General Magistrates and Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2007-008 PA/PI-CIR

RE: GENERAL MAGISTRATES AND CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT HEARING OFFICERS

On or about September 30, 1983, the circuit judges, in order to promote the efficient administration of the Probate Division, appointed special masters to hear and consider Baker Act Proceedings; and

On or about September 14, 1989, special masters were empowered to preside over hearings for involuntary commitment under section 396.102, Florida Statutes, and involuntary treatment of habitual drug abusers under section 397.052, Florida Statutes; and

On November 15, 1988, the Supreme Court of Florida ordered that the provisions of Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.491 be implemented in the Sixth Judicial Circuit for Title IV-D and non-Title IV-D proceedings for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of child support; and

On or about April 12, 1989, the Court determined that through the utilization of a child support enforcement hearing officer pursuant to Fla. R. Civ. P 1.491 the efficiency of the disposition of support causes within the Sixth Judicial Circuit would be aided; and

In accordance with In Re: Family Law R. P., 663 So. 2d 1049 (Fla. 1995) and Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure 12.490 and 12.491, the Chief Judge appointed general masters and child support enforcement hearing officers for the Sixth Judicial Circuit from among members of The Florida Bar; and

On February 27, 1998 the Supreme Court of Florida entered an order superseding the November 15, 1988 order and authorized the Sixth Judicial Circuit to implement the provisions of Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491, which it did effective February 27, 1998; and

In accordance with Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.490; Fla. Prob. R. 5.697, Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.257 and 8.625(h), Fla. Fam. L.R.P. 12.490 the judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit may and have appointed general masters from among members of The Florida Bar; and

In accordance with Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491, the Chief Judge may and has appointed hearing officers from among members of The Florida Bar; and

In order to continue the efficient disposition of civil, family law, dependency, truancy, probate, guardianship, Baker Act and Marchman Act cases in Pasco and Pinellas Counties, it is necessary to appoint additional general magistrates and child support enforcement hearing officers. It is therefore

ORDERED:

1. Each of the following persons is hereby appointed General Magistrate for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, in and for Pasco and Pinellas Counties, Florida, pursuant to Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.490, Fla. Prob. R. 5.697, Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.257 and 8.625(h), Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.490, section 394.467, Florida Statutes, section 397.681, Florida Statutes, section 744.369(2), Florida Statutes and any other statutory or rule provision authorizing the appointment of a general magistrate or a general master. Each of the following persons is also hereby appointed Child Support Enforcement Hearing Officer pursuant to Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491 for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, in and for Pasco and Pinellas Counties, Florida:

a. Catherine Carrier

b. Mark E. Chancey

c. Bama Finocchi

d. Joseph A. Flannery

e. Sharon Gallagher

f. Barbara C. Goiran

g. Angela Hoogeveen

h. Dawn Hulbert

i. Paul Kaleel

j. Joe D. Lovelace

k. Cynthia McCormick

l. Charlene Murphy

m. Beverly Plummer

n. Sara Rahdert

o. Keela Roberts Samis

p. Kay D. Sloan

q. Cheryl Smith-Khan

r. Joanna Staffeld

s. Eve Walker

2. Each general magistrate shall:

a. Take the oath of office required of officers by the Constitution of the State of Florida, and the oath shall be properly recorded in the Official Records of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida with this administrative order. The persons listed above who have previously executed an oath as a general master which oath was recorded with a previous Administrative Order, are not required to submit an additional oath.

b. Perform duties in accordance with Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.490, Fla. Prob. R. 5.697, Fla. R. Juv. P. 8.257 and 8.625(h), Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.490, section 394.467, Florida Statutes, section 397.681, Florida Statutes, section 744.369(2), Florida Statutes and any other statutory or rule provision authorizing the appointment of a general magistrate or general master, applicable Rules of Court, the Code of Judicial Conduct, and as provided herein.

c. Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

d. Serve at the pleasure of the Chief Judge.

e. Serve without posting a bond.

3. Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.491 continues to be invoked and child support enforcement hearing officers shall continue to be in use in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

4. Each child support enforcement hearing officer shall:

a. Perform duties in accordance with Rule 12.491, other applicable Rules of Court, the Code of Judicial Conduct, statutes and as provided herein.

b. Consider Title IV-D and non-Title IV-D proceedings subject to funding requirements.

c. Be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

d. Serve at the pleasure of the Chief Judge and a majority of the circuit judges in the circuit.

e. Serve without posting a bond.

5. Each general magistrate and hearing officer may take testimony and establish a record by electronic means. The record will be made, retained, and destroyed in accordance with Rule of Judicial Administration 2.075 and administrative orders governing court reporting in this circuit.

6. If the recording is transcribed, either in whole or part, when necessary for an appeal or for further use in the trial court, the court employed or contract court reporters shall be utilized for such transcribing unless otherwise provided in administrative orders governing court reporting in this circuit.

7. All actions taken before this date by the general magistrates and child support enforcement hearing officers named in this Order are hereby confirmed.

Administrative Orders 2004-070 PA/PI-CIR, 2004-089 PA/PI-CIR, 2005-021 PA/PI-CIR, and 2005-079 PA/PI-CIR are hereby rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this _____ day of February 2007.

____________________________

David A. Demers, Chief Judge

cc: All Judges

The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

The Honorable Bob Dillinger, Public Defender

The Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County

The Honorable Jed Pittman, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pasco County

Carol Heath, Executive Director, Operational & Court Services Division, Pinellas County

Debbie Gay, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco County Clerk’s Office

Gay L. Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

Kerry L. Rice, Senior Deputy Court Administrator, Pasco County

Each General Magistrate and Hearing Officer

Bar Associations, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

Law Libraries, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

OATH OF OFFICE

“I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA; THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF GENERAL MAGISTRATE FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA ON WHICH I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER.

SO HELP ME GOD.”

________________________________

BAMA FINOCCHI

STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF PINELLAS

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this day of January 2007, by Bama Finocchi, General Magistrate for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, who is personally known to me or who produced ____________________________ as identification and who did take an oath.

___________________________

Judge or Notary