)”

1985 Admin Order 85-12-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:26:43 +0000

It appears to the Court that attorneys in felony trials are requesting jury instructions orally or by typed sheet containing only the instruction numbers. This is an unsatisfactory practice. It is thereupon ORDERED as follows:

That effective September 1, 1985, attorneys representing the State of Florida and Defendants in felony criminal cases in Brevard County, shall each prepare and present to the trial Judge, a complete set of typed final jury instructions which the attorneys wish the Court to give.
Said instructions shall be typed on separate sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper and shall not contain citations of authority, since the instructions may, in the Court’s discretion, be both read and submitted to the jury.

ORDERED at Rockledge, Brevard County, Florida, this 18th day of September 1985.

1983 Admin Order 83-1-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:26:31 +0000

Having been advised of the fact that certain investigative reports and other instruments relating to adoptions are occasionally filed subsequent to the entry of the Final Judgment after the court files have been sealed, the court is of the opinion that it is necessary to preserve the confidentiality of such proceedings pursuant to Chapter 63 Section 162 – 2024 Florida Statutes; it is therefore ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the following persons, to wit:

Michael Karas, Civil Law Coordinator
Patricia Smith, Civil Law Supervisor
Loraine Harrison, Family Law Supervisor,
or their successors,

as employees of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Brevard County, Florida, are authorized to insert into each appropriate court file any and all loose pleadings relating to an adoptive proceeding requiring such action and then reseal, sign, and note the date when this function is performed.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Rockledge, Florida, this 13th day of January 1983.

2020 Admin Order 20-26-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:23:00 +0000

EXCERPT: ” Whereas the Administrative Orders from the Florida Supreme Court and the Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit have authorized changes to court procedures due to the current public health emergency; Whereas, consistent with the said Administrative Orders, precautions are required with respect to large volume proceedings such as small claims pretrial conferences; Whereas Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) may be employed to reduce the number of persons assembling for small claims pretrial conferences and, thereby, and promote public health; and,
Whereas Brevard County has initiated a pilot program of ODR which is currently operated free of charge. Therefore, it is ORDERED that, (Open AO for more information.)”

2016 Admin Order 16-37

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:13:01 +0000

EXCERPT: “In 1990 the Florida Supreme Court held that “every lawyer of this state who is a member of The Florida Bar has an obligation to represent the poor when called upon by the courts and that each lawyer has agreed to that commitment when admitted practicing law in this state.” In Re Amendment to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar-1-3.1(a) and Rules of Judicial Administration-2.065 (Legal Aid), 573 So. 2d. 800, 806 (Fla 1990). Three years later, the Florida Supreme Court promulgated Rule 4-6.5(c) of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar providing for the establishment of a pro bono committee in each circuit. In Re: Amendments to Rules Regulating the Florida Bar-1-3.1(a) and Rules of Rules of Judicial Administration-2.065 (Legal Aid), 630 So. 2d 501 (Fla 1993).

Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215(b)(3) states the chief judge shall “develop an administrative plan for the efficient and proper administration of all courts within that circuit.”

Therefore, in accordance with the authority vested in the Chief Judge by the Florida Rule Judicial Administration 2.215 and Rule Regulating the Florida Bar 4-6.5(c), it is ORDERED: (Open AO for more information.)”

2016 Admin Order 16-21-b

Web Manager — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 21:12:15 +0000

EXCERPT: “WHEREAS there are three General Magistrates able to hear Family Law and other types of cases upon appropriate Orders of Referral, and it is necessary for the proper administration of justice to update the procedures regarding assignment of general magistrates and hearing officers in the Family Division of Brevard County,
By the power vested in the chief judge under article V, section 2(d), Florida constitution, section 43.26, Florida Statutes, and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.215(b)(2), it is therefore ORDERED EFFECTIVE JULY 5, 2016: (Open AO for more information.)”

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