IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
Administrative Order No.
GAO 2023-029
IN RE:GAO 2023-029 GENERAL ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024
IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL Crncurr OF FLORIDA GENERAL ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES No. 2023- 029 JANUARY 1, 2024 -JUNE 30, 2024
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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 2.2l 5(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
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| Columbia Countv | ||
| Civil | Judge Melissa G. Olin1
 Judge MarkE. Feagle 2 |
One half of all civil cases and forfeiture cases’ Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Feagle, then Judge Douglas                                       .
One half of all civil cases and forfeiture cases• Disqualifications and recusals to Jud1se Olin, Jud1se Dou1slas |
| Criminal | Judge Melissa G. Olin1
 Judge Leandra G. Johnson |
Division A: All felony cases in which defendant’s last name begins with the letters A-K
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Leandra Johnson  Division B: All felony cases in which defendant’s last name begins with the letters L-Z Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Olin |
| Family | Judge Wesley R. Douglas3 | Domestic relations, injunctions for protection and DOR cases in which petitioner’s last name begins with the letters L-Z; Marchman and Baker Acts; and Risk Protection Orders Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Koberlein then Judge Feagle |
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| Judge Fred | Domestic Relations, injunctions for protection, and DOR | |
| Koberlein, Jr. | cases in which petitioner’s last name begins with the letters
A-K |
|
| Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Douglas, then Judge Feagle | ||
| Judge Mark E. Feagle 2 | Probate and guardianship
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Douglas then Judge Koberlein |
|
| Judge Leandra G. Johnson | Delinquency; TIPP and truancy; and dependency
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Douglas, then Judge Koberlein |
|
| Dixie County | ||
| Civil | Judge Mark E. Feagle · 2 | Civil foreclosures, complex cases pursuant to Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.201, Eminent Domain and inmate civil cases.
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jennifer Johnson, then Judge Blue |
| Acting Circuit Judge Jennifer J. Johnson | All remaining civil cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Feagle |
|
| Criminal | Judge Mark Feagle
   Acting Circuit Judge Jennifer J. Johnson |
All felony motions, pretrials and trials Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jennifer Johnson, then Judge Fina
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All felony arraignments and violations of probation Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Feagle, then Judge Fina |
| Family | Judge Mark Feagle 2
  Acting Circuit Judge Jennifer J. Johnson |
Domestic relations and DOR cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jennifer Johnson, then Judge Blue Â
Injunctions for protection, juvenile delinquency; dependency; truancy; Marchman and Baker Acts; probate and guardianship; and Risk Protection Orders Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Feagle |
| Hamilton Countv | ||
| Civil | Judge Fred Koberlein, Jr | All civil cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Olin, then Judge Tyndal |
| Criminal | Judge Melissa G. Olin | All felony cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Tyndal then Judge Koberlein |
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| Family | Judge Fred Koberlein, Jr
  Acting Circuit Judge Jamie Tyndal 4 |
Domestic relations and DOR cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Olin, then Judge Tyndal Â
Probate and guardianship, injunctions for protection; Juvenile delinquency; dependency; truancy/TIPP, Marchman and Baker Acts; and Risk Protection Orders Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Olin, then Judge Koberlein |
| Lafayette County | ||
| Civil | Judge David W. Fina 5
 Acting Circuit Judge Darren K. Jackson |
Inmate civil cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jackson, then Judge Jennifer Johnson  All remaining civil cases Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then Judge Jennifer Johnson |
| Criminal | Judge David W. Fina 5 | All felony cases.
