Florida State Courts

Annual Report

2005-2006 The Supreme Court of Florida

2005-2006 Annual Report

Barbara J. Pariente Chief Justice

Charles T. Wells Harry Lee Anstead R. Fred Lewis Peggy A. Quince Raoul G. Cantero, III Kenneth B. Bell Justices

Elisabeth H. Goodner State Courts Administrator Adorning the rotunda of the Florida Supreme Court, this statue of Lady Justice greets all who enter the building. ©2006 All rights reserved Table of Contents

Message from Chief Justice Barbara J. Pariente...... 1 Florida’s Supreme Court Justices ...... 3 2005-2006: The Year in Review ...... 6 Emergency Preparedness ...... 6 Hurricane Season 2005 ...... 6 Pandemic Influenza...... 6 Education and Outreach ...... 8 Educational Resources for the Public...... 8 Supreme Court Tour Program: Creating Informed, Active Citizens ...... 8 Supreme Court Library: An Educational Hub ...... 9 Justice Teaching Institute: Playing Host to Visiting Teachers...... 11 Connecting with Florida’s Youngest Learners ...... 12 Outreach to Court Users Through Improved Services...... 15 The Dispute Resolution Center: Celebrating 20 Years of Progress...... 15 Strategies for Ensuring Meaningful Access to Justice: ...... 17 a) Certifying Foreign Language Court Interpreters ...... 17 b) Providing Services for Self-Represented Litigants ...... 19 c) Improving the Jury Management System...... 19 d) Measuring and Updating Trial Court Workload...... 20 e) Evaluating DCA Workload and Jurisdiction ...... 21 f ) Utilizing Senior Judges...... 22 Judicial Branch Planning: The Future Trends Workshop...... 23 Instructional Opportunities for Judges and Court Personnel ...... 24 Court Education: Enhancing the Competence of Those Serving in the Judiciary...... 24 Children and Families ...... 25 Unified Family Court: Innovative Strategies for Addressing Complex Cases...... 25 Drug Courts: A Successful Approach to Changing Offender Behavior...... 30 Fairness and Diversity ...... 32 Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity: Eradicating Bias from Florida’s Courts ...... 32 OSCA’s Human Resources Officer: Another Commitment to Fairness and Diversity...... 34 Technology ...... 34 Technology in the Courts: Embracing Innovation and Change...... 34 Online Access to Court Records: Integrating New Technologies into Modern Society...... 36 Personnel Services: Employing Technology to Provide More Accommodating Assistance ...... 38 Online Publications and Forms ...... 38 The Passing of the Gavel...... 39 Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis: “Come Share with Us Your Vision of Justice” ...... 39 Florida’s Court Structure ...... 42 Map of State Circuits and Appellate Districts ...... 44 Judicial Certification Table...... 45 Court Administration ...... 46 Florida’s Budget ...... 47 State Courts System Appropriations ...... 48 Filings: Florida’s Trial and Appellate Courts ...... 49 DCA Filings by Case Category...... 50 Court Filings by Circuit and Division ...... 50 Court Filings by Circuit, County, and Division ...... 52 Court Contacts for 2006-2007 ...... 55 Florida Judicial Branch

Mission

Themission of the judicial branch is to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Vision

Justice in Florida will be accessible, fair, effective, responsive, and accountable.

To be accessible, the Florida justice system will be convenient, understandable, timely, and affordable to everyone.

To be fair, it will respect the dignity of every person, regardless of race, class, gender or other characteristic; apply the law appropriately to the circumstances of individual cases, and include judges and court staff that reflect the community’s diversity.

To be effective, it will uphold the law and apply rules and procedures consistently and in a timely manner, resolve cases with finality, and provide enforceable decisions.

To be responsive, it will anticipate and respond to the needs of all members of society, and provide a variety of dispute resolution methods.

To be accountable, the Florida justice system will use public resources efficiently, and in a way that the public can understand. Message from the Chief Justice

Justice in the 21st century!!! Just imagine—we are now more than halfway through the first decade of the 21st century. I believe that when we look back on this period of history, we will judge the time to be a defining moment for Florida’s judiciary and our judicial system. A time when, with the passage of Revision 7 and the tremendous leadership of judges throughout the State, we moved from 20 separate circuits looking out for local interests into a true unified and integrated court system. A time in which we shared best practices in the administration of justice; we learned from each other; where we were willing to say we can do it better and we can and should be more accountable to each other and to the public; a time in which we were willing to acknowledge that just because we always did things a certain way does not mean that way was the right way or the best way or even the most efficient way.

The end of this fiscal year marked the end of my two-year tenure as chief. As this annual report is released, I have passed the gavel to Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis, and I know the judiciary is in good hands. As Florida’s chief justice over the past two years, I traveled around the state and saw firsthand the dedication and expertise of our judges and court staff. It was an incredible journey.

In courthouses all across Florida, the men and women who make up the Third Branch of government made decisions every day last year that affected countless lives – including the lives of the most vulnerable among us, our children. In the halls of justice throughout the state, I witnessed firsthand judges and court staff working together to provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes, to protect constitutional rights, and to uphold the rule of law. Chief Justice Barbara J. Pariente Those are the duties that confront the men and women of this branch every day. They performed them very well and in so doing continued to play a pivotal role in our society and our government.

The people who staff the Florida State Courts worked on many initiatives and innovations designed to keep our State Courts System in the vanguard of this nation’s judiciaries.

