Accommodations for Court Proceedings in the First Judicial Circuit

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, effective January 26, 1992, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local government services. This includes participation in court proceedings. Anyone needing an accommodation to participate in court proceedings should contact the appropriate ADA Coordinator for the court in which the activity will be held.

It is the intent of the First Judicial Circuit to facilitate provisions for reasonable accommodations when requested by qualified persons with disabilities.

Administrative Order 2010-33, signed by the Chief Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, requires that all notices for court proceedings include the following notice (as amended by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.540).

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Shelia Sims, Chief Deputy Court Administrator, Office of Court Administration at (850) 595-4400 at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 5th Floor, Pensacola, FL  32502 at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if  you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

Some accommodations, such as sign language interpreters and real-time reporting, require additional time to schedule.  To ensure service availability, it is recommended that you contact the ADA Coordinator at least seven days prior to your court appearance or visit to the courthouse.  Please be prepared to explain the nature of your disability and suggest an auxiliary aid or service that will enable you to effectively participate in the court program or service.

The ADA Coordinator for the courts in the First Judicial Circuit is Shelia Sims, Chief Deputy Court Administrator. She may be reached at (850) 595-4400 or for persons who are hearing or voice impaired, by calling 711. The address for the Office of Court Administration is: M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 Governmental Center, 5th Floor, Pensacola, FL 32502