WHEREAS, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.250 establishes reasonable time standards for the completion of original actions filed in the trial courts;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the foregoing, this Court issued Administrative Order No. 25-08 regarding Implementation of Civil Differentiated Case Management to provide effective, early, and continuous control of case processing to ensure faire and prompt resolution of original actions as required by Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.545;

WHEREAS, the implementation of active case management pursuant to Administrative Order 25-08 has been effective in managing docket size and progressing original actions to a fair and prompt conclusion;

WHEREAS, upon the conclusion of an action either by final judgment, settlement, or dismissal, and after the time for rehearing and appeal has passed, the matter is disposed, and the Clerk of the Court closes the action on the Clerk’s case management system;

WHEREAS, after the action is closed, if a party files a post-disposition motion in the action, the record activity triggers the reopening of the action in the Clerk’s system without any mechanism to actively case manage the reopened matter;

WHEREAS, when a post-disposition motion reopens an action and the filing party fails to take any action to proceed on the motion, the action will remain open and languish, unmanaged without any case management guidelines;

WHEREAS, these reopened and unmanaged actions unnecessarily burden the resources of the Court and the Clerk of the Court; and

WHEREAS, the procedures provided herein are intended to assist the participants to proactively manage their time and resources and to avoid unnecessarily burdening the resources of the Court and the Clerk of the Court;

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida under Article V, section 2(d) of the Florida Constitution, sections 40.001 and 43.26, Florida Statutes, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215, and Florida Rule of Civil Procedure Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.200,

IT IS ORDERED:

I. This Administrative Order governs all civil actions that have been previously disposed of and closed, but in which a post-disposition motion for relief has been filed, and as a result thereof, the record reflects that the action has been “reopened” on or after the effective date of this Order.

II. For any such reopened action where a post-disposition motion remains on the record for more than 60 days and said motion has not been resolved by an agreed order, or no notice of hearing on said motion has been filed, the Court will determine that said motion has been abandoned and enter an order denying the motion.

III. Upon the denial of such post-disposition motion, the Clerk of the Court will administratively close the case without further order of the Court.

IV. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until modified or rescinded.
DONE AND ORDERED this 11th day of June 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS, the amendments to Rule 3.190, effective July 13, 2026, clarify the timing and content requirements for pretrial motions to dismiss charging documents, including those asserting Stand Your Ground immunity pursuant to section 776.032, Florida Statutes, and motions to suppress evidence or statements;

WHEREAS, the amendments to Rule 3.190 reinforce the trial judge’s scheduling authority, promote orderly and predictable pretrial practice, and protect against last-minute dismissal attempts that could disrupt trial settings without a compelling justification; and

WHEREAS, in order to streamline the procedures for timing and enforcement of pretrial motions in the criminal divisions of Seminole County;

IT IS ORDERED:

I. MOTIONS TO DISMISS:

1. All motions to dismiss a charging document, including Stand Your Ground motions, must be filed no later than:
   1. 180 days after the charging document is filed for felony cases, and
   2. 90 days after the charging document is filed for misdemeanor cases.
2. The trial judge must dismiss any motion to dismiss that is not filed before the deadline set forth above, unless otherwise modified by the trial judge by court order in a particular case, or unless the defendant demonstrates good cause for the delay or the motion is based on fundamental grounds.

II. MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS:

1. All motions to suppress evidence or statements must be filed no later than:
   1. 180 days after the charging document is filed for felony cases, and
   2. 90 days after the charging document is filed for misdemeanor cases.
2. The trial judge must dismiss any motion to suppress that is not filed before the deadline set forth above, unless otherwise modified by the trial judge by court order in a particular case, or unless the defendant demonstrates good cause for the delay or the State does not object.

III. To the extent any individual judicial policies and procedures conflict with this Order, the provisions of this Order and the amendments to Rule 3.190 prevail.

