Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts

Serving the Citizens of Brevard and Seminole Counties

BREVARD COUNTY GENERAL MAGISTRATE

GM_Kristen_Smith-Rodriguez(1088 x1112)

The Honorable Kristen Smith-Rodriguez

Division: Circuit Family
Judicial AssistantKaren Flash
Office: (321) 637-5305 | Email
Located at the Moore Justice Center Viera, Brevard

SCHEDULING HEARINGS

JACs Dockets & Calendars

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides procedural instructions for attorneys along with policies that may differ within the guidelines of the law between judges and county or circuit court.

Attorneys in both Brevard and Seminole have the resources offering many new facets of modern technology including but not limited to online scheduling, instructions, provider listings, policies and procedures and much more.

There are courtroom rules and policies governing all divisions of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. All parties are expected to follow these rules.

Select Pre-Trial Docket Month Below:

JACs

JACs Instructions

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A JACS ACCOUNT

Attorneys Only (You will need your Florida Bar Number)

ATTORNEYS CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP OR RESET YOUR ACCOUNT. (You will need your Florida Bar Number)

FOR ALL OTHER PLEASE NOTE: The JACS system was designed to work with bar license numbers only, as a way of tracking attorneys who schedule hearings. We will not be able to create a JACS account for you.

Luckily, JACS is only one of the many ways we have to schedule hearing dates in our Court. If you require a hearing date please use one of these methods:

  1. Work with opposing counsel and have them schedule a hearing on an agreed time/date.
  2. Contact the presiding judge’s Judicial Assistant for your scheduling needs. 
  3. File a motion requesting a hearing per the Florida Trial Court Rules.

INSTRUCTIONS AND MORE

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez' Policies and Procedures (See Below)

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides procedural instructions for attorneys along with policies that may differ within the guidelines of the law between judges and county or circuit court.

Attorneys in both Brevard and Seminole have the resources offering many new facets of modern technology including but not limited to online scheduling, instructions, provider listings, policies and procedures and much more.

There are courtroom rules and policies governing all divisions of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court. All parties are expected to follow these rules.

KRISTEN SMITH-RODRIGUEZ

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez received her Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law, after receiving her Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Central Florida.

BAR ADMISSIONS

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2010 and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 2016.

JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL HISTORY

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez began her service as Magistrate in the Family Division in February 2019.

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez presides over cases in the family division pursuant to Florida Statute chapters 61, 88, 742, 751, 57, 39, 394, 397 (specifically: dissolution of marriage, alimony, equitable distribution, child support, contempt, enforcement, modification, parenting plans, paternity, relocation, stepparent adoptions, name changes, attorney fees, UIFSA/UCCJEA, mental health (the Baker Act), substance abuse (the Marchman Act)).

Since 2014, Ms. Smith-Rodriguez has served on the City of Titusville Board of Adjustment and Appeals. She has been the chairwoman since 2022. The Board hears requests, in a quasi-judicial proceeding, for variances from the City of Titusville Code and Code of Land Regulations, as well as appeals from decisions of the building official.

LEGAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez is an active member in the Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court.  The Organization includes members of the bar and the bench who present on monthly on a variety of legal topics to educate their colleagues and build relationships in the legal community.  Ms. Smith-Rodriguez has been a member since 2013 and held the role of team captain twice.


In 2019, Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez joined the Florida Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.  She is currently a board member and has been the chair/co-chair of the annual education program since 2022.  In such role, Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez actively contributes to the dissemination of quality content and cutting-edge research for family law professionals, including lawyers, mediators, and mental health professionals.


From 2019-2021, as a co-chair on multiple task force subcommittees with the FLAFCC, Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez was a contributor to the November/December 2021 Florida Bar Journal article, Blueprint for a More Effective Family Court Intake Process and Beyond: Opening the Umbrella to Process Family Court Cases.


Ms. Smith-Rodriguez is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Titusville.  Since 2013, Ms. Smith-Rodriguez has been a member, board member, and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Titusville, where she actively participates in initiatives that aim to serve one child and one community at a time. Her most recent service projects include in installing community libraries, providing shoes for students in need, organizing holiday gifts and necessities for children, and she has previously served as a mentor to the students in the Kiwanis Builder’s Club at Jackson Middle School.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Ms. Smith-Rodriguez has been the recipient of the Brevard County Legal Aid Outstanding and Distinguished Pro Bono Service Awards as well as the President’s Award in the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Viera Courthouse
Moore Justice Center
Magistrate Smith-Rodriguez Conducts Hearings at the Moore Justice Center in
Brevard County

2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940-8006
 (321) 637-5305

Florida Courts Help available at the touch of a screen:

For constituents, customers, or callers seeking help with family law cases – divorce, adoption, name change, custody, order of protection, and much more – there is now a one-stop source for lots of information aimed at self-represented people. Florida Courts Help is available at app stores as well as online at help.flcourts.gov.

View Case Management Administrative Orders, video tutorial on how to properly complete and submit Case Management Plan/Orders, and more. Please ensure you are utilizing the most recent Case Management Plan and Case Management Order. Click here to view Civil Case Management Orders & Forms (Updated on 4/16/2024)
Case Management Plan/Orders