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From Territories to Terrorism: Jacksonville Division

In the early 1800s, Florida was a United States territory. It had two superior courts, one in Saint Augustine for East Florida, and the other in Pensacola for West Florida. Like all other states at the time, Florida had only one federal court district when it became a state in 1845.

Florida later was divided into Northern and Southern Districts. Jacksonville was part of the Southern District. The district's few judges traveled from courthouse to courthouse around the state to hear and to resolve cases.

 
Florida's newest federal court district has grown into one of the busiest in the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Creation of the Middle District

By the 1960s, the caseload of the Southern District had risen dramatically, and the district suffered the largest backlog of cases in the nation. In 1962, Congress approved the creation of the Middle District of Florida, the first new federal court district created since 1928. The caseload of the Middle District surpassed that of the Southern District in its first decade.

A state map illustrating the courthouse locations of the Middle District of Florida.

The Jacksonville Federal CourthousesA state map illustrating the courthouse locations of the Middle District of Florida.

The original Jacksonville federal courthouse was built in 1895 on Forsyth Street at the northeast corner of Hogan Street.

In 1933, the court moved into the four-story art deco landmark still standing at 311 West Monroe Street. This imposing courthouse symbolized the emerging importance of the federal government throughout the United States. The Monroe Street building was the home of the federal court until 2003, when this courthouse was completed.