Question 1

Who are the family court judges in Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

Pinellas County family court judges in the 6th Judicial Circuit include: Judge Elizabeth M. Jack (Section 24), Judge William Burgess (Section 22), Judge Frederick Pollack (Section 14), Judge Aaron Hubbard (Section 23), Judge Steve Berlin (Section 9), Judge Brian Gnage (Section 17), Judge Benjamin Thomas (Section 12), Judge David Ellis (Section 25), Judge Kimberly Campbell (UFC-02), Judge Patrice Moore (UFC-05), and Judge Sherwood Coleman (UFC-06).

Question 2

What is the JAWS docket system for Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

JAWS (Judicial Automated Workflow System) is the court's online case tracking and hearing scheduling system used by Pinellas County. You can search dockets by case number at the Pinellas Clerk public access portal. Family dissolution cases use the FD case prefix.

Question 3

How do I find out which judge is assigned to my Pinellas County divorce case?

Accepted Answer

Your assigned judge and section number appear on your case number. You can also search your case at the Pinellas Clerk online portal (ccmspa.pinellasclerk.org). Section numbers like Section 24 or Section 14 correspond to specific judges.

Question 4

What does Judge Burgess require in Section 22 Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

Judge William Burgess in Section 22 requires AI disclosure on all pleadings filed after January 2026 — this rule applies to lawyers filing with the court, not to regular users of AI tools. It is one of the first such requirements in Pinellas County. His courtroom also uses the JAWS scheduling system (the court's online hearing scheduling system) for all hearing requests.

Question 5

Do I need mediation before a temporary relief hearing in Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

Sections 14 and 23 (each judge runs their own section of family court cases) in Pinellas County family court require mediation before temporary relief hearings in most cases. This is one of the most critical procedural rules that pro se litigants (people representing themselves without a lawyer) miss. Other sections may also require mediation — check with your specific judge's standing orders.

Question 6

What are the best divorce attorneys in Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

Top-rated family law attorneys in Pinellas County include practitioners from firms such as Lyons & Snyder, Law Office of Denise Miller, and others who regularly appear before 6th Circuit family court judges. Attorney selection should be based on their specific case type experience, courtroom presence before your assigned judge, and fee structure.

Question 7

How long does a divorce take in Pinellas County?

Accepted Answer

Uncontested divorces in Pinellas County can be finalized in 30-90 days. Contested divorces with child custody disputes typically take 12-24 months from filing to final judgment. Cases before certain sections tend to have longer docket calendars — section assignment (which judge is assigned to handle your case) affects timeline significantly.

Question 8

What is the 6th Judicial Circuit in Florida?

Accepted Answer

The 6th Judicial Circuit covers Pinellas and Pasco counties in Florida. Family law cases in Pinellas County are assigned to one of approximately 11 family division sections (each section is run by a specific judge who handles all cases in that section). The circuit courthouse is located in Clearwater, FL.

The best divorce lawyers in Pinellas County

Most experienced — Pinellas County dissolutions of record