Criminal Defense in Orange County, FL

After being accused of a crime in Orlando or the surrounding areas in Orange County, FL, law enforcement officers might begin an investigation or make an arrest.

After the arrest, the criminal case is prosecuted in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Felony cases are prosecuted in Circuit Court, and misdemeanor cases are prosecuted in County Court.

Law enforcement agencies that investigate crimes in Orange County, FL, include:

• Florida Highway Patrol;
• Orange County Sheriff’s Office;
• Orlando Police Department;
• Apopka Police Department;
• Belle Isle Police Department;
• Eatonville Florida Police Department;
• Edgewood Police Department;
• Maitland Police Department;
• Ocoee Police Department;
• University of Central Florida Police Department;
• Windermere Police Department; and
• Winter Park Police Department.

After you learn of the criminal accusation, contact an experienced criminal justice attorney for Orlando, FL, as early as possible.

We can help you during all phases of the case. During the initial consultation, you can discuss the details of your case, the charges, and possible defenses.

If you hire us, we can investigate the circumstances, gather favorable evidence, and fight for an outright dismissal of the charges, and help you negotiate the best result.

Our attorneys will develop a defense strategy tailored to your case. The best result occurs when the prosecutor drops the charges or the court dismisses the charges on the merits. The best plea deals are negotiated only after the prosecutor understands that you and your attorneys are prepared to go to trial to win the case.

Criminal Defense Attorneys for Orange County, FL

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm are familiar with the criminal courts in Orlando County, FL. Whether you were formally arrested and booked into jail or whether you received a notice to appear in court, we can help.

Our attorneys represent clients accused of felony or misdemeanor crimes throughout the 9th Judicial Circuit Court, the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, and the Orange County Branch Courthouses in Apopka, Ocoee, and Winter Park, FL.

We represent clients at the first appearance and arrangement through the final resolution of the case during a motion to suppress or dismiss or at trial. Depending on how the case was resolved, we help clients obtain a court-ordered sealing or expungement of a criminal record.

Our offices are located at 1950 Lee Road, Suite 208, in Winter Park, Florida 32789.

Call 407-598-9011.

Overview of Criminal Charges in Orange County

• Notice to Appear in Orange County, FL
• What Happens at Arraignment in Orange County, FL?
• Directions to the Orange County Courthouse
• Judicial Assignments in County Court in Orange County, FL
• Types of Criminal Cases Prosecuted in Orange County, FL
• DUI Defense in Orange County, FL
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Additional Resources

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Notice to Appear in Orange County, FL

A law enforcement officer in Orange County, FL, issues the “Notice to Appear” in court for a misdemeanor. Sometimes, the notice to appear is issued when a person is released from jail if the person meets the criteria in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.125.

In some cases, the arresting officer might issue a notice to appear in court, including a “Complaint Summons/Civil Citation” or a “Florida Uniform Traffic Citation.”

If you post a Cash Appearance Bond, then Florida Statutes Section 903.286, 27.52, and 938.29 authorize the Clerk of the Court in the Ninth (9th) Judicial Circuit to deduct any criminal penalties, court fees, costs of representation, or unpaid costs of prosecution from the bond.

The court appearance is set at the court facility in the geographical area where the offense occurred. For example, some misdemeanors are assigned to the downtown courthouse (Orlando Division) or a branch courthouse in Apopka, Ocoee, and Winter Park, FL.

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What Happens at Arraignment in Orange County, FL?

To locate information about an upcoming court date, including the arraignment, contact the Deputy Clerk at the Office of the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office in Orange County, FL.

You can also use the name search feature or look for the case number on the clerk’s website’s public access search feature.

The clerk’s office in Orlando, FL, offers the e-notify service for reminders about upcoming court hearings. Although the notification service provides text and email reminders of forthcoming criminal court hearings, the clerk’s office continues to provide formal notice of court events for all felony and misdemeanor cases.

If you have a pending criminal case, look at your docket each week for updates about upcoming court dates.

