The County Civil and Small Claims Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Brevard County, consists of five divisions designated as Divisions 1, 3, 4, 9, and 10. Division 9 is a newly created division within this court to accommodate an additional judge, helping to balance the high volumes of case filings. One of the judges serving in the County Court shall be appointed as Administrative Judge by the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF JUDGES:

The judge of each County Civil and Small Claims Court 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.

C. ASSIGNMENT OF CASES FOR COUNTY CIVIL COURT (EXCLUDING SMALL CLAIMS):

The Clerk of the Court shall assign County Civil cases to the five County Civil and Small Claims Court Divisions as follows:

1. The Clerk of the Court shall establish a system for the assignment of County Civil cases based the on the zip code of the defendant for each case. The zip code assignment method will provide for a geographical distribution of cases among the judges in two distinct jurisdictions within the County (North Jurisdiction and Central Jurisdiction).
2. The objective is for all County Civil Court Division judges to receive an equal, or near equal, number of cases. Upon the filing of a complaint with the Clerk’s Office, the judge assignment shall be made first by determination of an appropriate jurisdiction by breakdown of zip codes as follows: 
   1. NORTH JURISDICTION – Historic Titusville Courthouse Titusville, FL (Division 1 – Judge Baker): 32754, 32775, 32780, 32781, 32782, 32783, 32796, 32923, 32924, 32926, 32927, 32931, 32959
   2. CENTRAL JURISDICTION – Moore Justice Center Viera, FL (Division 3 – Judge Harrell, Division 4 – Judge Silverman, Division 9 – Judge Peacock, Division 10 – Judge Musselman): 32901, 32902, 32903, 32904, 32905, 32906, 32907, 32908, 32909, 32910, 32911, 32912, 32920, 32922, 32925, 32932, 32934, 32935, 32936, 32937, 32940, 32941, 32948, 32949, 32950, 32951, 32952, 32953, 32954, 32955, 32956, 32976
   3. OUT OF COUNTY (All Divisions/Judges): Any case filings with zip codes that do not fall into the North or Central jurisdiction will be considered Out of County. Case filings with Out of County jurisdiction will be programmatically assigned, on a rotation, between all five County Civil and Small Claims Court judges.
3. Upon determination of proper jurisdiction, judge assignment will occur automatically in the Clerk Case Maintenance System (CMS) based on the programmatic round-robin allocation criteria and configuration within the CMS.

D. ASSIGNMENT OF CASES FOR SMALL CLAIMS COURT:

The Clerk of the Court shall assign Small Claims cases as follows: 

1. The Clerk of the Court shall assign all newly filed North Jurisdiction Small Claims cases to Division 1 – Judge Baker.
2. The Clerk of the Court shall assign all newly filed Central Jurisdiction Small Claims cases to Division 9 – Judge Peacock.
3. The objective for assigning all new Central Jurisdiction Small Claims cases in this manner is to establish an initial caseload for the newly created Division 9. Upon Division 9 establishing a reasonable caseload, or upon further order of the court, the clerk will resume assigning Small Claims cases in accordance with the procedure for assigning all other County Civil cases in the programmatic round-robin manner.

E. DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE:

The Administrative Judge of both the Circuit and County Court Divisions, 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.

F. The Clerk of the Court is directed to modify its procedures as necessary to implement this Order.

G. This Administrative Order is effective October 1, 2025.

DONE AND ORDERED this 6^th day of October, 2025.

MELANIE CHASE

CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS Section 119.071(4)(d)2.e., Florida Statutes, states “The home addresses, dates of birth, and telephone numbers of current or former justices of the Supreme Court, district court of appeal judges, circuit court judges, and county court judges and current judicial assistants; the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and places of employment of the spouses and children of current or former justices and judges and current judicial assistants; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of current or former justices and judges and current judicial assistants are exempt from s. 119.07(1)…”, it is hereby

ORDERED that the information deemed confidential in Section 119.071(4)(d)2.e., Florida Statutes, shall be maintained as such by the Clerk of Court.

