The Tenth Judicial Circuit Historical Society
What is the 10 th Judicial Circuit of Florida?
Centered in the heart of Florida's 20 judicial circuits, the Courts of the Tenth Judicial Circuit serve Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties. The tri-county area has diverse localities ranging from urbanized population centers to profoundly rural areas. Twenty-eight circuit judges and twelve county court judges serve a population of approximately 728,612 people in a 3,676 square mile area.
In the State of Florida, the court system is organized in four different tiers, with a two-tier appellate court system, and a two-tier trial court system. The Supreme Court of Florida and the five District Courts of Appeal make up the appellate court system. In the trial court system, all 20 judicial circuits have one circuit court encompassing one or more county courts. The Tenth Judicial Circuit Court has three county courts, one each in Hardee (Wauchula), Highlands (Sebring), and Polk (Bartow) Counties.
The Tenth Judicial Circuit is a court of general jurisdiction and is comprised of five divisions: Civil, Criminal (Felony), Family, Juvenile, and Probate. Each of the five divisions is under the auspices of an administrative judge, appointed by the chief judge. County courts are courts of limited jurisdiction where criminal misdemeanors, traffic cases and civil cases under $50,000 (landlord/tenant, small claims) are heard. Each county court is overseen by an administrative judge appointed by the chief judge.
Judge Oliver Green Jr.
The Foundation of the 10 th Judicial Circuit
When Florida became a State the role of the federal government was diminished and the state courts followed the basic organization created during the Territorial Period with four circuit or superior court districts in place. Until 1850 Florida’s highest court, the Supreme Court, constituted the judges of each district. In 1851, an act was passed that gave the Supreme Court a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, separate from the circuit judges. The legislature selected a judge and solicitor for each of Florida’s four superior or circuit courts.
In 1868, the circuit courts were briefly divided into seven judicial circuits. Polk became part of the sixth judicial circuit. In 1870 the number of circuits was reduced by legislative amendment to five. The Constitution of 1885 bumped the number of circuits back to seven, and in 1902 an eighth district was created. A newly adopted constitutional amendment approved by a statewide vote in 1910 gave the legislature the authority to establish judicial circuits as it deemed advisable. And in 1911, the legislature established 11 circuit courts, with one judge assigned to each. Polk became part of the tenth judicial circuit.
History courtesy of Tom Muir, curator of the Polk County History Center
Image right: The 1911 restructuring.
Historic Courtroom, Polk County History Center
The 1899 Florida Bench and Bar
A composite Photograph of the 1899 Florida Bench and Bar. Notable figures include the First Female Lawyer in the state of Florida Louise Pinnell, Florida Governors Francis P. Fleming, William S. Jennings, Henry L. Mitchell, and U.S. Senators Nathan P. Bryan, Scott M. Loftin, Duncan U. Fletcher, and Samuel Pasco. Contact the Lakeland History and Culture Center for a full key.
Florida Historic Capitol Building, Tallahassee. Florida Memory.
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Historical Society
The Tenth Judicial Circuit Historical Society was created in 2016, under the leadership of Judge Mary Catherine Green, to preserve the rich history of the Tenth Judicial Circuit and contribute to the community.
Transcription Cover for the event African-American Attorneys In the Tenth Judicial Circuit hosted by The Tenth Judicial Circuit Historical Society
Centennial Celebrations, 1911 – 2011
In 2011, the Tenth Judicial Circuit Historical Society hosted a series of discussion panels and presentations in honor of the Centennial Anniversary of the creation of the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Topics include Gender Justice and Bias, Emerging Hispanic Diversity, a History of African American Practitioners, and a History of the Court with Dr. Canter Brown Jr.. Visit our online collection for transcripts, or The Lakeland History Room for video.
Polk County Historic Courthouse Jury Box
Additional Content
Additional content in the collection includes but is not limited to: a series of oral histories with a variety of legal professionals including Oliver L. Green Jr., David Bergdoll, Charles and Robert Chilton, Robert Puterbaugh, and more, Administrative Orders pertaining to the Court’s evolving COVID-19 protocols, the Famous Polk County Criminal Cases by Jack O. Johnson, and a compilation of short biographies of Circuit Judges throughout history.
Image right: The Spencer Futch Building (no longer standing) circa 1924, home to several law offices including Smith & Petteway, Laird D. Clifton, and Clements J. Rudolph.
Visit The Lakeland History Room, or our online Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida Collection for more info.
Famous Polk County Criminal Cases by Jack O. Johnson
