Pinellas County Court

County Resources

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Pinellas County, FL Courthouse

County Clerk | Ken Burke | 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756 | (727)464-7000

The Pinellas County Courthouse is located in Clearwater, FL at 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756, and is also known as the Clearwater Courthouse. It was built in 1962, and while modern at the time, is now considered a bit outdated and the County plans to move its headquarters soon. Nevertheless, it operates as the central hub of the County’s Court system. It operates every business day between 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, and can be reached by phone at (727) 464-3000.

There are six floors, with the first floor home to Circuit/County Civil Court Records and recording services. The second floor is home to the Property Appraiser. The county tax collector is located on the third floor. The fourth floor is home to the administrative offices. Board records are located on the fifth floor. The administration is on the sixth floor.

Pinellas County, FL Court Clerk

County court clerks have the vital role of maintaining and handling all courthouse records. Ken Burke, CPA, currently acts as the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in Pinellas County, FL. Some of his many duties include maintaining custody of court records, maintaining custody of all related pleadings filed, securing evidence entered in court, and ensuring integrity of court files is protected among other things.

The Court Clerk serves a 4-year term, and to date, Ken Burke has served close to 5 terms since 2005. In addition to managing all courthouse records, he is also responsible for managing the local budget of the County, which is approximately $43 million, and over 500 employees of the County Clerks’ office.

Pinellas County, FL District Court

District courts, also known as trial courts, are the main trial branches of the state judicial system. However, in Florida, six District Courts of Appeal in Florida are responsible for the final appellate review of litigated cases. Pinellas County falls within Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals, although they do much more than listen to appeals.
Pinellas County’s court system is comprised of a circuit court and county court. Their circuit court listens to Civil Cases, Family Law Matters, Felonies, Guardianship, Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Dependency, Mental Health, and Probate. Their county court is responsible for Certified Questions, Civil Cases, Misdemeanors, Small Claims, and Traffic cases.

Pinellas County, FL Special Magistrate Court

When most people think of judges, magistrate courts may not come to mind. However, these courts play a crucial role in the judicial system as they handle lower-level criminal and civil cases and determine whether bond should be set for arrestees. In Pinellas County, the Special Magistrate Court is not run by judges, which are elected officials, but by special magistrate hearing officers.

According to Florida Statute Section 162.02, Pinellas County allows Special Magistrates, which are designated by the Board of County Commissioners, the authority to hold hearings and assess fines for those who have been charged. They have jurisdiction in multiple county departments and division.
They conduct hearings regarding testimony and evidence on code violations of the alleged violations of the Pinellas County Code, and also enforce orders. Magistrate hearings are held on the 5th floor of 315 Court Street and are open to the public. Current special magistrates include Jeffrey R. Fuller, Esq., and James Mathieu, Esq.

Pinellas County, FL Civil Court

In Pinellas County, FL, their Civil Circuit Court is comprised of both Civil and Family court. The family division is responsible for hearing cases on family actions. These can include anything from divorces to name changes, paternity suits, domestic violence cases, and adoption. If a Juvenile Dependency action is pending, The Unified Family Court will most likely hear cases involving adoption and domestic violence.

This civil division of Circuit Court hears civil actions that include various issues, which can include mortgage foreclosure, contracts, medical malpractice, negligence, and wrongful acts dealing with money matters above $30,000. Circuit Civil actions might also include seeking private remediation based on contracts or agreements of over $50,000.

Pinellas County, FL Felony Drug Court

Pinellas County’s adult drug court program is a court-supervised, comprehensive drug treatment court program for non-violent defendants. To be eligible, you must be facing a first-time, non-violent, third-degree felony charge and admitted to Drug Court at the discretion of the State Attorney.

Participating in this voluntary 18-24 month program means defendants will need to appear before Drug Court judge, participate in substance abuse treatment, and take random and frequent UAs. It was initiated in 2001, and operates in partnership with the Sixth Judicial Circuit, State Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Sheriffs’ Offices, Florida Department of Corrections, local law enforcement, community substance abuse providers, and the Pinellas and Pasco Boards of County Commissioners.

After completion, those who have completed treatment, remained sober for at least one year, and completed all of their requirements of Pre-Trial Intervention or probation may petition the court for a dismissal of the charges. They can also petition for early termination of probation.