The Miami Gardens city court docket system runs through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court because Miami Gardens does not operate its own courthouse. Every civil case, criminal charge, traffic ticket, and misdemeanor filed in Miami Gardens lands on the 11th Judicial Circuit docket managed by Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin.
This page explains how to look up cases, read docket entries, and find hearing dates for any Miami Gardens case in 2026.
More than 116,000 people live in Miami Gardens, and every one of them shares the same court system as the rest of Miami-Dade County. The clerk’s office processes more than 2.7 million residents’ cases each year. Knowing where to search saves time and prevents missed court dates.
Why Miami Gardens Uses the Miami-Dade County Court System
Miami Gardens is a city in northern Miami-Dade County. Florida law gives county court clerks the job of keeping docket records for all cities inside that county. Miami Gardens has no municipal court building, no city judge, and no separate docket system. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court holds every filing, hearing, and judgment for Miami Gardens cases.
The clerk’s office runs the official site at miamidadeclerk.gov. That site is the main place to search the Miami Gardens city court docket. The clerk also runs the Criminal Justice Online Case Search (COIN) system at miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis for criminal cases.
| Court Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Court System | Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court |
| Judicial Circuit | 11th Judicial Circuit |
| Clerk of Court | Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Esq. |
| Main Phone | 305-275-1155 |
| Official Website | miamidadeclerk.gov |
| Criminal Search (COIN) | miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis |
How to Search the Miami Gardens City Court Docket Online
The clerk offers three free online tools for the Miami Gardens city court docket. Each tool covers a different case type.
1. COIN System for Criminal and Traffic Dockets
The COIN portal at miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis covers all criminal docket records for Miami Gardens. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, DUIs, traffic infractions, and ordinance violations. Users can search by full name, date of birth, or case number. The system shows charges, hearing dates, bond amounts, plea entries, and final dispositions.
Basic COIN searches need no account. The platform runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Users see Level E access under Administrative Order AOSC24-65, which means party names, case numbers, and docket entries appear in full. Sealed records, expunged cases, and juvenile matters stay hidden from public view.
2. Civil, Family, and Probate Docket Search
The main clerk search at miamidadeclerk.gov covers civil lawsuits, small claims, family law, domestic violence injunctions, probate, guardianship, and mental health filings tied to Miami Gardens addresses. Users can filter results by case type, filing date, and party name. The system returns docket entries that show every motion, order, and hearing scheduled for each Miami Gardens case.
3. Statewide E-Filing Portal
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com tracks every document filed in a Miami Gardens case. Attorneys file motions, responses, and exhibits through this system. Members of the public can view filed documents for a small fee per page. The portal also links to the ACIS system at acis.flcourts.gov for appellate cases that left the trial court.
Types of Dockets Available for Miami Gardens Cases
The Miami Gardens city court docket covers many case types. Each type has its own search path and hearing schedule.
Criminal Docket
Criminal cases include felonies, misdemeanors, and violations of Florida state law. Examples range from theft and drug possession to assault and fraud. Search these on the COIN system. Each entry shows the arraignment date, pretrial conference, motion hearings, and trial date. Bond amounts and conditions appear on the first page of the docket sheet.
Traffic Docket
Traffic infractions in Miami Gardens appear on the county criminal docket because Florida treats most moving violations as criminal misdemeanors. Users can search speeding tickets, careless driving charges, and license violations on COIN. The traffic docket shows the fine amount, school requirements, and court hearing date.
DUI Docket
Driving under the influence cases in Miami Gardens follow the standard criminal docket path. The clerk marks each case with a DUI designation. Search by name or case number. The docket shows the arraignment, plea status, pretrial motions, and trial date. DUI cases carry strict hearing deadlines under Florida law.
Civil Docket
Civil cases cover contract disputes, personal injury claims, property damage lawsuits, and debt collection actions. The civil docket includes small claims cases filed for amounts up to $8,000. Search these through the main clerk portal. Civil cases list the plaintiff, defendant, attorney of record, and the judge assigned to the case.
Family Court Docket
Family dockets handle divorce, paternity, child support, custody, and adoption cases for Miami Gardens residents. Family court sits at 175 NW First Avenue in Miami. Records appear in the main clerk search but follow Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420 for confidentiality. Adoption files and juvenile dependency records stay sealed.
Misdemeanor Docket
Misdemeanors are crimes punishable by up to one year in county jail. Examples include simple battery, petit theft, trespass, and disorderly conduct. Search misdemeanor dockets on COIN. Each case lists the charges, plea entered, and sentence imposed.
Ordinance Violation Docket
Miami Gardens passes local ordinances for code enforcement, noise, and business licensing. Some ordinance violations get filed in county court when the city seeks a penalty. The city website at miamigardens-fl.gov links to code enforcement but not to court records. Search the county docket for any ordinance case tied to a Miami Gardens address.
Arraignment Docket
The arraignment is the first court appearance after arrest or citation. The arraignment docket shows the date each defendant must appear to hear the charges and enter a plea. Public defenders get assigned at arraignment for indigent defendants. Check this docket often when waiting on a new case.