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Directions to the Orange County Courthouse

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Judicial Assignments in County Court in Orange County, FL

Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 2025-13-05, dated August 6, 2026, judicial assignments for criminal cases in Division 7 for misdemeanor & traffic cases are assigned to the following judges and subdivisions:

• Judge Elizabeth J. Starr – Subdivision 61-7
• Judge Brian F. Duckworth – Subdivision 62-7
• Judge Steven Miller – Subdivision 63-7
• Judge Jeramy C. Beasley – Subdivision 80-7
• Judge Eric H. DuBois – Subdivision 81-7
• Judge Heather G. Guarch – Subdivision 82-7
• Judge Andrew L. Cameron – Subdivision 83-7
• Judge Steve Jewett – Subdivision 84-7
• Judge Amanda S. Bova – Subdivision 85-7

In Circuit Court for Division 1 (Circuit Criminal and Jimmy Ryce Act), cases are assigned to the following subdivisions:

• Judge Vincent Falcone, III – Subdivision 10-1
• Judge Vincent S. Chiu – Subdivision 11-1
• Judge Sonia McDowell – Subdivision 12-1
• Judge Barbara J. Leach – Subdivision 14-1
• Judge A. James Craner – Subdivision 15-1
• Judge Eric J. Netcher – Subdivision 16-1
• Judge Michael J. Snure – Subdivision 17-1
• Judge Keith A. Carsten – Subdivision 19-1 (Trial post-conviction matters not handled by SD 24-1)
• Judge Michael Kraynick – Subdivision 20-1
• Judge Gisela T. Laurent – Subdivision 22-1
• Judge Reginald K. Whitehead – Subdivision 23-1 (In-jail arraignments; Unified Problem Solving Court: Veteran’s Court, Adult Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Competency Court)
• Judge As Assigned (Judge Amy Carter temporarily assigned pursuant to Rule 2.215(b)(4)) – Subdivision 24-1 (Rule 3.850 and Rule 3.853 post-conviction matters)

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Types of Criminal Cases Prosecuted in Orange County, FL

The criminal defense attorneys at Sammis Law Firm for Orange County, FL, handle the following types of cases:

• DUI: Defense against Driving While Under the Influence (DUI) charges
  • DUI – Refusal to Submit to DUI Testing
  • DUI – Property Damage or Personal Injury
  • DUI – .15 or Higher / Person Under 18 in Vehicle
• Drug Crimes: Defense for possession, distribution, or manufacturing of controlled substances
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
  • Possession of Cannabis With Intent to Sell/Deliver
  • Possession of Amphetamine
  • Possession of MDMA/Ecstasy
  • Possession of Methamphetamine
  • Possession of MDMA/Ecstasy With Intent
  • Trafficking in Amphetamines >14 but <28 grams
  • Possess Place/Structure to Traffic Controlled Substance
• Violent Crimes: Defense for charges such as assault, battery, or homicide
  • Battery (Domestic Violence)
  • Battery – Dating Violence
  • Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
  • Battery by Strangulation – Domestic Violence
  • Aggravated Assault With a Deadly Weapon
• Property Crimes: Defense for theft, burglary, vandalism, and other property-related offenses
  • Burglary of Occupied Structure
  • Burglary of Dwelling With Assault or Battery
• White-Collar Crimes: Defense for fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, and other non-violent financial crimes.
• Juvenile Crimes: Representation for minors facing criminal charges.

The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation is a multi-agency task force empowered to conduct narcotics, vice, and organized crime investigations across jurisdictional boundaries throughout the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola Counties.

Although the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation is not a law enforcement employing agency, the officers who are part of this task force are certified under Chapter 943, F.S., under their employing law enforcement agency.

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DUI Defense in Orange County, FL

Florida law provides two alternative theories of proving DUI offenses under § 316.193(1)(a)&(b). First, the prosecutor can show driving while normal faculties are impaired under an “impairment theory”) which requires showing impairment of normal faculties.

Second, the prosecutor can show DUI under a “strict liability” theory of driving with a blood or breath alcohol level of 0.08 or higher (“DUBAL”), regardless of a showing of actual impairment.

In other words, the prosecutor can show that a person is guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) if a person drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle and the person:

• is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any controlled substance set forth in s. 877.111, F.S., or any substance controlled under ch. 893, F.S., to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired; or
• regardless of impairment, at the time of driving had:
  • a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or
  • a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.

Read more about DUI defense in Orange County, FL.

Orange County’s Criminal Case Management Plan

Practicing in Central Florida requires an intimate understanding of local court administration. Unlike many jurisdictions across Florida where criminal cases can languish on dockets for months without strict oversight, the Ninth Judicial Circuit operates under one of the state’s most rigorous court management systems.

The best way to understand these unique procedures is by reading Administrative Order No. 2004-04-3 (Amended Order Governing the Criminal Case Management Plan).

Enacted to reduce systemic court backlogs and enforce prompt case resolution, the Criminal Case Management Plan establishes strict, court-wide operational rules for all judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys practicing in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Under the order, the court divides criminal charges into structured Tracks, each carrying a presumptively reasonable time standard from arraignment or arrest to final disposition:

1. Felony Case “Tracks” (From Arraignment to Trial/Disposition)
   1. The Track “A” (90-Day Target) covers the following third-degree felonies:
      • property crimes
      • fraud
      • simple drug possession/delivery
      • third-degree grand theft
      • burglary of a conveyance or structure
      • all other non-enumerated third-degree felonies
   2. The Track “B” (120-Day Target) covers standard second-degree felonies, including:
      • drug trafficking
      • robbery
      • carjacking
      • aggravated assault
      • aggravated battery
      • burglary of a dwelling
   3. The Track “C” (150-Day Target) covers first-degree and life felonies, including:
      • sexual battery
      • second-degree murder
      • manslaughter
      • non-capital child sex offenses
   4. The Track “D” (170 to 545 Days) is reserved for the following charges:
      • capital murder
      • capital sexual battery
      • RICO prosecutions
      • other highly complex litigation
   5. The Track “E” (120 to 180 Days) is reserved for the following:
      • probation violations carrying new law offenses under the Anti-Murder Act.
2. Misdemeanors & Probation Violations Misdemeanors in Orange County, FL:
   1. Must reach trial commencement or disposition within 90 days of arrest.
   2. Both technical and substantive probation violations are scheduled to be heard within 30 days of arrest.

In Orange and Osceola Counties, Administrative Order 2004-04-3 mandates a strict, written policy when attorneys need to request a continuance.

Every motion to continue must be in writing, state particularized “good cause,” be signed by the attorney, and must be signed by the defendant.

When a defendant requests a continuance, they are required to acknowledge on the mandatory court form (Attachment “A”) that speedy trial is waived upon the granting of the motion.

Judges are required to log and track every single continuance granted or denied, and monthly statistical reports are submitted directly to the Chief Judge and Administrative Judges.

Pretrial Conference Rules in Orange County, FL

To prevent last-minute chaos on the eve of trial, the order forces the State Attorney’s Office to formalize its position early.

Under Section IV, the prosecutor must communicate all plea offers (or declare that no offer will be extended) in writing at least three working days prior to the Pretrial Conference.

Defense counsel is required to convey that offer to the client by the conference, ensuring you have clear notice of the state’s posture before trial dockets are set.

Because the Ninth Judicial Circuit enforces rapid timeframes (often demanding trial readiness in 90 to 120 days for serious offenses), hiring an unorganized or slow-moving defense lawyer can severely prejudice your case.

To protect your constitutional rights, your attorney must immediately:

• Demand and review initial discovery within days of arraignment;
• Identify witness conflicts or evidentiary suppression issues before the short Track deadlines expire; and
• Scrutinize police reports, body camera footage, and scientific test results without relying on indefinite case continuances.

At Sammis Law Firm, our Winter Park office comes with a decade of dedicated criminal defense and trial litigation experience in Florida.

We understand how to navigate the Ninth Judicial Circuit’s strict case management dockets while aggressively defending your freedom.

Contact our Winter Park office today at 407-598-9011 or visit us at 1950 Lee Road, Suite 208, Winter Park, FL 32789 to discuss your defense.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Additional Resources

Ninth Circuit Courtroom and Attorney Decorum Policy – Administrative order 2003-07-02 outlines the basic principles concerning courtroom behavior and decorum in the courthouses of Orlando, Orange County, and the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (CFACDL) – Visit the CFACDL website to learn more about the Central Florida affiliate of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL). This non-profit organization serves the interests of criminal defense lawyers in central Florida. CFACDL includes private defense counsel and public defenders practicing in state and federal courts throughout Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. CFACDL sponsors Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars and networking events attended by members and judges. CFACDL conducts the Annual Judicial Poll so local defense attorneys and prosecutors can rate the performance of judges in their area.

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Finding a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Orlando, FL

If you have been arrested for a DUI, felony, or misdemeanor offense in Orange County, Florida, contact an experienced criminal justice attorney at Sammis Law Firm to discuss the details of your case.

Our main office is located in Tampa in Hillsborough County, FL. We also have a second office in New Port Richey in Pasco County.

We fight criminal cases throughout Orange County, FL, and the surrounding areas in and around Orlando, FL.

We provide a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. We can also schedule same-day consultations with individuals who are being held at the Orange County Jail, for a confidential meeting to review the charges and possible defenses.

Let us put our experience to work for you.

Call 407-598-9011.

This article was last updated on Wednesday, August 25, 2026.