SB 2508 revises the statutory allocation of judges across Florida’s trial and appellate courts. It increases the number of circuit judges in several judicial circuits, including the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Circuits. It also increases county court judges in a number of counties, including Bay, Clay, Hernando, Lake, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and Sumter counties.
The bill also changes the composition of the district courts of appeal. It increases the Sixth District Court of Appeal from 9 to 11 judges and provides that the Second District Court of Appeal will be reduced from 15 to 13 judges over time, with the reduction occurring upon vacancies after July 1, 2025 until the lower number is reached. The bill includes a legislative declaration that it serves an important state interest and takes effect July 1, 2025.
The bill amends sections 26.031, 34.022, and 35.06 of the Florida Statutes, directly changing the number of authorized judgeships in specified circuit courts, county courts, and district courts of appeal. Its practical effect is to expand judicial capacity in several high-volume trial court jurisdictions while also reallocating appellate judgeships between the Second and Sixth District Courts of Appeal. These changes affect the Governor’s appointment authority, the courts’ staffing levels, and the administration of cases in the listed circuits and counties.
The available voting history shows strong, bipartisan support for the bill. It passed Senate Appropriations unanimously and later passed both chambers on third reading with overwhelming margins and no recorded dissenting votes. With no committee transcript available, the overall sentiment appears broadly favorable and noncontroversial, reflecting consensus around judicial staffing adjustments.
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record, as the bill advanced with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The only potentially sensitive policy choice is the shift in appellate judgeships: the Sixth District gains judges while the Second District is reduced through attrition as vacancies occur. That kind of redistribution can raise regional concerns about workload, access, and institutional balance, but no recorded opposition or specific objections appear in the provided materials.