Rule 9.030 — Jurisdiction of Courts

Original Text Simplified Text

(a) Jurisdiction of Supreme Court.

  1. (1) Appeal Jurisdiction.
    1. (A) The supreme court shall review, by appeal (i) final orders of courts imposing sentences of death; (ii) decisions of district courts of appeal declaring invalid a state statute or a provision of the state constitution.
    2. (B) If provided by general law, the supreme court shall review (i) by appeal final orders entered in proceedings for the validation of bonds or certificates of indebtedness; (ii) action of statewide agencies relating to rates or service of utilities providing electric, gas, or telephone service.
  2. (2) Discretionary Jurisdiction. The discretionary jurisdiction of the supreme court may be sought to review
    1. (A) decisions of district courts of appeal that (i) expressly declare valid a state statute; (ii) expressly construe a provision of the state or federal constitution; (iii) expressly affect a class of constitutional or state officers; (iv) expressly and directly conflict with a decision of another district court of appeal or of the supreme court on the same question of law; (v) pass upon a question certified to be of great public importance; (vi) are certified to be in direct conflict with decisions of other district courts of appeal;
    2. (B) orders and judgments of trial courts certified by the district court of appeal in which the appeal is pending to require immediate resolution by the supreme court, and (i) to be of great public importance, or (ii) to have a great effect on the proper administration of justice;
    3. (C) questions of law certified by the Supreme Court of the United States or a United States court of appeals that are determinative of the cause of action and for which there is no controlling precedent of the Supreme Court of Florida.
  3. (3) Original Jurisdiction. The supreme court may issue writs of prohibition to courts and all writs necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction, and may issue writs of mandamus and quo warranto to state officers and state agencies. The supreme court or any justice may issue writs of habeas corpus returnable before the supreme court or any justice, a district court of appeal or any judge thereof, or any circuit judge.

(b) Jurisdiction of District Courts of Appeal.

  1. (1) Appeal Jurisdiction. District courts of appeal shall review, by appeal (A) final orders of trial courts, not directly reviewable by the supreme court or a circuit court, including county court final orders declaring invalid a state statute or provision of the state constitution; (B) non-final orders of circuit courts as prescribed by rule 9.130; (C) administrative action if provided by general law.
  2. (2) Certiorari Jurisdiction. The certiorari jurisdiction of district courts of appeal may be sought to review (A) non-final orders of lower tribunals other than as prescribed by rule 9.130; (B) final orders of circuit courts acting in their review capacity.
  3. (3) Original Jurisdiction. District courts of appeal may issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and common law certiorari, and all writs necessary to the complete exercise of the courts’ jurisdiction; or any judge thereof may issue writs of habeas corpus returnable before the court or any judge thereof, or before any circuit judge within the territorial jurisdiction of the court.
  4. (4) Discretionary Review. District courts of appeal, in their discretion, may review by appeal (A) final orders of the county court, otherwise appealable to the circuit court under these rules, that the county court has certified to be of great public importance; (B) non-final orders, otherwise appealable to the circuit court under rule 9.140(c), that the county court has certified to be of great public importance.

(c) Jurisdiction of Circuit Courts.

  1. (1) Appeal Jurisdiction. The circuit courts shall review, by appeal (A) final orders of lower tribunals as provided by general law; (B) non-final orders of lower tribunals as provided by general law; (C) administrative action if provided by general law.
  2. (2) Certiorari Jurisdiction. The certiorari jurisdiction of circuit courts may be sought to review non-final orders of lower tribunals other than as prescribed by rule 9.130.
  3. (3) Original Jurisdiction. Circuit courts may issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, common law certiorari, and habeas corpus, and all writs necessary to the complete exercise of the courts’ jurisdiction.

This rule outlines which types of cases each level of Florida's appellate court system is authorized to hear. This is known as the court's "jurisdiction."

(a) Florida Supreme Court: The state's highest court has limited jurisdiction and primarily hears cases of major state importance.

  • Mandatory Review: It must hear appeals in death penalty cases and cases where a lower appellate court declares a state law unconstitutional.
  • Discretionary Review: It may choose to hear cases that conflict with other decisions, involve questions of great public importance, or where a lower court declares a state law valid.

(b) District Courts of Appeal (DCAs): These are the intermediate appellate courts and handle the vast majority of appeals in Florida.

  • Appeal Jurisdiction: The primary job of the DCAs is to review all final orders from the circuit courts (the main trial courts) and certain specified non-final orders.
  • Certiorari Jurisdiction: They can review certain other non-final orders and review the decisions of circuit courts when they act as an appellate court for county court cases.

(c) Circuit Courts: In addition to being the main trial courts, circuit courts also have an appellate function.

  • Appeal Jurisdiction: Circuit courts hear appeals from final orders of the county courts (which handle smaller civil cases and misdemeanors) and certain administrative agencies.