Although funding and technology are always important, we must never lose sight of the fact that the test of a justice system is its effect on individual lives. A huge number of people come to court because there is trouble in the family. We have come to realize that if we can truly obtain a picture of what is driving the legal issues—underlying issues such as family dysfunction, drug abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence—we can help ensure that the family and the child do not become repeat users of the legal system by continuing to have escalating problems that can eventually destroy their lives.

I am proud to report that throughout this State more and more circuits are implementing our unified family court model, and more and more judges are committed to handling these important cases. We have reached the tipping point, and that was evident in the successful family court conference (the second within a year) that drew over 600 participants. And we have expanded the drug court concept to dependency courts with great success in more and more circuits. These are initiatives that cannot always be measured for success by time standards or case disposition but where success is measured in human terms—families united after successful treatment for drug abuse; a dependent child saved from becoming entangled in the delinquency system; a judge who has the true picture of a family and the dynamics that drive the legal problems and who resolves interrelated problems with a broad understanding of all of the issues.

1 I am also pleased to report that we moved forward on issues like emergency preparedness, including the new threat from a possible pandemic. And we were successful in finally getting a program for court interpreter certification; we passed a comprehensive administrative order after years of study on online court records and new standards for jury panel size so that a proper balance is struck between conserving resources and providing adequate jurors for jury trials. And I am deeply gratified to note that all three judicial conferences and the Florida Supreme Court have adopted Principles of Professionalism for Florida Judges ensuring that judges serve as models for the behavior we expect to see of our lawyers.

We have continued to expand law-related education projects, which continue to excite and inspire students and teachers across Florida—initiatives like Constitution Day, Law Day, the Supreme Court Tour Program and the annual Justice Teaching Institute. These are initiatives which Chief Justice Lewis will take to new heights with a goal of improving the civic knowledge of our students and with that knowledge an appreciation for the unique role of the judicial branch as protectors of rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

When I look back on successes, two current developments will be especially important as time goes on because of the strength and stability they bring to our foundation and to our mission. Most immediately apparent: For the second year in a row, the Legislature and the Governor approved a significant increase in the number of trial judges. Over the last two years, 114 new judgeships have been created. That is an increase of 14 percent, the largest since the adoption of Article V in 1972 combined the hodge-podge of courts in Florida into a single state system.

The critical importance of these new judges cannot be overstated. When dockets are less crowded, cases will be heard more quickly, and judges can devote more time to the case before them. The people who turn to us for justice will be better served.

The second development that I believe warrants special notice may be more intangible than the creation of 114 new judgeships, but it is no less vital to our future. I’m talking about a change in perspective. Over the last several years, we have worked hard, both within the State Courts System internally and with our legislative and executive partners, to implement budgetary unification in our courts, as was required by the voters of this state in 1998 when they approved Revision 7.

In the process, I believe we have gradually but noticeably matured into a truly unified State Courts System. Rather than protecting and advancing local interests, we are now working together for the good of the branch as a whole. And that is why I believe we will look back on the first decade of the 21st century as a defining moment in history for Florida’s judiciary—a time when collaboration and cooperation made this branch stronger and better.

Any modern court system is intricate and complex, but our overarching goal always is to make justice in Florida “accessible, fair, effective, responsive and accountable.” This annual report is produced to that end, and I hope you will spend some time reviewing it.

2 Florida’s Supreme Court Justices

the Court’s proceedings in the 2000 presidential election Florida’s Supreme Court cases.

Justices A native Floridian, Justice Wells was born in Orlando. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he Barbara J. Pariente spent 28 years in private practice in Orlando as an active civil trial lawyer engaged in commercial, insurance, and Chief Justice personal injury litigation. He also served for one year as a Justice Pariente was appointed to the Florida Supreme trial attorney with the U.S. Court in 1997, and she advanced to chief justice on July Department of Justice in 1, 2004. She is the Court’s fifty-first chief justice and the Washington, D.C. second woman to serve in that role. While in Orlando, Justice Justice Pariente was born and raised in New York City, Wells was vigorously involved but Florida has been her home for more than 30 years. in the Orange County Legal Before her elevation to the Supreme Court, she spent 18 Aid Society as well as in the years in private practice in West Palm Beach, specializing Guardian Ad Litem Program, in civil trial litigation. Then, in September 1993, she was representing dependent and appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, where abused children in juvenile and domestic court proceedings. she served until her appointment to the Supreme Court. The Legal Aid Society presented him with its Award of Excellence in 1989 in recognition of his outstanding pro During her time on the Supreme Court, she has actively bono service. supported programs that promote successful alternatives to incarceration such as Florida’s drug courts. She has also Justice Wells is married to Linda Fisher Wells, a lawyer, and worked to improve methods they have three children, Charley, Shelley, and Ashley. for handling cases involving families and children in the courts. Based on her Harry Lee Anstead longstanding commitment Justice to children, Justice Pariente continues to be a mentor to Justice Anstead was appointed to the Florida Supreme school-age children and has Court in 1994. He advanced to the highest judicial office encouraged Court employees in state government on July 1, 2002, when he became to participate in the Court’s Florida’s fiftieth chief justice, serving in that capacity until mentoring program, which June 30, 2004. has two partner schools in Tallahassee; the Florida Justice Anstead is a native Floridian, born in Jacksonville. Supreme Court recently won a national award for these He was a trial and appellate lawyer in South Florida until mentoring initiatives. 1977, when he was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal; there, he served as chief judge and from Justice Pariente is married to The Honorable Frederick time to time as a circuit and A. Hazouri, judge of the Fourth District Court of county judge throughout the Appeal, and together they have three grown children and district. six grandchildren. As a citizen, lawyer, and Charles Talley Wells judge, Justice Anstead has served his community and Justice profession in a host of ways, including service to charities, Justice Wells joined the Supreme Court in June 1994; government, church, schools, he served as the Court’s forty-ninth chief justice from and children. While on July 1, 2000, to July 1, 2002. He was chief justice during the Court, he initiated

