THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS
Welcome to the overview page for the Administrative Office of the Courts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS - ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS
THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS
The Administrative Office of the Courts' two main functions are case management and operational support, thereby providing a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management, program, and information technology services to the 20th Judicial Circuit courts.
The Administrative Office of the Court is organized based on functional responsibilities that are rooted in judicial administration and court operations areas. Although these responsibilities are carried out across the organization, certain roles and activities are department specific.
THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR
The court administrator is the manager of administrative, non-judicial affairs of the court. In Florida, the supreme court, the district courts of appeal and the circuit courts each have a court administrator. The court administrator is responsible for the supervision of court staff, budget planning, assignment and distribution of cases and implementation of court policy. The Administrative Office of the Courts is also responsible for the supervision and management of departments and programs which offer an alternative to the traditional adversarial setting of the courtroom for settling disputes. Each year these programs divert thousands of cases such as citizen disputes from the courtroom into mediation and arbitration, thus saving both the parties involved and the court millions of dollars.
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OUR MISSION
The mission of the Administrative Office of the courts is to provide the highest level of professional services with integrity, equality, and respect that supports the judiciary in their efforts to protect rights and liberties, ensure access to justice for all citizens, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes in a fair and timely manner.
A mission statement defines an organization's purpose. It helps an organization focus on what is truly important and serves as a reference point for developing and prioritizing goals and strategies. An organization's mission statement typically reflects its mandates and the expectations of those who work in or are served by the organization.
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OUR VISION
The Administrative Office of the Courts will provide professional, efficient, effective service to the Courts focusing on our core businesses:
- Be fair, equitable, and conduct business with integrity.
- Uphold the principles of judicial independence and accountability.
- Be accessible, convenient, understandable and timely.
- Be effective.
- Be responsive and anticipate the needs of those we serve.
A vision statement helps an organization develop a picture of itself in a perfect world. It defines what the organization aspires to be like when it performs at its best. It is an expression of the organization's fundamental values
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AOC DEPARTMENTS
* Click the link to expand:
Executive Office
The Executive Office of the Administrative Office of the Courts provides administrative and operational support to the judiciary of the 20th Circuit. The office is responsible for ensuring access to the courts and coordinating services for the citizens. Additionally, the Trial Court Administrator maintains communications between the trial courts, the Office of the State Court Administrator and local and state governments.
To contact the Executive Offices call 239-533-1711.
Human Resources
The Human Resources department provides customer service to the Judiciary, the Judicial Assistants, the Administrative Office of the Courts' Staff and to the Public. Primary areas of responsibility are:
- Recruitment/Employment coordination
- New Hire Orientation
- Compensation
- Benefits coordination including but not limited to:
- Florida Retirement System
- Insurance
- EAP Programs and
- Leave Accruals
- Schedule on-call coverage for judicial assistants
- Schedule temporary coverage for departments
- Position classification and descriptions
- Employee Grievances
- Civil Rights Complaints
- FMLA
- Compliance with Federal, State and local laws
- Training Coordination
- Performance, Planning, and Reviews
- Personnel Policies
- Human Resources Data Bases
- Service Awards and Special Acknowledgements
- Records Retention
- Public Records Requests
To contact the Human Resources Department call 239-533-1705.
Court Technology
The 20th Judicial Circuit has made great advances in the use of technology to improve and enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of those court processes that are critical to the management of court information. The Court Technology Department is committed to improving the administration of justice and meeting challenges faced by our court system through the advanced use of technologies. The Court Technology Department is divided into six core areas of responsibility:
- Internet / Intranet
- Programming
- Network Security
- Desktop & Network Support
- Investigation
- Digital Court Reporting (DCR)
To contact the Court Technology Department call 239-533-1722.
Public Information
The Public Information Department is the central voice of the circuit that responds to inquiries from the media and the public. The department disseminates press releases, coordinates speaking engagements and provides court information to the community.
To contact the Public Information Department call 239-533-1723.
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PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Click here to learn about Current Projects & Initiatives
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INFORMATION/CONTACTS
For more information about the Administrative Office of the Courts, please contact our Public Information Officer, Sara Miles at (239) 533-1723.
Sara Miles
Public Information Officer
Phone: (239) 533-1723
Fax: (239) 533-1796
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