The Florida Supreme Court and The Florida District Courts

The Florida court system consists of the Florida Supreme Court, district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts. As the name suggests, the Florida Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. Located in Tallahassee, the Florida Supreme Court is composed of seven justices. Five justices must be present in order to conduct business and at least four justices must agree on a decision in each case.
The Florida Supreme Court must hear all judgments imposing the death penalty, district court decisions declaring a state statute or provision of the state constitution invalid, bond validation judgments, and actions of statewide agencies relating to public utilities. The Florida Supreme Court has discretion in hearing decisions of district courts of appeal that expressly declare a state statute valid; questions certified by the district courts of appeal as being of great public importance; or decisions where the district courts are in conflict with one another.

There are five district courts of appeal in Florida, each covering a geographic district. Judges sit in panels of three and decide appeals from circuit courts in most criminal and civil cases. They also have jurisdiction to decide appeals from county courts when a state statute or provision of the state constitution is held invalid, or for orders or judgments certified to be of great public importance. As a practical matter, the district courts of appeal are the final appellate review of litigated cases. Someone displeased with a district court's decision may seek review in the Florida Supreme Court or in the U.S. Supreme Court.