IV. This Administrative Order shall take effect on July 13, 2026, the effective date for the amendments to Rule 3.190, and remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED this 11th day of June 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS, section 45.031(10), Florida Statutes, authorizes the Clerk of the Court to conduct judicial sales of real or personal property by electronic means;

WHEREAS, the Clerk of the Court for Brevard County has determined that conducting judicial foreclosure sales through a secure internet-based auction platform will enhance public accessibility, promote transparency, increase administrative efficiency, and improve the orderly processing of cases; and

WHEREAS, transitioning from on-site judicial foreclosure auctions to online electronic auctions will reduce security concerns and logistical burdens associated with in-person sales while maintaining compliance with statutory notice and publication requirements;

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Effective September 1, 2026, the Clerk of the Court for Brevard County is authorized to conduct judicial foreclosure sales of real property by electronic means in lieu of on-site public auctions.
2. All judicial foreclosure sales shall be conducted online at https://brevard.realforeclose.com at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on designated sale dates.

• This Administrative Order applies to all Final Judgments of Foreclosure and related orders entered on or after the effective date of this Order.

45. All Notices of Sale published pursuant to section 45.031, Florida Statutes, for sales occurring on or after the effective date of this Order shall state that the sale will be conducted online and shall include the internet address of the auction site and the date and time of sale.
46. The Clerk shall establish procedures for bidder registration, deposit of required funds (including the statutory five (5) percent deposit), collection of the electronic sale fee authorized by section 45.3, Florida Statutes, and issuance of Certificates of Sale and Certificates of Title.
47. Bidders must register with the online auction platform and comply with all deposit requirements prior to participating in the judicial foreclosure sale. The online sale may proceed regardless of whether the plaintiff appears or participates.

• Bidders who disrupt the Clerk’s online auction—along with any corporation, partnership, business, or nonprofit organization under whose name they bid—will be barred from participating in future online auctions for two consecutive auction dates. Continued disruptive behavior may result in a permanent ban from the auction process.
• Defaulting bidders create avoidable inefficiencies and impose significant operational burdens on the court. In the event of a second default, the bidder will be banned from participating in future online auctions for two consecutive auction dates.  For a third default, the bidder will be banned from participating in future online auctions for two years.  Each subsequent default beyond the third will result in an additional two-year disqualification period.

1. Online judicial foreclosure sales conducted pursuant to this Administrative Order shall not require the physical presence of any party, attorney, or bidder at the courthouse.
2. To the extent any prior administrative order or local practice is inconsistent with this Order, this Order shall control.
3. This Administrative Order shall take effect on September 1, 2026, and shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED this 30^th day of April, 2026. 

MELANIE CHASE

CHIEF JUDGE

Judge Christina Serrano’s Juvenile Delinquency pending caseload will be reassigned to Judge Katie Jacobus and will remain at the Melbourne Courthouse effective April 1, 2026.

DONE and ORDERED this 27th day of March 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS, in order to maximize the efficient administration of justice and judicial labor in Brevard County in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, and to ensure timely and prompt disposition of Circuit Juvenile Delinquency matters;

IT IS ORDERED:

1. The Honorable Katie Jacobus, a qualified county court judge in Brevard County, is hereby temporarily assigned to supplement and aid the circuit judges in Brevard County by hearing, conducting, and determining all matters in the Circuit Juvenile Delinquency division in Brevard County.
2. This cross-assignment to the Circuit Juvenile Delinquency division is to aid and assist this specific division in Brevard County on a temporary basis. This assignment is for sixty (60) days in duration. Wild v. Dozier, 672 So. 2d 16 (Fla. 1996); Crusoe v. Rowls, 472 So. 2d 1163 (Fla. 1985).
3. Judge Katie Jacobus will preside over the Circuit Juvenile Delinquency division at the Melbourne Courthouse, 51 Neiman Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901.
4. When conducting Circuit Juvenile Delinquency division matters, the 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 division so assigned, as deemed necessary and appropriate.
5. This Administrative Order shall be in effect for a period of sixty (60) days from the date of its rendition.

