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To: Volusia County Council District Representative; Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit; Will Roberts, Volusia County Tax Collector; Laura E. Roth, Clerk of the Circuit Court,

Take action regarding the Volusia County Courthouse remaining open on Juneteenth!

The Volusia County courthouse and Clerk of Court offices are open for normal business hours on Juneteenth because they follow a strict court holiday schedule set by the Seventh Judicial Circuit and the Florida state court system. [1, 2]
While Juneteenth is recognized as a federal holiday, the state of Florida and the local judicial circuit do not mandate it as a paid legal holiday for state court operations. As a result, the circuit's schedule does not include a courthouse closure on June 19.

Why is this important?

It’s unjust for government and court offices to operate on this day for several key reasons:
  • Disregard for a Federal Holiday: Juneteenth is a recognized federal holiday. Operating the courthouse signals that local civic and judicial branches are not fully participating in honoring the emancipation of enslaved people. [1, 2]
  • Symbolic Erasure: For many, the courthouse is a potent symbol of justice and the law. Keeping it open is viewed as a continuation of historical inequities where the American legal system has historically failed or marginalized Black Americans. [1, 2]
  • Contradictory Civic Values: Because the county grants paid holidays for other historic milestones, the exclusion of Juneteenth from the court's calendar is often seen by civil rights advocates as a minimization of the struggles and contributions of African Americans. 

Updates

2026-06-20 12:52:24 -0400

10 signatures reached