Divisions
The Middle District of Florida has five divisions: Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Tampa. Each division has its own courthouse and clerk's office. The rules on where to file a civil case, where a criminal case will be docketed, the circumstances under which the court may transfer a case to another division, and the counties in each division follow.
| Division | Counties Served |
|---|---|
| Fort Myers | Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee |
| Jacksonville | Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Union |
| Ocala | Citrus, Lake, Marion, Sumter |
| Orlando | Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia |
| Tampa | Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota |
Civil Cases
Under Local Rule 1.04(b):
"A party must begin an action in the division to which the action is most directly connected or in which the action is most conveniently advanced. The judge must transfer the action to the division most consistent with the purpose of this rule."
Criminal Cases
Under Local Rule 1.04(c):
"Unless otherwise provided by law, the United States must begin a criminal action in a division in which at least one defendant committed a charged offense. The judge must transfer the action to the division to which the action is most directly connected or in which the action is most conveniently advanced."