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jackson, then Judge Jennifer Johnson |
| Family | Judge David W. Fina 5
 Acting Circuit Judge Darren K. Jackson |
DOR cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jackson, then Judge Jennifer Johnson  Domestic relations; injunctions for protection; juvenile delinquency; dependency; Marchman and Baker Acts; Risk Protection Orders; and probate and guardianship Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then to Judge Jennifer Johnson |
| Madison Countv | ||
| Civil and Criminal | Judge Wesley R. Douglas 3 | All civil and felony cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Browning, then Judge Parker |
| Family | Judge Wesley R. Douglas 3 | Domestic relations and DOR cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Browning, then Judge Parker |
| Acting Circuit Judge E. Bailey Browning 6 | Injunctions for protection; Juvenile delinquency; dependency;
Risk Protection Orders; probate and guardianship; and Marchman and Baker Acts Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Douglas, then Judge Parker |
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| Suwannee Countv | ||
| Civil | Judge David W. Fina 5 | All civil cases
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jennifer K. Griffin, then Judge Feagle |
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| Criminal | Judge David W. Fina 6
  Judge Mark E. Feagle2 |
Felony cases (Division A) cases in which the defendant’s last name begins with the letters A-K
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Feagle, then Judge Jennifer K. Griffin Â
Felony cases (Division B) cases in which the defendant’s last name begins with the letters L-Z Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then Judge Jennifer K. Griffin |
|
| Family | Judge David W. Fina 6 | Domestic relations cases in which petitioner’s last name begins with the letters A-K and injunctions for protection if companion to a domestic relations case assigned to Judge Fina Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Koberlein, then Judge Jennifer K. Griffin | |
| Judge Frederick L. Koberlein | Injunctions for Protection and domestic relations cases in which petitioner’s last name begins with the letters L-Z; Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then Judge Jennifer K. Griffin | ||
| Acting Circuit Judge Jennifer K. Griffin | Probate and guardianship; DOR cases; juvenile delinquency; juvenile dependency; truancy; and Marchman and Baker Acts; and Risk Protection Orders
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then Judge Koberlein |
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| Tavlor Countv | |||
| Civil | Judge Greg S. Parker
  Acting Circuit Judge Bill Blue |
All civil except ejectment cases.
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Jackson  Ejectment cases. Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Parker, then Judge Jackson |
|
| Criminal | Judge Greg S. Parker
  Acting Circuit Judge Bill Blue |
All felony motions, pretrials and trials
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Jackson  All felony arraignments and violations of probation Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Parker, then Judge Jackson |
|
| Family | Judge Greg S. Parker
  Acting Circuit Judge |
Domestic relations; DOR cases; juvenile dependency; and probate and guardianship
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Jackson
Marchman and Baker Acts; Risk Protection Orders; Juvenile delinquency; truancy; and injunctions for protection. |
|
 Bill Blue         Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Parker, then Judge Jackson
Standing orders of recusal:
1 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.
2 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.
3 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Wesley Douglas pursuant to the above, and in which the Douglas & Douglas law firm, The Law Office of Duane E. Thomas, 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.
4 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Jaime Tyndal pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Rickerson Legal, P.A 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 David W. Fina pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Cole, Scott & Kissane, Wicker Smith Law Firm, 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.
6 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.
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 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
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| Columbia County | Judge Sara J. Carter1 | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
County criminal disqualifications and recusals to Judge Leandra G. Johnson. County civil disqualifications and recusals will be assigned to the other county judges on a rotating basis |
| Dixie County | Judge Jennifer J. Johnson | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Blue, then Judge Feagle |
| Hamilton County | Judge Jamie Tyndal 2 | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals, to Judge Olin, then to Judge Koberlein |
| Lafayette County | Judge Darren K. Jackson | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Jennifer Johnson, then to Jud1<e Fina |
| Madison County | Judge E. Bailey Browning 3 | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Tyndal, then Judge Dourzlas |
| Suwannee County | Judge Jennifer K. Griffin | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Fina, then Judge Tyndal |
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| Taylor County | Judge Bill Blue | First appearance; misdemeanor; traffic; county civil; and small claims
Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Parker, then to Judge Jackson |
| Standing orders of recusal:
1 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Sara Carter pursuant to the above, and in which the law firms of Douglas & Douglas, Darby, Peele & Greene or Seifert Law Firm, P.A. represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for her recusals as outlined above. 2 Cases that would be assigned to Judge Jaime Tyndal pursuant to the above, and in which the law firm of Rickerson Legal, P.A represent a party, shall automatically be assigned by the clerk to the judge responsible for her recusals as outlined above. 3 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. |
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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
| Name of Officer | Title | Duties and/or Venue |
| Stephen P. Johnson | Child Support Hearing Officer | DOR/Title IV-D child support hearings in all counties |
| Christina Seifert | Civil Traffic Hearing
Officer |
Columbia County civil traffic infraction hearings |
| TBD | General Magistrate | Mortgage foreclosure; probate and guardianship; juvenile dependency, and pro se domestic relations cases as specifically assigned in all
counties |
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 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.
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 divisionis unavailable, the Chief Judge sha ll assign a judge to hear the case or cases pursuant to this order. This judge will be the next available circuit judg e 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 28th day of December 2023.
Melissa Gates Olin, Chief Judge
Otiginal: 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
Paiinership for Families GAL
All JA’ s
Third Circuit Clerks of Court Third Circuit Staff
State Attorney’s Office Public Defender’ s Office Regional Conflict Counsel DCF
Paiinership for Families GAL