3 Florida’s Supreme Court Justices

a comprehensive statewide program to improve Peggy A. Quince professionalism among judges, lawyers, and law schools in the state. He has also been committed to improving Justice the lot of children whose lives are affected by the courts. Justice Quince was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court The major priority of his administration as chief justice in December 1998; she has the distinction of being the first was maintaining the excellence of Florida’s trial courts African-American woman on the Court. during a time of transition, when funding for the trial courts shifted from the local budgets to the state budget Born in Virginia, Justice Quince began her legal career in on July 1, 2004. 1975 in Washington, D.C., as a hearing officer with the Rental Accommodations Office administering the city’s Justice Anstead and his wife Sue, a lawyer and child new rent control law. She advocate herself, have five children: Chris, Jim, Laura, entered private practice in Amy, and Michael. Virginia in 1977, specializing in real estate and domestic R. Fred Lewis relations, and then moved to Justice Bradenton, Florida, in 1978 to open a law office, where Justice Lewis will be the fifty-second chief justice of she practiced general civil law the Florida Supreme Court. He was appointed to the until 1980. From there, she Court in December 1998, and he will advance to chief joined the Attorney General’s justice on June 30, 2006. Office, Criminal Division, serving for nearly 14 years. In Born in West Virginia, Justice Lewis made Florida his 1994, she was appointed to home 41 years ago, when he arrived here to attend college the Second District Court of Appeal, where she served until in Lakeland. He remained in Florida for law school, her appointment to the Supreme Court. and, after graduating, he attended and graduated from Justice Quince has been active in civic and community the United States Army A.G. organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jack School, After his discharge and Jill of America, the Urban League, the NAACP, and from the military, he entered the Tampa Organization for Black Affairs. She has also private practice in Miami, received numerous awards, especially for her work on behalf where he specialized in civil of girls, women, minorities, civil rights issues, and various trial and appellate litigation school programs. until his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court. Justice Quince and her husband Fred L. Buckine, an administrative law judge, have two daughters, Peggy In his professional life, LaVerne and Laura LaVerne. Justice Lewis has been deeply involved in children’s issues and was selected as Florida’s Citizen of the Year in 2001 by the Florida Council. Raoul G. Cantero, III While in private practice, he was actively committed Justice to providing counseling to families with children with impairments, and he offered pro bono legal services and Justice Cantero was appointed to the Supreme Court of counseling for cancer patients seeking proper treatment Florida in July 2002. He has the distinction of being the for multiple conditions. While on the Court, he has first Hispanic to sit on the Court. been a volunteer in the Florida Law Related Education Association, for which he works with teachers and Born in Madrid, Spain, to Cuban parents who had fled the students throughout the state to promote a better communist regime in Cuba, Justice Cantero was a Fulbright understanding of government institutions and to Scholar who got his Bachelor of Arts from Florida State provide to the public open access to judicial officers. University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, he was a Justice Lewis and his wife Judith have two children, Elle shareholder and head of the appellate division of a Miami and Lindsay. 4 Florida’s Supreme Court Justices law firm, where he specialized in civil and criminal appeals Kenneth B. Bell at all levels, handling appeals in all five District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court as well as in Justice the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Supreme Justice Bell was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court Court. He also specialized in commercial litigation. in December 2002.

Justice Cantero is deeply A native Floridian,Justice Bell is in fact a seventh-generation interested in issues of Pensacolian whose paternal ancestors immigrated to the professionalism in the Pensacola area around 1819, when Florida was still a practice of law, and he has Spanish colony. Upon graduation from law school, Justice spoken on this topic to both Bell entered private practice in lawyers and law students. Pensacola, focusing primarily In addition, not only has he on commercial and residential authored many articles for real estate. He continued his law j ournals, but he is also private practice until 1991, an accomplished fiction when he was appointed to the writer and has published First Judicial Circuit of Florida, several short stories. becoming the youngest circuit Moreover, he has been judge in the history of that active in the Miami community, serving as a member of circuit. the board of Legal Services of Greater Miami, a member of the Planning and Zoning Board of the City of Coral As a trial j udge on the circuit Gables, and a member of the Pastoral Council at St. bench for 12 years, he served Augustine Church in Coral Gables. on a variety of committees and boards that actively sought to improve the j udicial process. He has also dedicated Justice Cantero and his wife Ana Maria have three himself to improving the j ustice process as it impacts children: Christian, Michael, and Elisa. children, opening the first “child witness room” in the First Circuit, for instance, and promoting the establishment of the only PACE Center for Girls in that circuit. In addition, he worked with officials to develop system-wide school violence prevention programs. He has also been active in community affairs, serving on the board of many civic organizations.

Justice Bell and his wife have four children.

Florida’s Supreme Court Justices (l-r): (seated) Justice Wells, Chief Justice Pariente, Justice Anstead; (standing) Justice Cantero, Justice Lewis, Justice Quince, and Justice Bell

5 Emergency Preparedness more than damage minimal to the courts. caused hurricanes these of none however,Fortunately, Keys. Florida the through barreling in, swaggered Rita 20, September on Then, Florida. Southeast saturating arrival,unceremonious an later,made Katrina half a and month A Plan. Operations of Continuity its activate to Santa the Rosa County Courthouse and prompting of the court roof the damaging Florida, in target primary its CircuitJudicial First the made 2005, 10, July which on in blew Dennis, Mississippi. and devastation Louisiana the by suffered spared clearly was state the although 2005— in activity hurricane of onslaught quadruple a suffered Florida hurricanes, uncompromising four and Afterthe assaults, 2004, in disastrousbya tropical storm pandemic.influenza a large-scale of ramifications potential the with, dealing for strategies designing and scrutinizing, was group this Hurricane Season 2005 E iatr—uh s h fu svg hriae that hurricanes savage 2005— four of October Julyand between Florida pummeled water-based the not and as when wind- disasters—such addressing (CEMG): and Groupanticipating Work Management Emergency Court Court/Branch Supreme Unified the for challenging particularly was year fiscal 2005-06 The Courthouse. Hurricane Wilma’s pounding uprooted the trees surrounding the Hendry County h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview MERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 6 functions (according to estimates, up to a third of all all of third a to up estimates, to (according functions mission-essential affecting rate, a absenteeism launch significant could months; 18 to up for operations court disrupt could instance, for flu, avian an the that possibility given concerns—especially CEMG’sthe of time-consuming most one become has pandemic influenza an of prospect However,the years. two last these stage center taking been certainly Weather-relatedhave crises emergency preparedness strategies. better pioneer to opportunity an offers plight that new each recognizes CEMG the regular updatings: require and revisitings will plan emergency branch-wide the effective,truly be that,to is impartedhave crises these of all that lesson The 7. November until closed remained Broward’scourthouses,extensively were damaged, which churning up winds of 125 miles per hour and promptingand hour per miles 125 of churningwinds up ashore near Naples at approximately 6:30 in the burst morning, storm, 3 category a Wilma, when 24, October is, that mild…until, relatively was activity hurricane 2005 Florida’s season, 2004 the to compared whole, the On judges and court personnel could be out due to sickness or Pandemic Influenza and Ocean Atlantic the into whirling before Beach and PalmWest to Key peninsula from damage comprehensive thecausing crossed it as wake its in everything pulverizing this expectations, but educated land, all defied hit hurricane it after weaken would Wilma that was assumption The flooding. and tornadoes far-flung esn ih eonig ucs. To success. resounding with season were able to address the 2005 hurricane stakeholders—Florida’scourt all courts unambiguous among cooperation ensuring and plan, branch-wide a developing providing leadership, system, of establishing a reliable communications measures—lessons about the imperative planning emergency its hone to system court Florida the enabled hurricane that lessons 2004 serviceable some imparted had the season because But, power,lack of or both. damage, water and/or wind of result asa to close had all and affected, was Charlotteof and Indian River Counties southcourthouse Every coast. east the up journey harrowing its continuing lrd’ cut wr roee; only reopened; of were courts all Florida’s almost after landfall, days made seven Wilma to two within wit, Emergency Preparedness Florida Florida State Courts Strategy for was a day-long training program in M. Rony Francois, secretary of Florida’s Department of of Department Florida’s of from secretary staff with Francois, meet Rony M. Pariente Justice of Chief and Department Health, the and OSCA, Court, pandemic on Supreme the collaborating begin to March in Health efforts. preparation influenza ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 quarantines, and conducting remote hearings. hearings. remote conducting and quarantines, as habeas corpus proceedings, warrants, enforcement of for the Florida State Courts; and the second session, called called session, second the and Courts; State Florida the for Planning: and “All-Hazards Successes, Failures, Lessons focused on what Learned,” the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons taught the courts. Aiming to provide the courts with more direction, information, and motivation, this Orlando training program was conceived as a kind of Then it will focus on practical, procedural issues such Another offshootof the relating relating to public health branch procedures in a Florida emergencies, public health emergency. and executive Pandemic Pandemic Influenza Orlando, called “Florida called Orlando, State Courts Prepare: Planning Approach.” This ‘All-Hazards’ of an as Part Pandemic for June event, which elicited excellent court participation, was funded by Court the Trial Budget Commission and from assistance technical with Circuit, Judicial Fourth the Circuit. of two Judicial consisted program Ninth The the and Preparedness “Health called first, the of sessions: sets speakers distinguished featured Courts,” State Florida the (secretary, Francois Rony M. Lewis, Fred R. Justice as such health (public Stier Health),Daniel of Department Florida analyst, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and David Halstead (bureau chief, Response, Florida Division Preparedness of Emergency Management) and Issues Planning Pandemic on discussion panel a as well as 7 ). Florida Florida The Y The , a strategy http://www.flcourts. http://www.flcourts. eath); could create a serious staffing shortage that would that shortage staffing serious a create could eath); designing is benchbook the a purposeful as that guide document document that was endorsed by all seven justices, who then directed the courts to initiate efforts immediately to complete all applicable tasks described in the report (the strategy is available online at org/gen_public/emergency/bin/panflu_strategy.pdf Thestrategy’s fundamentalgoals are consistent withall emergency preparedness measures in the courts, i.e., to “deal with crises in a way that protects the safety of health “keepeveryone at and the the to court facilities” and people.” the for justice ensure open to courts State