25-39-S IN RE: JUDGES - TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF SENIOR COUNTY COURT JUDGE JERRY L. BREWER TO CONDUCT INJUNCTION HEARINGS - ORDERED 10/14/2025 BY MELANIE CHASE
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article V, section 2(b) of the Florida Constitution, and Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.205(a)(2)(B)(iii) and (a)(3)(A), the supreme court chief justice has the power to assign active or retired county judges to temporary duty in any court for which the judge is qualified to serve, and to delegate to a chief judge of a judicial circuit the power to assign judges for duty in that circuit;
WHEREAS, on September 24, 2025, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida assigned and designated The Honorable Jerry L. Brewer for statewide judicial service, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, and authorized him to hear, conduct, try, and determine the causes presented to him upon approval by the chief judge, and thereafter to dispose of all matters considered by him;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215(b)(4), the chief judge may assign any judge to temporary service for which the judge is qualified “in any court in the same circuit;”
WHEREAS, pursuant to In re Report and Recommendations of Committee on Appointment and Assignment of Senior Judges, 847 So. 2d 415 (Fla. 2003), the chief judge has “maximum flexibility in making assignments of senior judges,” and a senior judge is not prohibited from serving in a court superior to the court in which the judge had been elected or appointed;
WHEREAS, the Family Division for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Seminole County, Florida, is currently comprised of two circuit court divisions, Division K and Division L;
WHEREAS, the Family Division conducts “Injunction Hearings,” defined herein as hearings on Petitions for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence, Repeat Violence, Sexual Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking (which includes Cyberstalking pursuant to section 784.0485(1), Florida Statutes);
WHEREAS, in order to maximize the efficient administration of justice and judicial labor in the Family Division of Seminole County, and to ensure timely and prompt disposition of petitions for injunction;
It is hereby ORDERED:
- The Honorable Jerry L. Brewer, a qualified senior county court judge in Seminole County, is hereby temporarily assigned to supplement and aid the circuit judges assigned to the Family Division in Seminole County by conducting Injunction Hearings wherein the involved parties do not have a related, active family law case.
- This cross-assignment to the Family Division is to aid and assist the Family Division in Seminole County on a temporary basis only. Wild v. Dozier, 672 So. 2d 16 (Fla. 1996); Crusoe v. Rowls, 472 So. 2d 1163 (Fla. 1985). Judge Brewer will preside over these matters at the Downtown Sanford Civil Courthouse located at 301 North Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771.
- The service of this senior county court judge in the Family Division is restricted to a specific, limited class of cases; specifically, only Injunction Hearings that do not have a related, active family matter between the parties.
- This assignment is necessary to provide additional judicial resources to promptly hear and dispose of petitions for injunction. The purpose of this temporary assignment is to assist and supplement, not to be a permanent assignment that usurps, supplants, or replaces a circuit judge in the Family Division in Seminole County.
- When conducting Injunction Hearings, the senior county court judge assigned in this Order shall have all powers and authority of a circuit judge in every respect. This authority includes, but is not limited to, the issuing of orders in the circuit court assigned to the Family Division, as deemed necessary and appropriate.
- This Administrative Order shall be effective from the date of signing through September 30, 2026.
DONE AND ORDERED this 14th day of October 2025.
MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE