The Judicial Branch consists of Circuit Court and County Court Judges. Each Judicial Circuit has a number of Circuit and County Court Judges, the numbers of which are determined by the Legislature. St. Johns County is a part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, which comprises St. Johns, Volusia, Flagler and Putnam Counties. Presently, St. Johns County has two County Court Judges, two full-time Circuit Court Judges, and one Circuit Court Judge who divides his time between St. Johns and Putnam Counties. The jurisdictions and qualifications for Judges in Florida are set by Article Five of the State Constitution.
Some additional jurisdiction is conferred by general law.
County Judges are elected from the County in which they serve. Circuit Judges are elected Circuit wide. Vacancies that occur in midterm are filled by Gubernatorial appointment. County Court Judges have jurisdiction to handle cases only in the County in which they were elected or appointed to serve, unless they are specifically assigned to another county by order or the Chief Judge of the Circuit, or the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court.