Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts

Serving the Citizens of Brevard and Seminole Counties

CIRCUIT JUDGE

The Honorable Melanie Chase

Division: B - AJ/Criminal
Judicial Assistant: Jennifer Jones
Office: (407) 665-4993 | Email
Located at the Seminole Criminal Justice Center, Sanford

SCHEDULING HEARINGS

JACs Dockets & Calendars

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit provides the JACs (Judicial Automatic Calendar System). JACs online scheduling is for attorneys only and requires a login. It is important to review any policies and procedures that apply before contacting judges’ chambers. If you don’t see the docket you are looking for within the JACs list, please contact the Judicial Assistant.

NOTE: Not all of the judges post their calendars online. If your judge is not found on JACs you should contact the Judicial Assistant directly. Calendars are subject to change hourly, so check back frequently to guarantee accurate updates.

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.

JACS INSTRUCTIONS

JACS General Instructions (Attorneys Only)

JACs

JACs Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS AND MORE

Judge Chase's 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.

MELANIE CHASE

BIOGRAPHY

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

  • Supreme Court of the United States (Admitted 2006)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Admitted 2003)
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Admitted 2003)
  • The Florida Bar (Admitted 2002)

    EDUCATION

    • JD, University of Florida College of Law
    • BA, Rollins College (Summa Cum Laude)
    • AA, Seminole State College (with Highest Honors)

    JUDICIAL HISTORY

    • Deputy Chief Judge (2023 – present)
    • Administrative Judge, Criminal/Felony Division
    • Administrative Judge, Civil Appeals Division
    • Administrative Judge, Juvenile Division
    • Administrative Judge, Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health Division
    • Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Diversity Liaison Bar-Bench Liaison, Seminole County
    • Civil Division
    • Family Division
    • Criminal Division
    • Juvenile Division
    • Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health Division

      ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS

      LEGAL LEADERSHIP (Past and Present):

      • President, Seminole County Bar Association
      • Board of Directors, Seminole County Bar Association
      • President, Seminole County Inn of Court
      • Board of Directors, Seminole County Inn of Court
      • Judicial Liaison Seminole County Florida Association of Women Lawyers
      • President, Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents (Statewide)
      • Board of Directors, Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents
      • President and Director, Seminole County Legal Aid Society
      • Seminole County Florida Association of Women Lawyers Liaison to Seminole County Bar
      • Fellow, The Florida Bar Foundation
      • Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Service Awards Committee
      • Co-Chair, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee

       

      COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (Past and Present):

      • Chair, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (Appointed by two Governors)
      • Vice-Chair, Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission
      • Seminole County Board of Adjustment
      • Code Enforcement Magistrate, City of Oviedo
      • President, Private Business Association of Seminole
      • Brevard County Civilian Military Council, 45th Space Wing
      • Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County
      • Seminole County Affordable Housing Commission
      • Board of Directors, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Orlando Chapter
      • Chair, South Seminole Hospital Women’s Advisory Council
      • Board of Directors, Early Learning Coalition of Seminole
      • Board of Directors, Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
      • Districting Commission Advisory Board, City of Winter Springs
      • Member, SERTOMA (Service to Mankind)
      • Community Leaders and Elected Officials Member
      • Board of Advisors to The Village (providing transitional living to children aging out of Florida’s Foster Care System)

      AWARDS

      • Seminole County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award
      • Seminole County Bar Association’s Judge of the Year 2019 and 2022
      • Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
      • Seminole County Bar Award for Outstanding Professionalism
      • Leaders in the Law Award, Florida Association of Women Lawyers
      • “Women Who Mean Business” Finalist, Orlando Business Journal
      • Seminole County Legal Aid Society Past President’s Award
      • Edward C. Smith Award from Seminole County Legal Aid Society (awarded for “Outstanding Contributions to Pro Bono Projects and the General Betterment of the Community”)
      • Seminole County Legal Aid Society’s 18th Judicial Circuit Public Service Award
      800x600_seminole-county-justice-center-002
      Criminal Justice Center
      Judge Chase Holds Court at the Criminal Justice Center in
      Seminole County

      101 Eslinger Way
      Sanford, FL 32773-6707
      Office: (407) 665-4993

      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)
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      Case Management Plan/Orders
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