The Evolution of the Circuits
The creation of judicial circuits is closely tied to the division of the state into counties. Below, you can explore the evolution of the state of Florida’s circuits historic maps and accompanying descriptions.
A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida
“1868 Constitution (Article V, Section 7). The State shall be divided into seven judicial circuits with one circuit judge appointed to each circuit. Article XVI, Section 3 specifically listed the counties composing the seven judicial circuits as the following:
First Circuit: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson; Second: Gadsden, Liberty, Calhoun, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson; Third: Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, Columbia; Fourth: Nassau, Duval, Baker, Bradford, Clay, St. Johns; Fifth: Putnam, Alachua, Levy, Marion, Sumter; Sixth: Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk, Monroe; Seventh: Volusia, Brevard, Orange, Dade.”
Article VI, § 7, 1868 Florida Constitution
“[…] The State shall be divided into seven judicial districts, the limits of which are defined in this Constitution, and one judge shall be assigned to each circuit. […]”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida (full text available here) and Florida Constitution, 1868 (full text available here 
).
A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida
“1903 Amendments to 1885 Constitution (Article V, Section 8). The 1903 Amendments to the 1885 Constitution increased the number of circuits from 7 to 8.
Eighth: Alachua, Bradford, Levy, Putnam, Baker.”
Article V, § 8, 1902 Amendments to the 1885 Florida Constitution
“The State shall be divided by the Legislature at its first regular session after the adoption of this section, into eight Judicial Circuits, and one Judge shall be assigned to each Circuit. Such Judge shall hold at least two terms of his Court in each county within his circuit every year, and at such times and places as shall be prescribed by law, and may hold special terms.”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida (full text available here) and 1901 JR 2 (Article V, Section 8) (full text available here ).
“In 1911, the Legislature created the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits and restructured the first eight circuits.
First: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton;
Second: Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Franklin, Jefferson, Liberty;
Third: Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia;
Fourth: Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns;
Fifth: Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Lake;
Sixth: Hillsborough, Pasco;
Seventh: Orange, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, St. Lucie;
Eighth: Alachua, Bradford, Levy, Putnam, Baker;
Ninth: Washington, Holmes, Jackson, Calhoun;
Tenth: Polk, Manatee, DeSoto, Lee;
Eleventh: Palm Beach, Dade, Monroe.”
You can view the original Chapter Law creating the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits here.
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida, full text available here.
“1934 Amendments to the 1885 Constitution (Article V, Section 8). 1934 Amendment to the 1885 Constitution provided that there be fifteen judicial circuits and that no circuit have a population of less than 50,000 persons. As a result of the population threshold imposed by the Legislature on the circuits, many of the circuits had to be restructured to comply with the constitutional population requirements. In 1934, the judicial circuits in Florida were as follows:
First: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton;
Second: Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Liberty;
Third: Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamilton, Columbia, Dixie;
Fourth: Duval, Clay, Nassau;
Fifth: Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Sumter;
Sixth: Pinellas, Pasco;
Seventh: Volusia, Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler;
Eighth: Alachua, Baker, Gilchrist, Bradford, Union, Levy;
Ninth: Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Indian River, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin;
Tenth: Polk, Hardee, Highlands;
Eleventh: Dade, Monroe;
Twelfth: Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, Collier;
Thirteenth: Hillsborough;
Fourteenth: Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf;
Fifteenth: Broward, Palm Beach.”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida, full text available here.
“In 1951, The Legislature divided the Eleventh Circuit, so that it encompassed only Dade County, and created a Sixteenth Circuit for Monroe County.”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida, full text available here.
“In 1963, the Legislature divided the Fifteenth Circuit, so that it encompassed only Palm Beach County, and created the Seventeenth Circuit for Broward County. (Chapter 63-470, Laws of Florida).”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida, full text available here.
“In 1967, the legislature divided the Ninth Circuit into three circuits, leaving Orange and Osceola as the Ninth Circuit, incorporating Brevard and Seminole Counties as the Eighteenth Circuit, and incorporating Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties as the Nineteenth Circuit.”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida, full text available here.
A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida
“In 1969, the Legislature created the Twentieth Circuit: Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee.”
Article V, § 6(1), Florida Constitution (1968)
“The legislature may establish not more than twenty judicial circuits, each composed of a county or contiguous counties and of not less than fifty thousand inhabitants, according to the last census authorized by law, except that the county of Monroe shall constitute one of the circuits; provided, however, there shall be no reduction in the number of circuit judges residing in any county formerly a part of a judicial circuit, which circuit is hereafter created, divided, changed or revised.”
Text from A Report on the Judicial Circuits of Florida (full text available here) and Florida Constitution, revised 1968 (full text available here ).
