When your case gets moved between courthouses
Days lost shuffling your file between divisions are the court's delay, not yours.
Why this matters
Cases are often moved between municipal, criminal, family and juvenile divisions. While the paperwork travels, nothing happens on your case.
That time is administrative — you did not ask for it and you did not agree to it, so it should not shorten the time the State has to try your case.
What the document does
- Counts the exact days between the filing date, the transfer order, the date the file was re-docketed and your next hearing.
- Marks the routing days as unexcused State delay on a visual timeline.
- Builds a motion asking the judge to charge that time to the State and, when the limit has passed, to discharge the case.
The law where you are — Florida
- Speedy trial rule in your state
- Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.191
- Delay charged to the State
- Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972)
- Divisions involved
- County Court → Circuit Court
These citations change automatically with the jurisdiction selected in the header.
Answering the background questions
“Why does your case show two different case numbers?”
The case was transferred between court divisions; it is one case with one set of charges.
A re-docketed file often gets a new number. Employers and housing screeners sometimes read that as two separate cases — the transfer order in your packet proves it is one.
“Has your case been dismissed?”
Only say yes once you hold the signed order of dismissal or discharge.
A judge's spoken ruling is not proof. Ask your lawyer for the certified order before you answer yes on any application.
Be careful
- • Keep every hearing notice with its date. The day counts in this tool are only as good as the dates you enter.
- • Missing a hearing in either division can create a warrant, even if the file has moved.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Always follow the advice of the lawyer on your case.
What these court words mean
- First morning court hearing(court word: Arraignment / initial appearance)
- The first short hearing, usually within 24-48 hours of the arrest, where a judge sets release conditions.
- Released on a promise to return (no bail cost)(court word: Release on recognizance (ROR))
- The person goes home without paying anything, on their written promise to come back to every court date.
- Bail bondsman fee (usually 10%, not refundable)(court word: Surety bond)
- You pay a company a fee to post the bail. You do not get that fee back, even if the case is dropped.
- Request to drop charges form(court word: Affidavit of non-prosecution)
- A statement asking the prosecutor to drop the case. The prosecutor decides — it is not automatic.
- Missed-court arrest order(court word: Capias / bench warrant)
- A judge's order to arrest someone who did not show up for court.
- Strict stay-away rule(court word: No-contact order)
- A court rule banning calls, texts, messages passed through other people, and social media contact.
- Court check-in program(court word: Pre-trial services)
- Staff who check in with the person and remind them about court while the case is open.
- Free court-appointed lawyer(court word: Public defender)
- The lawyer the court assigns when someone cannot afford to hire one.
- The court's list of cases for that morning(court word: Docket / docket call)
- Your person's name is called from that list; arrive early and stay in the courtroom.
This information helps you navigate court administrative steps and does not constitute legal representation or advice. This is general information, not legal advice, and using these tools does not create an attorney-client relationship. Verify every date, rule and dollar figure with the defense attorney of record and the clerk of court before you act.