Florence Municipal Court

Florence Municipal Court cases in Lauderdale County, Florence, AL

Florence Municipal Court is a municipal court serving the City of Florence, Alabama. It has limited jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and misdemeanor offenses occurring within the city or its police jurisdiction. The court handles criminal misdemeanor and violation-level matters (such as DUI, minor drug possession, disorderly conduct, and code-enforcement cases) and traffic and parking offenses; it issues warrants, conducts arraignments, accepts pleas, and imposes fines and sentences within statutory limits. It does not adjudicate civil lawsuits, family/domestic relations cases, probate matters, juvenile dependency, or felony trials. Felony matters originating within the city receive initial processing only and are then transferred to the state courts. Appeals from Florence Municipal Court go to Lauderdale County Circuit Court for a trial de novo.

Florence Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Florence Municipal Court

- Jurisdiction: civil traffic and parking matters; criminal misdemeanors (e.g., DUI, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, domestic-violence-related offenses); and city/town code violations.
- Case filings and proceedings: accepts complaints/citations, motions, and discovery; schedules arraignments, pretrial conferences, bench or jury trials (when authorized), sentencings, compliance reviews; issues warrants and other orders.
- Protective orders: accepts petitions for Orders of Protection and Injunctions Against Harassment, issues temporary orders, sets hearings, and processes modifications/renewals, when authorized by law.
- Jury services: summons and qualifies jurors, conducts voir dire and impanelment, manages attendance and juror compensation.
- Payments and compliance: collects fines/fees, offers payment plans, directs defensive-driving/diversion eligibility, and monitors sentence conditions.
- Records and access: provides case information and certified records, calendar details, interpreters and ADA accommodations, and public assistance at the clerk's counter and by phone/online.