State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Influenza benchbook benchbook to ensure that judges Florida’s and attorneys effort, this coordinating is Council,which Education Court The strategy also recommends the development of a of aware are the legal issues associated with and isolation quarantine. ThePublicationsCommittee of the Florida [to] [to] have the capacity to perform all criminal including jury matters, trials, all emergency civil matters, and all mission essential functions with limited possibly face-to- The strategy defines two tactical objectives: the term “have short- tactical objective is the capacity to to perform health public address] [to and functions essential mission limited face- cases up with to 90 possibly for days related to-face contact and significant impactto key personnel”; the long term tactical objective is, “within 90 days, the the CEMG presented the Supreme Court with Trying to Trying anticipate such in a March contingency, 2006, d affect public utilities and services, which would inevitablywould which services, and utilities public affect offers concise and practical information thatjudges have repercussions and on court facilities and infrastructure; attorneys can could utilize provoke in weighty court legal proceedings. ramifications as a As currently result of enforced quarantines and the willsome benchbook beginpresenting envisioned, by isolations; and could severe create caseload challenges due both general to legal an actions information increase and to in about serious limitations quarantine on contact. courtroom face-to-face law, powers (presidential as well provisions as gubernatorial) in statutory a Florida public executive and federal emergency, health face contact and significant impact to key personnel.” The key to impact significant and contact face strategy strategy also maps out the ideal process for responding to to a pandemic, taking into account a circumstances. host And of it possible identifies seven (and planning more tasks specific subtasks) that must right away; these planning betasks focus on engaging completed state and local public health and for other officials; legal preparing considerations; continuity and updating disaster recovery plans; court educating court technology a pandemic threats the about stakeholders and personnel poses; improving communications; strengthening court emergency management teams and personnel questions; addressing and considering jury other management issues. Thecourts have untilNovember 30to work out plans. tactical their Education and Outreach system. state’scourt the in partner a as responsibilityimportant own her or his grasping as well as Branch Third the of function and role the understands doors its enters who convictionensureto thateach Floridian andenergywith system, and courtthe Florida Florida’s Supreme Court has been by working efforts outreach and educational for urgency the underscorepoignantly these like Questions and informed responsible citizenship? practice to able they will democracy, of principles elemental the grasp to fail Americans most if knowledge is, even more frightening are the ramifications: could explain Floridians the idea correctly. of As stunning as 46% this sheer lack only of powers, of separation of of concept importancethe for As the government. in balances and acknowledgedchecks 90% though even could Floridians correctlydistinguish of the three branches government—of 59% only 2005, December in Bar statewideunderwritten surveya Florida onThe basedby that this claimproblem Floridians prevails can only in Nor other people’s backyards: Stooges. Three the of names the than identify to harder are government threeof branches the Americans, young for that, fact First startling the the with greater than A similar survey Amendment.a few have years Simpsons earlier revealed The Americans with familiarity that knowledge become has common it survey, recent a of results the on Based EDUCATION OUTREACHAND it ever become necessary. the CEMG has been working diligently to make sure that of hope, The respirators. particulate N95 and masks, surgical gloves, supply medical bags, waste biohazard purchase of the recommended he research, careful him. JuneAfter for out the cut homework his of had program, training coordinator and Administrator Courts the State of Office the for consultant operations court funds to the state court system for supplies, Greg Cowan, allocated Commission Budget CourtTrial the when So for guidelines supplies state courts, although guidelines do exist for other orinstitutions. national no are there users court for efforts outreach as well as children, for especially public, general the forthe over 30subtasks) for which they are responsible. programs educational (and strategy’sthroughthe tasks planning on main seven broad-stretching: be thefiscal lastwitnessed year copious organizers’ goal was to help the courts more readily follow s Florida’sready courtsbe will to tackle this crisis—should course, is that these supplies will never be called upon, but should be stocked in case a flu pandemic strikes. Curiously, The program also addressed thequestion of what supplies plmn t the to upplement h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview te The Court’s education and outreach endeavors continue to the Influenza; Pandemic for Strategy 8 the rule of law, and the genius of the three branches of branches three the of genius the law,and of rule the of meaning true thecitizenship, of values important the educate all Floridians, from our youngest statewideto our oldest, on “a establish to reeducateandcan weeducationthat civicscampaign so desire her voiced she 2004, July in Pariente Justice Chief to passed gavel the When fiscal year. Supreme the of Court’s educational some and outreach enterprises of over the overviewpast an is follows What circuit, and appellate judges as well as for court personnel. mostconspicuous beneficiaries the Court’s of educational the are children Although public. the educationalfor opportunities creating to committed resolutely is Court Supremetheresponsiblecitizens, involved,engaged,and Because, ultimately, civics education can help to create more PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE Court’sthe do Nor stakeholders.court various for and Citizens Helping to Create Informed, Active The Supreme Court Tour Program: also are available for opportunities the adults who visit the Court. learning numerous programs, reach they county,for programseducational with well, out: as internally reach only undertakings educational ipate in “The Mock Oral ArgumentExperience.” playing the rolesjustices and of attorneys, partic Young visitors to the Florida Supreme Court, Education and Outreach numbers numbers would continue to grow beyond anything that the docents and court staff could