Terms Used In Florida Statutes 901.09

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(1) When the complaint is for an offense that the trial court judge is empowered to try summarily, the trial court judge shall issue a summons instead of a warrant, unless she or he reasonably believes that the person against whom the complaint was made will not appear upon a summons, in which event the trial court judge shall issue a warrant.
(2) When the complaint is for a misdemeanor that the trial court judge is not empowered to try summarily, the trial court judge shall issue a summons instead of a warrant if she or he reasonably believes that the person against whom the complaint was made will appear upon a summons.
(3) The summons shall set forth substantially the nature of the offense and shall command the person against whom the complaint was made to appear before the trial court judge at a stated time and place.