DONE and ORDERED this 21^st day of May 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

IT IS ORDERED:

I. DISSOLUTION:
Effective April 1, 2026, Judge Katie Jacobus’ County Court Criminal Division is hereby dissolved.

II. REASSIGNMENT OF PENDING CASES:
The Clerk of Court shall evenly and randomly reassign all pending criminal cases currently assigned to Judge Katie Jacobus to the following County Court Criminal Judges:

A. Judge Kelly Ingram, Division 2
B. Judge David Koenig, Division 5
C. Judge Thomas Brown, Division 6
D. Judge Jonathan Skinner, Division 7
E. Judge Benjamin Garagozlo, Division 8

DONE AND ORDERED this 27th day of March 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

IT IS ORDERED that because this program is no longer available, the following Administrative Order is hereby rescinded:

26-07-B Supersedes 21-22-B Amended In RE: Jail – Farm Time – Alternative to Incarceration Program (ATIP)

DONE AND ORDERED this 27th day of February 2026.

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida deemed these concerns valid and determining that a consistent statewide approach is best to address these concerns, and has issued In re Amendments to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515, No. SC2026-0673 (Fla. May 28, 2026); and

WHEREAS, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida has issued AOSC26-12 directing circuits to operate under the authority of the amended rule, 2.515(d)(2), effective June 15, 2026.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chief Judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration, 2.215,

IT IS ORDERED:
Administrative Order 26-10 is hereby rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED this 1st day of June, 2026

MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE

WHEREAS, the Florida Supreme Court has adopted a Uniform Case Numbering System to ensure consistency, accuracy, and clarity in the identification and management of court cases statewide; and

WHEREAS, uniform clerk procedures regarding the assignment, maintenance, and modification of case numbers are necessary to promote the efficient administration of justice within Seminole County;

IT IS ORDERED:

1. Uniform Case Numbering – The Clerk of Court for Seminole County shall assign case numbers in strict compliance with the Uniform Case Numbering System approved by the Florida Supreme Court, as it exists now or may be amended in the future.
2. Initial Assignment of Cases – All newly filed cases shall be assigned a case number by the Clerk at the time of filing that accurately reflects:
   1. the proper court type designation;
   2. the filing year; and
   3. any other elements required by the Uniform Case Numbering System.
3. Correction or Modification of Case Numbers – The Clerk may correct clerical or administrative errors in case numbering without further court order when such correction is necessary to conform the case number to the Uniform Case Numbering System, provided that:
   1. no substantive rights of any party are affected;
   2. the disposition of a case opened in error is to reflect as a dismissal; and
   3. the correction is clearly documented in the case record. Such clerical or administrative errors include cases opened in error. The Clerk is not to reuse case numbers of cases opened in error that are subsequently closed. Any substantive change to a case number, division, or judicial assignment that is not purely clerical shall be made only upon court order or as otherwise authorized by law or administrative order.
4. Case Number Reassignment and Related Clerk Procedures – Nothing in this Administrative Order shall be construed to:
   1. alter judicial authority regarding case number assignment or reassignment;
   2. supersede any division-specific administrative orders; or
   3. conflict with an order entered by the Chief Judge, Administrative Judge, or presiding judge in a particular case. The Clerk shall implement any reassignment or modification of cases only as authorized by court order or applicable administrative directive.
5. Effective Date – This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED this 17th day of February 2026.

MELANIE CHASE

CHIEF JUDGE

1. Detention Review Hearings: The Clerk of Court shall schedule all juvenile detention review hearings to be conducted by a juvenile judge the next business day following a weekend. Juvenile detention review hearings shall begin at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays (with the exception of holidays) in courtroom JJC1, unless otherwise directed by the presiding juvenile judge. 
2. Shelter Review Hearings: The Clerk of Court shall schedule all juvenile shelter review hearings to be conducted by a juvenile judge the next business day following a weekend. Juvenile shelter review hearings shall begin at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays (with the exception of holidays) in courtroom JJC2, unless otherwise directed by the presiding juvenile judge.
3. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until modified or rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED this 9th day of February 2026.
________________________________
MELANIE CHASE
CHIEF JUDGE