Americans
with Disabilities Act Assistance |
The
Sixth Judicial Circuit provides reasonable accommodation to persons with
disabilities to enable their full participation in court proceedings. These
accommodations are determined after discussion with the person requiring
accommodation regarding his or her specific needs. The Administrative Office
of the Courts coordinates an average of 35-40 such requests each month,
including provisions for deaf interpreters, assistive listening systems,
wheelchairs, real-time reporting, enlarged print, readers, closed captioning,
etc.
According to the
requirements of Circuit Administrative Order 2010-045, notices of court proceedings
to be held in a public facility, and all process compelling appearance
at such proceedings shall contain the following language:
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| Proceedings
in Pasco County: |
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Public Information Dept,. Pasco County Government Center, 7530 Little Rd., New Port Richey, FL 34654; (727) 847-8110 (V) in New Port Richey; (352) 521-4274, ext 8110 (V) in Dade City, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing impaired call 711.
The court does not provide transportation and cannot accommodate for this service. Persons with disabilities needing transportation to court should contact their local public transportation providers for information regarding transportation services. |
| Proceedings
in Pinellas County: |
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Human Rights Office. 400 S. Ft. Harrison Ave., Ste. 500 Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 464-4880(V) at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing impaired call 711.
Electronic ADA Accommodation Request
The court does not provide transportation and cannot accommodate for this service. Persons with disabilities needing transportation to court should contact their local public transportation providers for information regarding transportation services. |
| Wheelchairs Availability: |
| Wheelchairs are avaialble at all courthouses in Pasco and Pinellas on a first come-first served basis. |
| Assisted Listening Systems: |
| Assisted listening systems are in place in all courtrooms at Pinellas County's Criminal Justice Center, at Pasco County's West Pasco Judicial Center and in select courtrooms at the Clearwater and St. Petersburg Courthouses. Court participants needing to use these systems should notify the attending bailiff or call the above phone numbers in advance of the hearing. Headsets will be provided. Personal amplicfication devices can be provided in courtrooms and meeting rooms not equipped with full systems. These can be accessed by request, also in advance of the hearing. |
| Deaf Interpreters Services: |
Deaf interpreter
services are available upon request to the Court. The Court schedules
qualified interpreters through contract with a local provider. All court
deaf interpreters abide by the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Code
of Ethics for Interpreters for the Hearing Impaired.
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Examples of aids or services the Sixth Judicial Circuit cannot provide as an accommodation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act include:
Transportation to and from the courthouse
Legal counsel or advice
An official transcript of a court proceeding
Personal services such as medical or attendant care
Readers for personal use or study
Additionally, the courts cannot administratively grant, as an ADA accommodation, requests that impact court procedures within a specific case. Requests for an extension of time, a change of venue, or participation in court proceedings by telephone or videoconferencing must be submitted by written motion to the presiding judge as part of the case. The judge may consider an individual’s disability, along with other relevant factors, in granting or denying the motion. Furthermore, the court cannot exceed the law in granting a request for an accommodation. For example, the court cannot extend the statute of limitations for filing an action because someone claims that he or she could not make it to the court on time due to a disability, nor can the court modify the terms of agreements among parties as an ADA accommodation. Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the court system to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of court programs, services, or activities, or that would impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the courts.
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| ADA Grievance: |
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