The mission of the Florida judicial branch is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes. Florida is divided into twenty Judicial Circuits, or areas of jurisdiction, each of which is composed of Circuit and County courts. Together with the five District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Florida, they constitute the Florida State Courts System.

The Sixteenth Judicial Circuit has three locations. The Monroe County Courthouse Annex, located in Key West, the Marathon Branch Courthouse, located in Marathon and the Upper Keys Government Center in Tavernier.