Clearwater, Florida Legal Overview The City of Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County, Florida. The main trial court with general jurisdiction is the Pinellas County Circuit Court, which is a part of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida along with the Pinellas County Court. The main courthouse is located in Clearwater, with additional locations in St. Petersburg. The Criminal Justice Center in Clearwater handles all felony prosecutions and misdemeanor cases. Almost all other matters for both the circuit and county courts can be filed at either Clearwater or St. Petersburg.
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1. The divisions of the two courts can be found spread around in multiple locations. For example, the Criminal Justice Center in Clearwater handles felonies and misdemeanors, while the St. Petersburg Judicial Building receives civil cases for both courts. Civil cases above $15,000 are handled by the circuit civil division, while those below are received by the county civil division. This court location in St. Petersburg also receives small claims, probate cases, domestic violence complaints and traffic violation payments, among other things.
Trending Clearwater, Florida Legal Topics: Appeals against verdicts obtained in the Pinellas County Court are heard by the appellate division of the Pinellas County Circuit Court. Appeals against the circuit court are in turn heard by the Second District Court of Appeal, which has locations in Tampa and Lakeland. The state’s highest court is the Florida Supreme Court. The federal court for St. Petersburg and other parts of Pinellas County is the Tampa Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. |