The Florida Supreme Court is recommending the addition of 25 new trial-court judges statewide for the 2026-27 fiscal year, citing updated workload data, local conditions, and continued population growth across several regions.
In a certification opinion released November 26, the Court called for 13 new circuit court judges and 12 new county court judges, while advising against any reduction in current judgeships.
The Court’s annual certification, required by Florida Statutes, is grounded in a weighted caseload methodology that measures the average judicial time required for different case types and applies those weights to projected filings.
The methodology was updated in 2024 after a statewide workload assessment. Chief judges from every circuit also submitted qualitative evaluations outlining resource challenges such as increased interpreter needs, the growth of problem-solving courts, expanding civil and family caseload complexity, and limited case-manager staffing.
Despite indicators showing a need for more than 25 judges, the Court adopted an incremental approach, citing the state’s fiscal outlook and the operational impacts additional judges create for clerks, prosecutors, public defenders, and other justice-system partners.
The Supreme Court used the same stepwise strategy in 2024, when it certified 48 judgeships and the Legislature ultimately approved 37.
The most significant new need appears in Southwest Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit, which is certified for eight additional circuit judges.
Duval and Miami-Dade counties each are recommended for three county judges, while Walton, Orange, Highlands, Hillsborough, and Lee counties also receive certifications.
The Court found no need for additional appellate judges and noted continued excess capacity in the Second District Court of Appeal.