IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA GENERAL ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES No. 2022-19

NOVEMBER 2, 2022 (BEGINNING AT 4:30 PM)-DECEMBER 31, 2022

WHEREAS, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215(b) vests in the Chief Judge the authority and responsibility to implement an administrative plan that will effect the prompt disposition of cases, including the assignment of judges, court officers, and other court personnel;

WHEREAS, rule 2.215(b)(3) also provides that the Chief Judge shall consider the available resources and utilize them in a manner that ensures the efficient and proper administration of all courts within this circuit;

WHEREAS, rule 2.215(b)(4) permits the Chief Judge to assign any judge to temporary service for which the judge is qualified in any court within this circuit;

It is therefore ORDERED:

The judicial assignments for the Third Judicial Circuit are as follows, with the exception of any standing assignment orders entered due to conflicts or recusals, and any special appointments made due to extenuating or exigent circumstances by the Chief Judge that are not in accordance with the below assignments:

CIRCUIT COURT

Columbia County

Civil         Judge Wesley R.            One third of all civil cases

Douglas1                              **Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Bryan, then Judge Feagle

Judge Paul S. Bryan2      One third of all civil cases and forfeiture cases

**Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Feagle, then Judge

Douglas

Judge Mark Feagle3        One third of all civil cases

**Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Douglas, then Judge Brvan

Criminal   Judge Paul Bryan2          Division A: All felony cases in which defendant’s last name

begins with the letters A-K

**Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Leandra Johnson

Judge Leandra G.          Division B: All felony cases in which defendant’s last name Johnson          begins with the letters L-Z

* *Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Brvan

General Assignment Order                                               Page2                                                 November 21 2022 December 31, 2022

General Assignment Order                                                                Page3                                                                  November 21 2022- December 31, 2022

General Assignment Order                                                                Page4                                                November 2, 2022- December 31, 2022

General Assignment Order                                                                Page 5                                                                 November 21 2022- December 31, 2022

Standing orders of recusal:

1 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Wesley Douglas pursuant to the above, and in which the Douglas & Douglas law firm or the law firm of Thomas T. Demas represents a party, or Southern Owners Insurance Company or Auto-Owners Insurance is a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

2 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Paul Bryan pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Joel Foreman; law firm of McRae and McRae a/k/a law firm of McRae and Mc Neill; law firm of Rhett Bullard; law firm of Robinson, Kennon, and Kendron or the Decker Law Firm, represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

3 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Mark Feagle pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Marlin Feagle represents a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

4 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Melissa Olin pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Darby, Peele & Greene represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for her recusals as outlined above.

5 Cases that would be assigned to Judge E. Bailey Browning pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Davis Schnitker, Reeves and Browning, PA, represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

6 Cases that would be assigned to Judge David W. Fina pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Cole, Scott & Kissane or The Fina Law Firm represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

7 Cases that would be assigned to Judge William F. Williams, III pursuant to the above, and in which Andrew J. Decker, III, Andrew J. Decker, IV, Rose Decker Chauncey or Anthony Wade Chauncey represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for his recusals as outlined above.

UNIFIED FAMILY COURT

Family court assignments include unified family court (Division “UFC”) and all family law matters within Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.010. Unified family court matters, which are governed by Administrative Order 2015-002, shall take precedence over other assignments contained in this plan.

Cases involving Petitions for Judicial Waiver of Parental Consent to or Notice of and Consent to Termination of Pregnancy in the Third Judicial Circuit shall be immediately referred to the Chief Judge, who may either handle the matter or assign the case to the family division judges on a rotating basis.

In addition, all county court judges, when acting as circuit judges of the Third Judicial Circuit, are designated as juvenile court judges for the purpose of chapters 39 and 985, Florida

General Assignment Order                                                              Page6                                                                   November 2, 2022 December 31, 2022

Statutes, and may conduct detention or shelter hearings as appropriate. A review pursuant to section 39.402(12), Florida Statutes, shall not be required when the shelter hearing was conducted by a juvenile court judge.

TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY COURT JUDGES AS CIRCUIT JUDGES

Each county court judge in the Third Judicial Circuit is hereby temporarily appointed circuit judge for the Third Judicial Circuit, pursuant to section 26.57, Florida Statutes, and Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.215(b)(4). They are hereby vested with the respective powers and prerogatives conferred by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida as a circuit judge on a temporary basis to hear, conduct, and determine all matters consistent with section 26.012, Florida Statutes, which are presented to them. Additionally, the county court judges are temporarily appointed as circuit court judges to adjudicate any issue pending in any circuit court case in the Third Circuit that will provide prompt disposition of cases and efficiently administer the courts.

COUNTY COURT

SUPPLEMENTAL ASSIGNMENT SUCCESSION

If all steps for disqualification or recusal within a specific county and division are exhausted and a case still needs to be reassigned, all circuit cases will be assigned utilizing an alphabetical rotation of all judges, both circuit and county. County court cases will be assigned using an alphabetical rotation of county judges. Court Administration will be responsible for determining these supplemental assignments. If necessary or appropriate, the case will be assigned by special appointment of the Chief Judge.

JUDICIAL ROTATIONS

Upon an election, an appointment, or any other assignment changes, the entire affected case load, including recusals, transfers to an incoming judge. If there are specific complex cases or cases close to resolution, in the interest of judicial economy and after consultation with the affected judges, the case may remain with the previously assigned judge.

ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY COURT JUDGES OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

TO OTHER COUNTIES WITHIN THE CIRCUIT

As provided in this Order (i.e., certain recusals from one county judge to another county

judge) and when otherwise assigned by specific order of the Chief Judge, the county court judges of the circuit are hereby appointed to hear, conduct, and determine matters of county court jurisdiction that are presented to them in all counties of the circuit.

TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT

OF CIRCUIT JUDGES AS COUNTY COURT JUDGES

All circuit court judges of the Third Judicial Circuit are temporarily appointed to adjudicate any pending issue in any county court case in the Third Judicial Circuit.

JURISDICTION OF

CHILD SUPPORT HEARING OFFICER, CIVIL TRAFFIC INFRACTION HEARING OFFICER, AND GENERAL MAGISTRATE

CONTROL OF DOCKETS

The control of the dockets for the various divisions of court shall rest with the presiding judge at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

INMATE REVIEW

Each County Jail within the Third Judicial Circuit submits their jail population statistics to Court Administration for monthly review.

REGULATION AND USE OF COURTROOMS

Management and use of the courtrooms and associated court space in each of the seven counties of the circuit shall be determined by the Chief Judge in consultation with the local county and circuit judges. Criminal matters will take precedence over civil matters.

General Assignment Order                                                              Page 9                                                                 November 2, 2022- December 31, 2022

PROCEDURE FOR CALENDARING CIRCUIT COURT CASES

All cases under circuit court jurisdiction shall be calendared before the judge assigned to the division in which the case has been filed. When a rule, statute, or procedure mandates expedited judicial action on a matter and the judge assigned to the division is unavailable, the Chief Judge shall assign a judge to hear the case or cases pursuant to this order. This judge will be the next available circuit judge or a county judge in the county of jurisdiction.

This order replaces all prior orders of General Assignment of Judges.                                                                                       ,

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in Columbia County, Florida, on this 22nd  October 2022.

Original: Copies:

Columbia County Clerk of Court All Judges

All JA’s

Third Circuit Clerks of Court Third Circuit Staff

State Attorney’s Office Public Defender’s Office Regional Conflict Counsel DCF

Partnership for Families GAL

Court Administration