Florida Adds Sixth District Court of Appeal

Now that the Florida Legislature has approved the Supreme Court of Florida’s recommendation that the state create a sixth appellate district and adjust boundaries of three districts, the state now has six District Courts of Appeal (DCA). The Sixth District Court of Appeal is the first new appellate court since 1979.

The new Sixth District Court of Appeal became operational on January 1, 2023. The corresponding boundary changes break down as follows:

• The 4th Judicial Circuit moves from the First District into the Fifth. The Fifth District is now composed of the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 18th Judicial Circuits.
• The 9th Judicial Circuit moves from the Fifth District into the newly created Sixth. The Sixth District is now composed of the 9th, 10th, and 20th Judicial Circuits.
• The 6th, 12th, and 13th Judicial Circuits remain in the Second District.
• The boundaries of the Third and Fourth Districts have not changed.

Here’s how case transfers are being managed as of January 1:  

• The First DCA is transferring any pending appeals from the 4th Judicial Circuit to the Fifth DCA.
• The Second DCA is transferring any pending appeals from the 10th and 20th Judicial Circuits over to the Sixth DCA.
• The Fifth DCA is transferring any pending appeals from the 9th Judicial Circuit to the Sixth DCA.  

The Sixth DCA is expected to receive approximately 1,500 cases. As of January 3, 2023, the newly created court has nine appellate court judges who have elected Meredith Sasso as chief judge, Stacy Pectol as court clerk, and Charles Crawford as the court’s marshal. The other eight appellate court judges are Jay Cohen, John Stargel, Dan Traver, Mary Alice Nardella, Carrie Ann Wozniak, Keith White, Jared Smith, and Joshua Mize.  

Access the Sixth District Court of Appeal at https://6dca.flcourts.gov/.

Please note that Shawn Taylor is an MDK Alumni member.