Saint Johns County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

St. Johns County is home to over 278,722 residents and a land area of 600.6 square miles, making it the 44th largest county in Florida. The county was established in 1821 and was named after the St. Johns River. St. Augustine is the county seat and the most populous incorporated city in St. Johns County. Its court system consists of a Circuit Court and County Courts. These courts have broad jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases.

The Circuit Court in St. Johns County is located in St. Augustine. This Court has a broad authority to handle all criminal and civil cases typically beyond the jurisdiction of the County Court. It presides over such cases as felonies and lesser-included offenses, general civil claims for more than $15,000, divorce, domestic relations, probate, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health cases, matters involving minors, and abuse prevention orders. On the other hand, the County Court has limited jurisdiction over certain criminal and civil cases. It is tasked with handling cases involving juvenile traffic violations, most misdemeanors, most civil and equity cases in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $15,000, and other municipal and county ordinance violations. It also shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over most landlord-tenant cases.

According to the Florida Crime Analysts Data, St. Johns County has a crime rate of 1.66 per 1,000 people. The number of cases filed by both the Circuit and the County Courts, according to the Florida Office of State Courts Administrator, was 3,271,562 during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. As a result of the crime rate in St. Johns County, the Circuit Court handled approximately 1,438 criminal cases and 1,567 civil actions during the fiscal year. Meanwhile, the County Courts handled a total of 17,233 cases. The clerk of each court is the official custodian of all records generated in that court. Court records in St. Johns County are generally accessible by the public unless restricted by law or court order. Examples of sealed court records in the county include juvenile, adoption, mental health, domestic violence, and sexual abuse records. Residents may search for digital court records via the online portal or at the public access terminals in the courthouse. In addition to online access, interested persons may obtain copies of circuit court documents from the Clerk by filling out a Request for Records Research Form and paying the appropriate fees. The County Court maintains records of its proceedings.

In summary, the Circuit and County Courts make up the trial court system in St. Johns County. These courts provide a platform for unbiased and efficient resolution of legal court-related matters while ensuring access to justice. Furthermore, by granting public access to court records, St. Johns County's court system fosters confidence in legal proceedings.