The Alachua County County Court
Florida gives each of its sixty-seven counties a county court. The Alachua County County Court is part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, the same circuit that includes the higher trial court. County judges handle the everyday, lower-stakes matters that make up a large share of the court's volume. These are the cases most residents are likely to encounter, such as a traffic citation, a small claim, or a misdemeanor charge.
The county court is a court of limited jurisdiction. That means it hears only the case types the law assigns to it. Bigger criminal and civil matters go up to the circuit court. The Clerk keeps the records for both levels, so a search of the Clerk's system can reach county court and circuit court cases alike.
The volume here is high because the cases are common. A single day can bring traffic infractions, small claims hearings, and misdemeanor arraignments. That mix is why the county court matters to the general public even more than the circuit court does. For many people, a county court case is their only direct experience with the court system, and the rules are built to be more accessible than those in the higher court.
What the Alachua County County Court Handles
The county court covers a defined set of case types. Each carries its own code in the Clerk's system, which helps when you search. The list below shows the main categories the county court hears.
- Misdemeanor criminal cases and criminal traffic.
- Civil traffic infractions, such as most tickets.
- Small claims, typically lower-dollar money disputes.
- Landlord-tenant matters, including evictions.
- Lower-value civil cases under the county court limit.
Because so many of these cases touch ordinary life, the county court is often a resident's first contact with the court system. A speeding ticket, a security-deposit dispute, or a small unpaid debt can all land here rather than in the circuit court. The code on a case number tells you the type at a glance. County court, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters share the CC code, while summary proceedings use SC after the 1999 conversion. That coding is the same one the Clerk uses across the whole records system.
County Court vs Circuit Court
The two trial courts divide the work by seriousness and value. The county court takes the smaller matters. The circuit court takes the larger ones. The comparison below shows where an Alachua County case is likely to be heard.
| Feature | County Court | Circuit Court |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Misdemeanor and criminal traffic | Felony cases |
| Civil | Small claims and lower-value civil | Larger civil disputes |
| Housing | Landlord-tenant and evictions | Not handled at this level |
| Family and probate | Not handled at this level | Divorce, probate, guardianship |
The Circuit Court page covers the higher level, including felonies, family law, and probate. A civil claim can land in either court depending on the dollar amount, so the value of a dispute can decide which court hears it.
Alachua County Court Judges
County judges are listed by the Eighth Judicial Circuit on its Alachua County page. They hear the county court docket, separate from the circuit judges who hear the higher matters. The table lists county judges from the circuit's page.
| Judge | Court |
|---|---|
| Joy L. Danne | Alachua County Court |
| Adam J. Lee | Alachua County Court |
| Susan Miller-Jones | Alachua County Court |
| Meshon T. Rawls | Alachua County Court |
The list changes with appointments. A 2026 appointment added a judge to the Alachua County bench, so check the circuit's site for the current roster before relying on a name. County judges are elected to set terms, and the Governor may appoint a judge to fill a vacancy between elections. Either way, the judge assigned to a case shows on the docket, which is the reliable place to confirm who hears a county court matter.
Where County Court Cases Are Heard
County court cases are heard in the county's two downtown buildings, the same ones the circuit court uses. Misdemeanor and criminal traffic matters connect to the Criminal Courthouse on South Main Street. Civil traffic, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters connect to the Family and Civil Justice Center on East University Avenue. The Clerk staffs both buildings. Going to the wrong one can cost time, since security screening and downtown parking add up. So check which building handles your case type before you drive in.
| Building | Address | County Court Use |
|---|---|---|
| Judge Stephan P. Mickle, Sr. Criminal Courthouse | 220 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 | Misdemeanor, criminal traffic, citation payment |
| Family & Civil Justice Center | 201 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 | Civil traffic, small claims, landlord-tenant |
Searching Alachua County Court Records
County court cases are searched through the Clerk's online court records system, the same tool used for circuit cases. The case-type code for county court, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters is CC, so a case number reads like 1999CC1234. Summary proceeding cases became SC after the 1999 conversion. Search by party name or case number, then narrow by filing date if the result list is long. Online document images start in 2001 for civil and 2005 for criminal, and older closed files may need a trip to the Records Department.
The court records page details the search fields and the CAPTCHA gate. For tickets and citations, the traffic court records page covers the civil traffic search and payment options that flow through the county court.
Small Claims and Landlord-Tenant Cases
Small claims handle lower-dollar money disputes with simpler rules, which makes the county court more accessible for self-represented people. The Clerk provides small claims forms and county court forms, since many of these cases are filed without a lawyer. Landlord-tenant matters, including evictions, also run through the county court.
The Clerk can provide the forms and process the filing, but it cannot give legal advice on a claim. For the forms and fee schedule, the Clerk of the Court & Comptroller page is the starting point. Filing fees depend on the type and amount of the claim.
Small claims often move faster than a full civil suit. A pretrial conference may push parties toward mediation before a hearing. An eviction follows its own timeline under Florida landlord-tenant law, with strict notice and filing steps. Because the stakes can still be high for a tenant or a small business, many people use the Clerk's self-help resources or consult a lawyer even in these lower-level cases.
Civil Traffic and Misdemeanors
Most traffic tickets are civil traffic infractions handled by the county court. A driver can pay, elect traffic school, or contest the citation, all through the Clerk's traffic process. A misdemeanor, by contrast, is a criminal case, even when it involves driving, so it carries different stakes. DUI, for example, is not a simple infraction and routes as a criminal matter.
The traffic court records page explains the citation options and deadlines, and the arrest records page covers misdemeanor booking and charges. Both connect back to the county court level.
The difference between a civil infraction and a criminal charge is more than a label. A civil traffic ticket usually ends with a fine and possible points, while a misdemeanor can mean a criminal record and, in some cases, jail. That is why a driver should read a citation closely to see which kind it is. A criminal traffic charge is handled at the Criminal Courthouse, not through the civil traffic payment process.
How a County Court Case Moves
A county court case follows a path from filing to outcome. The exact steps differ between a traffic infraction, a small claim, and a misdemeanor, but the general flow is similar. An appeal from a county court case may go to the circuit court or the District Court of Appeal depending on the matter and current rules.
Case flow: County Court › Appeal › District Court of Appeal › Florida Supreme Court
Most county court cases resolve at the trial level without an appeal. The Clerk records each step on the docket, and the court dockets page explains how to follow those events. Appellate rules change over time, so a person thinking about an appeal should confirm the current path and deadlines before filing.