Bond Docket
The bond docket lists the type of bond, amount set, and conditions of release. Search bond status on COIN. The docket updates when the defendant posts bond, violates conditions, or gets a bond modification hearing.
First Appearance Docket
First appearance hearings happen within 24 hours of arrest for in-custody defendants. A judge sets the initial bond and conditions. The first appearance docket shows the time of the hearing, the assigned judge, and the bond decision.
Pretrial Docket
Pretrial conferences happen after arraignment but before trial. Lawyers meet with the judge to discuss motions, evidence, and plea offers. The pretrial docket shows the conference date and any orders entered at the hearing.
Trial Docket
The trial docket lists jury trials, bench trials, and court trials set for a specific date. Each entry shows the case number, defendant, charges, and trial courtroom. Trial dockets often get moved by continuance orders, so check the date close to the hearing.
Jury Docket
Jurors get summoned by mail from the clerk’s office. The jury docket shows when jurors must report, the courtroom location, and the judge presiding. Miami Gardens residents receive jury summons for service at the main Miami-Dade courthouse.
Motion Docket
Lawyers file motions to ask the judge for specific rulings. Common motions include motions to suppress evidence, motions to dismiss, and motions in limine. The motion docket shows the filing date, hearing date, and the judge’s order on each motion.
Violation Docket
Probation violations and pretrial release violations appear on the violation docket. The clerk marks these cases separately so the court can track compliance. Search by name to see if a Miami Gardens case has an active violation pending.
Weekly Docket Calendar
The clerk posts a weekly docket calendar for each division. The calendar shows every case set for hearing that week, sorted by judge. Attorneys and the public can view the calendar online or pick up a printed copy at the courthouse. The daily docket follows the same format but covers one court date.
How to Read a Miami Gardens Docket Entry
Each docket entry follows a standard format. The first line shows the case number, which starts with a two-letter case type code. Common codes include CF for felony criminal, MM for misdemeanor, TR for traffic, CC for civil, and SC for small claims.
The next line shows the filing date. The third line lists the parties, including the full legal name of each defendant or respondent. Charges appear as statute numbers. Florida Statute 316.193 covers DUI, 812.014 covers theft, and 784.03 covers battery. The docket sheet lists every document filed, every hearing held, and every order entered in chronological order.
Check the most recent entry for the next hearing date. The docket updates within one business day after each court action. Print or save the docket sheet to keep a record of upcoming dates.
Searching the Miami Gardens City Court Docket by Case Number
Searching by case number returns results faster and more accurately than searching by name. To use this method, you need the full case number. The number includes the year of filing, the case type code, and a sequence number. Example: F24001234 means felony case number 1234 filed in 2024.
Open the COIN system or the main clerk search. Enter the full case number in the search box. Do not add spaces or dashes. The system returns the case page with all docket entries, party names, and hearing dates.
Searching the Miami Gardens City Court Docket by Name
Name searches work well for common cases but can return many results for names shared by several people. To narrow the search, enter the full last name and the first name. Add a date of birth if you know it. The system filters out results that do not match.
COIN accepts partial name matches. The main clerk search requires at least a last name. Results appear in order of most recent filing first. Click on a name to see the full case docket and all hearings.
In-Person Docket Access at Miami-Dade Courthouses
Online searches cover most needs, but some records require a visit to the courthouse. Miami-Dade County operates four main courthouse locations that handle Miami Gardens city court docket records.
Criminal Courthouse
Address: 1351 NW 12th Street, Miami, FL 33136. The Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building handles criminal and traffic cases for Miami Gardens. Public terminals on the first floor allow free docket searches. Court staff can help with kiosk access but cannot give legal advice.
Civil Courthouse
Address: 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. The Claude Pepper Federal Building handles civil cases, small claims, and probate for Miami Gardens. The clerk’s office on the second floor accepts document filings and public records requests.
Family Courthouse
Address: 175 NW First Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. The Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center handles family law cases for Miami Gardens. Family court records follow special confidentiality rules.
North Dade Justice Center
Address: 15555 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach, FL 33160. This location serves northern Miami-Dade cities and handles some Miami Gardens cases. Call the clerk at 305-275-1155 to confirm which cases the North Dade office handles.
Public Records Requests for Miami Gardens Docket Records
Florida law under Chapter 119 gives the public the right to inspect most government records. The Miami-Dade clerk accepts public records requests for Miami Gardens city court docket records that are not available online.
Email your request to cocpubreq@miamidadeclerk.gov. Include the case number, full name of the party, and a clear description of the records you need. The clerk responds within 10 business days. Call (305) 593-1352 for questions about the request process.
Some records stay sealed by court order. Sealed records require a court order to open. Expunged records are destroyed and no longer exist in the docket system.
Access Rules and User Roles for the Miami Gardens Docket
Administrative Order AOSC24-65 sets the rules for electronic docket access in Florida courts. The clerk applies the same rules to all Miami Gardens city court docket records. The general public holds User Role 7, which gives Level E access. This level shows case numbers, party names, court dates, docket entries, and final judgments.
