43.26 Chief judge of circuit; selection; powers.—
(1) The chief judge of each judicial circuit, who shall be a circuit judge, shall exercise administrative supervision over all the trial courts within the judicial circuit and over the judges and other officers of such courts.
(2) The chief judge of the circuit shall have the power:
(a) To assign judges to any division of the court and to determine the length of the assignment;
(b) To regulate use of courtrooms;
(c) To supervise dockets and calendars;
(d) To require attendance of state attorneys, public defenders, clerks, bailiffs, and all other officers of the court; and
(e) To do everything necessary to promote the prompt and efficient administration of justice in the courts over which he or she is chief judge.
(f) To delegate to the trial court administrator, by administrative order, the authority to bind the circuit in contract.
(g) To manage, operate, and oversee the jury system as provided in s. 40.001.
(3) The chief judge shall be responsible to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for such information as may be required by the Chief Justice, including, but not limited to, caseload, status of dockets, and disposition of cases in the courts over which he or she presides.
(4) Failure of any judge, clerk, prosecutor, public defender, or other officer of the court to comply with an order or directive of the chief judge under this section shall constitute neglect of duty for which such officer may be suspended from office as provided by law.
(5) There may be a trial court administrator who shall perform such duties as the chief judge may direct.
(6) The chief judge of each circuit is charged by s. 2(d), Art. V of the Florida Constitution and this section with the authority to promote the prompt and efficient administration of justice in the courts over which he or she is chief judge. The clerks of court provide court-related functions which are essential to the orderly operation of the judicial branch. The chief judge of each circuit, after consultation with the clerk of court, shall determine the priority of services provided by the clerk of court to the trial court. The clerk of court shall manage the performance of such services in a method or manner that is consistent with statute, rule, or administrative order.
History.—s. 1, ch. 71-214; s. 1, ch. 77-119; s. 260, ch. 95-147; s. 65, ch. 2003-402; s. 30, ch. 2005-236.
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