Elimination of Court Programs

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2008-036 PA/PI-CIR

RE: ELIMINATION OF COURT PROGRAMS

Due to the budget crisis, the Legislature has made significant cuts to funding for the court system. The Sixth Circuit has been required to make numerous adjustments to court operations and court programs. It is necessary to eliminate certain court programs in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, effective July 1, 2008. Some of those programs eliminated or reduced include funding for Child Custody Investigations, Parent Facilitator Program, Dependency Drug Court, and Youth Treatment Court. Accordingly, it is hereby

ORDERED:

1. The following administrative orders are hereby rescinded. Cases that have already been assigned to these programs may continue; however, no new cases shall be assigned to the court program:

Child Custody Investigations 2005-012 PA/PI-CIR

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Parent Facilitator Program PA/PI-CIR-02-64

Youth Treatment Court 2007-092 PI-CIR

2. Dependency Drug Court, Administrative Order 2007-004 PA/PI-CIR, is rescinded for Pinellas County. The existing cases may continue; however, no new cases shall be added to dependency drug court in Pinellas County. Dependency Drug Court in Pasco County may continue in accordance with Administrative Order 2007-004 PA/PI-CIR, due to the small caseload and limited budgetary impact.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, this _____ day of June 2008.

___________________________

Robert J. Morris, Jr., 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

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

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

Gay L. Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

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

Bar Associations, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

Law Libraries, Pasco and Pinellas Counties