3rd Judicial Circuit

Serving Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

The offices of the Third Judicial Circuit Court will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. Normal operations will resume Tuesday, May 26th, 2026.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Judges from the FL 1st DCA @1dca_flcourts heard oral arguments on 2/6/26 in a sitting at the Madison Co. Courthouse.
L-R:
Chief Judge Melissa Olin (Circuit)
Judge Clayton Roberts 1 DCA
Judge Joseph Lewis, Jr. 1 DCA
Judge Susan L. Kelsey 1 DCA
Judge Jamie Tyndal (Hamilton)

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Our own Dixie County Judge Jennifer Johnson will speak at this national forum later this month. https://t.co/OoPjPzqV2X

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Third Circuit County Judges attending the Florida Conference of County Judges education program in Bonita Springs, Florida.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Judges from the Florida First DCA @1dca_flcourts heard oral arguments on Friday Feb 14th, 2025 in a sitting at the Dixie County Courthouse. Pictured From L-R and Front to Back:

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Chief Judge Melissa Olin (Circuit)
Judge Leandra Johnson (Circuit)
Judge Jennifer Griffin (Suwannee)
Judge Jennifer Johnson (Dixie)
Judge Kemmerly Thomas 1 DCA
Judge Robert Long 1 DCA
Judge Ross Bilbrey 1 DCA
Judge Bailey Browning (Madison)
Judge Greg Parker (Circuit)

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

On February 14, 2025 Chief Judge Olin was elected to another two year term (2025 – 2027) effective July 1, 2025.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

All courthouses in the Third Judicial Circuit will be closed on January 22, 2025 due to inclement weather and potentially hazardous conditions. Please note, all Zoom proceedings will continue as scheduled.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Judge Kathryn R. Land was sworn in as our new Circuit Judge on 1/7/25.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

The Offices of the Third Judicial Circuit Court will be closed on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, and will reopen on Thursday Jan 2, 2025.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Chief Judge Melissa G. Olin swears in newly appointed Columbia County Judge Garrett Hill in courtroom 1 today.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Columbia and Dixie county courthouses are closed on October 10, 2024. All proceedings will be rescheduled.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

All courthouses in the Third Judicial Circuit will be open tomorrow (October 1st, 2024) and court hearings will resume as previously scheduled, both in-person and virtual hearings.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

The Columbia and Lafayette County courthouses are open on 9/30/24. All other 3rd Circuit courthouses are closed. Check back for frequent updates.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

All Third Circuit courthouses will close on Thursday and Friday, Sept 26 - 27, 2024 due to the approaching hurricane. Proceedings will be rescheduled.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

The Taylor County courthouse will be closed WED-THU-FrI, Sept. 25 - 27, 2024 and proceedings scheduled on those dates will be rescheduled. Injunction for protection / Domestic violence court for judge blue on Wednesday 9/25/2024 has been rescheduled for October 9, 2024.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

As of 9-3-24, the Columbia County Clerk's Office will be open to the public daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays and weekends).

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

The Suwannee Co courthouse will reopen on 8/8/24.

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

Please see below our court operations and courthouse status for 8/7/24:

Columbia – Open
Dixie – Open
Hamilton – Open, court postponed
Lafayette – Open
Madison – Open
Suwannee - Closed
Taylor – Open

[3rd Judicial Circuit @Circuit3FL]

All court proceedings scheduled on 8/6/24 are cancelled. All courthouses are closed. A Wednesday update will be sent tomorrow once we have been able to assess the status of each county.