Registered users with higher clearance can view sealed documents with a court order. Attorneys of record see full access to their own cases. Law enforcement sees criminal history and active warrants. Judges and court staff see every document in every case they handle.
Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420 protects certain records from public view. Adoption cases, juvenile dependency, mental health commitment, and substance abuse treatment records stay confidential. The clerk must redact Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and minor children’s names from any public docket view.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Searching the Miami Gardens Docket
Many users make simple errors that lead to wrong results or no results at all. The most common mistake is searching with a nickname instead of the full legal name. The clerk’s system uses the legal name from the arrest report or civil filing.
Another common mistake is entering the case number in the wrong format. Always use the full number with no spaces or dashes. A missing digit returns zero results.
Users also miss results by searching the wrong system. COIN covers criminal cases. The main clerk portal covers civil and family cases. Traffic cases appear on COIN. Choose the right system for the case type.
Some users fail to check the most recent docket entry. The case status can change at any hearing. Always look at the latest entry to see the current court date and the next required action.
What to Do After Finding a Miami Gardens Case on the Docket
After locating a case, note the next court date. Show up at least 30 minutes early. Bring the case number, a photo ID, and any paperwork from your attorney. Dress in business casual clothing. Turn off your phone before entering the courtroom.
If you cannot attend the hearing, contact your attorney or the clerk’s office right away. Missing a court date can result in a bench warrant for your arrest. A written motion to continue the hearing must be filed before the court date and served on the other party.
For criminal cases, the public defender’s office can help if you cannot afford an attorney. Call 305-545-1600 to reach the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. The office assigns lawyers at arraignment for indigent defendants.
Official Resources and Contact Details
Use the official channels below for any Miami Gardens city court docket search. Avoid third-party sites that charge fees for records the clerk offers for free.
Official Website: miamidadeclerk.gov
Main Phone: 305-275-1155
Public Records Email: cocpubreq@miamidadeclerk.gov
Public Records Phone: 305-593-1352
Criminal Search: miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis
Statewide Portal: myflcourtaccess.com
Appellate Search: acis.flcourts.gov
Florida Courts: flcourts.gov
Florida Court Clerks: flclerks.com
Courthouse Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed on federal holidays and state court holidays. The clerk’s office does not accept filings after 4:00 PM without prior arrangement.
Address: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court, 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130
FAQs About the Miami Gardens City Court Docket
Does Miami Gardens have its own city court?
No. Miami Gardens does not operate a city court. All court cases filed in Miami Gardens go through the Miami-Dade County court system under the 11th Judicial Circuit. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court holds the docket records for every case. You can search the Miami Gardens city court docket on miamidadeclerk.gov or the COIN criminal search system. Miami Gardens is one of more than 30 cities in Miami-Dade County that share this system. The clerk’s office is the only official source for Miami Gardens court records.
How do I find my court date in Miami Gardens?
Search for your case on the COIN system or the main clerk portal using your full legal name or case number. The most recent docket entry shows your next court date. Write down the date, time, and courtroom number. The clerk updates the docket within one business day after each hearing. If you cannot find your case, call 305-275-1155 for help. Have your full name and date of birth ready before you call.
Can I view Miami Gardens court records for free?
Yes. The COIN system and the main clerk search portal are free for public use. Basic searches return case numbers, party names, docket entries, and hearing dates at no cost. Some certified copies of documents cost $1 per page. The clerk charges small fees for printed copies and certified records. The Florida E-Filing Portal charges a small fee per document viewed but the search itself is free.
Are Miami Gardens criminal records public?
Most criminal docket records are public under Florida law. Anyone can search for criminal cases in Miami Gardens on the COIN system. Sealed records, expunged records, juvenile records, and certain sex offense victim identities stay hidden. The clerk applies the rules in Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.420 to protect confidential data. Active warrants also appear in the public docket search.
What is the difference between an arraignment and a pretrial conference?
An arraignment is the first court appearance. The judge reads the charges and the defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. A pretrial conference happens later. The lawyers meet with the judge to discuss motions, evidence, and possible plea agreements. The arraignment sets the path. The pretrial moves the case toward trial or settlement. Both appear on the Miami Gardens city court docket as separate entries.
How long does it take for a new Miami Gardens case to show up on the docket?
New cases appear on the docket within 24 to 48 hours after filing. Arrests made in Miami Gardens get entered into the system after the booking process at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Citations issued by Miami Gardens police get entered after the officer files the report. Court orders and motions appear within one business day after the judge signs them. The clerk updates the system every night.
Can I remove my Miami Gardens case from public view?
Yes, in some cases. Florida law allows expungement or sealing of certain criminal records. You must file a petition with the court, pay a filing fee, and meet eligibility rules. Most sealing requests require that the case ended in a dismissal, acquittal, or completion of a diversion program. Sealed records still exist but the public cannot see them. Expunged records get destroyed. The Miami-Dade clerk’s office can help with the paperwork.