accommodate, reasonably Valencia Davis, a legal writing instructor at Florida State and University a volunteer in instance, instance, the Court hosted 4,836 visitors who participated in either the mock oral argument historical tour (no records are kept or the of the number of people who take the self-guided tour). when Last it year, became evident that the ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 The Florida Supreme Court Library: An Library: Court Supreme Florida The Hub Educational Supreme the Florida, in library state-supported oldest The 1845. Originally since existence in been has Library Court designed for use by the Court Supreme as well as by the law law student carried volunteers close to 80 percent of the Speech Speech in Schools,” and “The ID Stop.” According to demand demand for mock oral arguments heightened, the FSU cases cases like “Censoring the School “Vulgar Newspaper,” 9 The Y The three branches of government.” of government.” branches three wide civics education campaign so that we can educate educate can that so we campaign wide civics education to youngest our from all Floridians, re-educate and the of citizenship, values on the oldest, our important the genius and of the of the rule of law, true meaning When the gavel passed to Chief Justice Pariente in in Pariente When to Chief the passed Justice gavel state- “a to establish her 2004, she voiced desire July overnment.” of overnment.” creation the a program formal Although and now offers13 hypothetical age-appropriate different The “Mock Oral Argument Experience,” which minutes 90 lasts is of types tours, of three popular the most the Three different kinds of tours are available for Court guests: Court for available are tours significantly contributed of load. have tour kinds volunteers These different Three visitorswhich in Experience,” Argument Oral Mock “The success. program’s the to and attorneys and of justices roles the play to chance a get of Overview argument;“An oral simulated a in participate and inform guides tour Thewhich in tour System,” program Judicial has Florida’s Mrs. Irene been Kogan, wife around of since former 1994, Chief when Justice Gerald entertain visitors about various points of interest in the building; and a self-guided Kogan in tour, (on which the Court bench guests, from 1987-1998), was prompted clasping handfuls of and brochures guidebooks, visit by the a desire to help judicial and students government who came Florida’s about more learn to Court public the areas Supreme of the building on their own. encouraged Visitors to are tour the upper continues and program the lower rotunda inspiration, her areas, to process. Thanks the courtroom, the office,the clerk’s the library, portrait illuminate. and expand to and gallery, the lawyer’s lounge. And when the justices hold oral arguments (typically during the firstor second Each year, thousands of people—classes of students as well well as students of people—classes of thousands year, teacher for Each eager Beverly Gordon, “TheTallahassee, students to reallyadults—come and wealth of gained groups firsthandknowledge about a family the judicial as branch building. Court The Supreme Florida august the of tour a and its importance to ouras system” aresult of the tour tours are conducted by docents, talented, knowledgeable participation. argument oral mock their and staff members, and volunteers who have rigorous undergone training program a to inform them about every significant aspect of As the the tour Third program Branch: grows, the the number structure of guests to the Court steadily increases: fiscalin 2005-06, year for week week of the the month), public is invited to observe this process. judicial far-reaching formal, of of Florida’s judicial system, the work of the Court, the names of and anecdotes about justices past and current; the tour program, came up with the a shrewd recruited solution: Supreme she a Court crew building of and FSU seal, law the the students Florida constitution, the courtroom, to U.S. Constitution, and volunteer the to lead because, latter school argument—the of oral the features groups various argument. through the paces of the the This mock program—a opportunity full oral an have year, 43 visitors 26 officials, tour percent these by of guided law the total students number volunteers. participated of in fact,In during thisyear’s legislativeto in participate session, a mock oral argument in the courtroom Court. when Supreme Florida of the the number of student visitors swelled and the g is still in an embryonic stage, teaching the toand out reaching in advances significant Supreme made Court has participate in cases can oflike “The schoolers the workings Elementary the and out. act function can School the about students that cases visitors orCourt Search” “School while middle Uniforms,” and high schoolers can act out branch. judicial Education and Outreach World War I. in artillery field the in service his memorabiliafrom with along 1946-1947, in trials crimes war Nuremburg the at judge a as service his albums to relating transcripts photograph trial and documentary justice’s Army the U.S. of official some are 1943-1955) from bench (on the Sebring Harold Justice to dedicated exhibit an In her In materials. published of aggregation an than more space which in to do legalresearch. a te isrcinl ol ta sre cvc education Supreme civics live function. a of serve broadcasts that first tools the documented instructional that other Court proceedings 1976. in Courtroom” displaythe in a“Cameras and exhibits, Day written fashioned presentations,and and exhibits, speeches givenreports, created photography have and staff displays library historical audiences: of range Law wide exhibits, a Day Constitution Ervin, Richard and Ehrhlich Justice Raymond Justicefor exhibit memoriam in library as the hub a of variety outreachof effortstargeting Passing the theGavel reconceptualizedceremony (to Chief has Justice Pariente Pariente), Justice an Chief system, justice Florida’s of and Court the of history the public enthusiasmtoshare thewith embodies library the But pmhe ad 4-ae oke t splmn this supplementexhibit. to booklet 40-page a and pamphlet a despite the enticements the of Internet Age. need for, andusefulness of,personal, together put face-to-facestaff librarylearning law; English earliestthedaysof the continued during made decisions judicial demonstrated reflecting 1597, as clearly far as have staff library Some theof drawings, documents, and photos reach back regarding the anniversary the of onTallahassee the law, Bus Boycott, cases, Riley Museum theofAfrican courtAmerican History system,and Culture and juries and justices). Florida’sdevelopmentof thefocuses system(with justice relating to thejudiciary, or collaboratingwith the John G. and Court Supreme the of