DONE AND ORDERED this 23rd day of June 2025

DONE and ORDERED this 10th day of June 2025.

CHARLIE CRAWFORD
CHIEF JUDGE

A. Judge Benjamin B. Garagozlo’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Kristen Smith-Rodriguez, effective July 1, 2025.
B. Judge Steve Henderson’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Kelly J. McKibben, effective July 1, 2025.
C. Judge Charlie Crawford’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Steve Henderson, effective July 1, 2025,
D. Judge Kelly J. McKibben’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Charlie Crawford, effective July 1, 2025.
E. Judge Kimberly Musselman’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Benjamin B. Garagozlo, effective July 1, 2025.

DONE and ORDERED this 21st day of April 2025.

WHEREAS, the Court has the responsibility to preserve the dignity and decorum of the courthouse, the fair administration of justice, and the safety and security of all employees and citizens who enter the courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit;
WHEREAS, within all courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, a danger to existing security measures occurs when recording by electronic devices captures security features that are in place throughout the courthouses, including but not limited to sensitive witnesses such as undercover police officers and protected witnesses who are required to appear in court, and jurors or potential jurors who are required to appear in the courthouse;
WHEREAS, as a result of this danger to existing security measures, it is necessary to prohibit members of the general public from using electronic devices to record within the interior of all courthouses in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit absent specific permission being granted by the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida;
WHEREAS, Rule 2.451(d)(2), Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, states that the “use of electronic devices in a courthouse or court facility is subject at all times to the authority of the chief judge to (A) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; (B) ensure the fair administration of justice; and (C) preserve court security.”
WHEREAS, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in United States v. Hastings, 695 F.2d 1278, 1280 (11th Cir. 1983), recognized that the right of the public to attend trials does not bring with it an accompanying right to televise, record, and broadcast those trials in the same way the United States Supreme Court explicitly rejected the idea that the First Amendment provides for “the right to copy and publish…. exhibits and materials displayed in open court.” Nixon v. Warner Communications, Inc., 435 U.S. 589, 98 S.Ct.1306, at 1317 (1978) (“The requirement of a public trial is satisfied by the opportunity of members of the public and the press to attend the trial and to report what they have observed.”).
WHEREAS, the unfettered ability of the public to record all activity within all public spaces of a courthouse would eviscerate the intended protections of litigants afforded by judges who place reasonable restrictions on those activities within the individual courtrooms of this circuit;
WHEREAS, electronic recording inside any courtroom or hearing room shall continue to be permitted at the discretion of the presiding judge and shall continue to be governed by Rule 2.450, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 6.460(b), Florida Rules of Traffic Court, and all applicable Administrative Orders that are currently in effect and nothing herein shall be construed to affect those practices;
WHEREAS, Chapter 810.08, Florida Statutes provides that any person “having been authorized, licensed, or invited, [who] is warned by the owner or lessee of the premises, or by a person authorized by the owner or lessee, to depart and refuses to do so, commits the offense of trespass in a structure or conveyance.”
NOW THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit and pursuant to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:

1. Any member of the general public who seeks to electronically record within the interior of any state or county courthouse may apply for permission ten (10) days prior to the requested recording date through the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit using the form attached to this Administrative Order as “Attachment A.”
2. Absent permission from the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, members of the general public are prohibited from using electronic devices to record within the interior of any state or county courthouse, annex or judicial structure (hereinafter together “Courthouse Property”) within the boundaries of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Electronic recording shall include taking photographs, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, and telecasting.
3. Other uses of electronic devices shall continue to be governed by Rules 2.450 and 2.451, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, Rule 6.460(b), Florida Rules of Traffic Court, and the authority of the Chief Judge pursuant to Rule 2.451(c)(2), Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
4. A member of the general public who does not have permission to electronically record from the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit who is found to be recording within the Courthouse Property in violation of this Order and who fails to comply with a directive to cease recording, by a person authorized to communicate such directive1, shall be prohibited from remaining within the courthouse until such time as that person is no longer in possession of any electronic and/or recording devices.
5. Such person may be directed to depart the Courthouse Property by a person authorized to communicate such directive. The failure to comply with an order to depart as communicated by a
   (1 For the purposes of this Order a “person authorized to communicate such directive” means either the Chief Judge, Clerk, State Attorney, Public Defender, or their respective designees and agents, as it relates to any “Courthouse Property” over which such party has control.) person authorized to communicate such directive shall constitute trespassing after warning contrary to Florida Statutes Section 810.08 and 810.09, as applicable.
6. Absence from a court proceeding as a result of the violation of this Administrative Order shall not excuse the person from appearing in court as required.
7. This order shall in no way abrogate or amend Rule 2.451, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration or Amended AO 23-22, Administrative Orders 18th Judicial Circuit.
8. Trespass warnings issued pursuant to this Administrative Order shall be limited to the specific Courthouse Property where the violation occurred. A trespass warning pursuant to this section shall not be issued unless the person is first verbally warned that they are violating this Administrative Order on Courthouse Property and asked to cease recording immediately. A trespass warning pursuant to this Order shall not be issued unless the person refuses to abide by a directive to cease recording from person authorized to communicate such directive.
9. The Chief Judge, Clerk, State Attorney, Public Defender, or their respective designee or agent, as it relates to any Courthouse Property over which such party has control, will provide a copy of the trespass warning via U.S. mail or hand delivery to (1) the person given the warning and (2) the Circuit Chief Judge or the Circuit Trial Court Administrator or official having control over the Courthouse Property where the violation occurred. The trespass warning shall include information advising of the right to appeal.
10. This Administrative Order shall be recorded by the Clerks of Court, in the Official Records of both Seminole and Brevard Counties, in the State of Florida, and shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect unless and until otherwise ordered by this Honorable Court.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Viera, Brevard County, Florida, this 15th day of May 2025.

CHARLIE CRAWFORD
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS the Seminole County Drug Testing Laboratory is accessible to all circuit and county courts in Seminole County and will provide on-site testing for clients in all court divisions, including family court, that will ensure quicker results, less travel time, increased access to treatment options, and an increase in public safety for the citizens of Seminole County.  

WHEREAS the Seminole County Drug Testing Laboratory is funded based on fees and grant funding; (Open AO for more information.)”

Additional Information:

• Article V, section 2(d) of the Florida Constitution
• Florida Statutes 43.26
• Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.215
• Seminole County Ordinance No. 2024-32

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida under the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.215, I hereby appoint Trang Goebel to serve as a General Magistrate and as a Support Enforcement Hearing Officer for the Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, to perform her duties in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes, federal law, court rules, and the terms and conditions of the Title IV-D program.
This Order shall take effect January 7, 2025, and shall continue until further order of the Court.

DONE AND ORDERED, this 30th day of December 2024.

A. Judge Jennifer Taylor’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Laura Moody, effective January 2, 2025.
B. Judge Judith Atkins’ pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Katie Jacobus, effective January 7, 2025.
C. Judge Katie Jacobus’ pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Clarissa Harrell, effective January 7, 2025,
D. Judge Kenneth Friedland’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Michelle Baker, effective January 7, 2025.
E. Judge Michelle Baker’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Jonathan Skinner, effective January 7, 2025.
F. Judge Samuel Bookhardt’s pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Michelle Naberhaus, effective January 7, 2025.
G. Judge Michelle Naberhaus’ pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Samuel Bookhardt, effective January 7, 2025.

DONE and ORDERED this 30th day of December 2024.

Additional Information:

• Florida Statutes 39.701, 39.702, 786.1355
• Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Rule 8.255, Rule 8.257(e), (f)