history the into insight offers books, advising State History Fair students about projects displaypanels,40 it Consistingof mostrecent successes. The Evolution of JusticeExhibit Kingdom. United the and Canada law of statutory historical of collection comprehensive a as well as state every for law statutory current carries it Further, all courts. of American the decisions of reported all nearly include acquisitions its and Printing Office, by Government the published professional of and ephemera andphotographs, notes, and letters papers, personal materials contains also legal houses also exhibit library library,the depository federal a This including Designated Florida, century. book collections, SupremeFloridaCourt.the the sixteenth developmentof rare and from treasures.theamong are books law English,Spanish date and that archives samples as library’s repository ofa host ofhistorical documents regarding the the is additionally, microfiche; it of aspieces well 210,000 over volumes 117,000 over contains library The ttorneys who practice before it, it serves primarily as a as primarily serves it it, before practice who ttorneys h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview a enoeo h irr’ researchersand library patrons withquestions about rare has been one of the library’s as well as rare Florida, English, and Spanish law books. its holdings are legal tomes dating from the sixteenth century showcases artifacts, books, and original among photographs; The Supreme Court Library’s rare book and archives display 10 h lbay a bcm a ia cne of educational center vital a become has library The riat, ok, n oiia poorps rm the from photographs original and books, artifacts, the In n otec atvt i te or. hte aiding Whether Court. the in activity outreach and ae ok n Acie Display Archives and Book Rare nldd n xii o the of exhibit an included these collections. vr h ps ya, the have exhibits year, case past rotunda the Over catalog, display, and care for care display,and catalog, recommended protect,methodsto preserve, also They and condition of the materials. quantity, quality, distribution, the evaluated they collections, which for book rare and archives the of assessment an did recently staff library the on consultants Archival personnel. Court other and former justices, their families, oe a find can one , Education and Outreach , Hilton Hilton v. State of Florida ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 Despite Despite the nerve- racking intensity of teachers program, five-day learning-filled demanding, this feedback. positive enthusiastic, but nothing Most offered amazing, however, was underwent these over the teachers five days. the On Sunday, palpable transformation when they firstatarrived the oneCourt, saw a gathering of somewhat tentative, cautious, who clearly felt nervous out of their individuals element in the Court. as But the days passed and their levels increased, they visibly morphed into a comfortable learning and confidence collective of “insiders” to the loquacious, justice system who were able knowing to wield complex legal concepts professionals— and strategies like experienced jurists. teachers of best some had the they of course, But, in the state: each Supreme Court justice led at least one session (with Lewis Justice making frequent appearances to teach various sessions), and Judge Michael Genden (Eleventh Judicial Circuit), Judge Janet Ferris (Second in an involved and rigorous review of and dialog about the the about dialog and of review rigorous and involved an in the before case fide bona a in implicit issues constitutional Court—all of which the prepared to teachers participate case. this about argument thisoral Then—and mock a in was the climax of the program—they got to watch the Court Supreme justices engage in the real oral argument case. very this about This year, the case focus was Amendment. Judicial Judicial Circuit), and Annette Boyd Pitts were present for the entire program, offering instruction, answering and questions, helping to shape these 24 individuals into become. would they legalexperts fine the for for which the teachers had to contemplate carefully and the do issues: constitutional following the argue to prepare police have the statutory authority to stop a vehicle with a visibly cracked windshield in order to perform a safety inspection, regardless of whether the crack creates any immediate hazard, and does such stop a violate appellant’s the Fourth 11 The Y The Through the newly-inspired energy and focus and and focus and energy newly-inspired the Through educate to hope justices the teachers, these of conviction the history, the about people young animate and Branch. Third the of significance the and functions, ustice Teaching Institute: The Court Court The Institute: Teaching ustice After witnessing an oral argument during this year’s Justice Justice year’s this during argument oral an witnessing After as Justice attentively listen teachers the Institute, Teaching questions. their answers and them Lewis debriefs After After a competitive selection teachers process, representing 24 12 dedicated participated in the Institute different this past April. judicial course of Over the this circuits exceptionally intensive Sunday-through- Thursday program, teachers had a singular opportunity to meet, Founded in1997 Founded and sponsored by the Florida Supreme Court, the Justice Institute Teaching is an annual, law- up Court to the to brings that program education related to state the across from teachers school level secondary 25 learn about the justice system and to behold it in action. Thegoal isto inspirethese teachersto convey what they state state court an system, independent and of separation powers, judiciary, methods alternative into delved process; court criminal the learn learn from, and interact informally with the Supreme Court justices and other judges. also Participants the toured building; became versed of function and the structure inthe of dispute resolution; became adept and at watched sources; and Internet library from resources accessing legal deconstructed filmclips of oral arguments; and engaged The J Teachers Visiting Hosts participants participants are exhorted either to develop a courts unit for their classes or to organize a local Justice Teaching Institute for other instructors in their school or district. Created by Annette Boyd Pitts, executive the director Florida of Law Related Education program has Association, benefited this from the fervid commitment of Justice R. Fred Lewis, who has played an elemental role evolution. in its have learned to their students and colleagues, and, in fact, in and, colleagues, and students their to learned have Education and Outreach ae“ejmn rnln s n o its to of one gets as Franklin” “Benjamin have Court the that often not It’s Constitution Day Learners Connecting with Florida’s Youngest past this year, many courts steppedin to partnerwith the the of significance Third Branch. the and functions, the history, U.S. the of thesignificance Floridathe In home bringing for strategies1787. 17, September Constitution, inspiring on signed with up come the justiceseducateto hope to animate andyoung peopleabout teachers, challenged these be of conviction will the and across country focus all teachers year, and every energy of mid-September in newly-inspired the Through civics. about knowledge of lack Now that sad people’sConstitution Day is ofcongressionally-mandated, result a as surface problems to continue alarming that the address to aimed have justices the these, like your is programs duty to keep With it free.” manner.age-appropriate meaningful, a in concepts legal about students teaching founding fathers have “just given you a free country,the that students reminded and he it and proclaimed, Franklin for ours, mechanisms develop than to government”and topics; law-related teachof form better to no order of in think resources and legal access to resolution; dispute alternative of find advantages the could discuss to “I system; soul-searching, judicial and contemplation much After experience). the about skepticalnature, moreorganization, ratherfunction, theFlorida process and were of (understandably, the 20 history,the highinstructors—about other school as well students as students in their attendance others—both teach to prepared are Philadelphia in they Constitution the arsenal: signing from back just father, founding this of readytheirwholepedagogical todimension a addnew to questions ask and to opportunity rare listen the had classes to school elementary local this experience, when they return to their schools, they are of result a As Florida’ssystem.ofknowledge justice and honor ofConstitution Day, enraptured students from five understanding their dramatically expand to opportunity The learning with serious fun. retd rgas ht ige serious mingle that programs oriented student- Court-sponsored, the of some just are State Girls Day,and Work to Child Your Take Days, Competition Day, Mediation Day, Law Day, theStudent Moot Court Constitution Court. aboutthejustice system theatSupreme learn to mission a on friskiness,are and awe between oscillating who, students of spirit and energy the with incessantly humming is Branch Third Florida’s of epicenter the if as it seems sometimes fact, In opportunities. educational lively— rich—and with them present and people young in are draw to designed that events periodic other, Teachinghosts also Court Justice the undertakings, addition these in the However, to April. and every offered is instance, Institute for educational year-round activities, in engaged are Supreme Library the Court and Program Tour Court Supreme the consistent, institutionalized dedication to civics justices’ education: the reflect efforts outreachCourt’s the of Some h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview Justice Teaching Institute gives educators an distinguished visitors, but on September 13, 2005, in in 2005, 13, September on but visitors, distinguished an educators gives Institute Teaching Justice and privileges of being a U. S. citizen. the Constitution and about the rights talks about the relevance and value of for Constitution Day,“Ben Franklin” children visiting the Supreme Court Enthralling the elementary school 12 educators this in endeavor. and book displays, and excitedly requested the autographs exhibitsConstitution-related exploredConstitution, the names with quill-like their pens on parchment-like signing facsimiles of practiced Constitutions, pocket collected formality of the Later,Court setting. in the Rotunda, they theexperience to got and justices the introducedtowere the courtroom, after chatting with Mr. Franklin, students offered a rousing In blendinstruction of and amusement. The Florida Supreme Court’s Constitution Day activities discussion about the Constitution and Constitution the about discussion Cantero for a wide-ranging roundtable wide-ranging a for Cantero Justice courtroom and ParienteJustice Chief with the in reconvened hand, why? other the students, on school high The keep—and they would which rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, theof Bill the in guaranteed of rights five only keep could students the that said and country our to came invaders if that, constitutional is premise the rights; thinking their them about get critically to fashioned is led and Activity,”which “Invaders groups were the through small the students into merriment, divided school of elementary bit this After taken by the Court photos photographer. the for up judges it hamming in robes, themselves draping took turns students Lounge, Lawyer’s the in And justices. perambulating the of Education and Outreach Respondents Jessica Bouis and Jessica Moscoso Moscoso Jessica and Bouis Jessica Respondents and High) Senior Reef Coral Miami’s (from Menchetti Nicola and Wade Kathleen petitioners represent High) Lincoln Tallahassee’s (from School High Florida the in teams two final the Law on place took which Competition, Appellate Court. Supreme Florida the at Day ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 precious freedoms for more than two centuries.” two than more for freedoms precious Across Across the Law country, Day has been commemorated since 1958, when President Eisenhower established it Proclamation a issued Pariente Justice Chief 2006, April In declaring May “Law contemplate “the profound Month,” benefits urging of composed everyone of government a separate to in the degeneration a startling polls showing branches recent With with equal powers.” ability of Americans to grasp even the most elementary principles of our this government theme and democracy, of cornerstone the is of law rule “The timely: certainly was this theme Day Law “Our said; she democracy,” American calls it for democracy,” our of heart the to directly goes year attention to “the bedrock our maintained have that principles balances and checks and powers of separation of Law Day Day Law 13 The Y The Supreme Court rulings on several First Amendment Amendment First several on rulings Court Supreme chief the methods, nonbelligerent through schools their in .S. Chief Justice Pariente poses with elementary and middle middle and poses elementary with Pariente Chief Justice Day Mediation year’s this at peer mediators school University. State Florida at Celebration Mediation Day Day Mediation On October 20, 2005, peer mediators from nine Leon County elementary and middle schools—120 to students bring University State attention Florida at together to altogether—gathered the country’s admirable denominated May Congress 1 justice, as legacy liberty, the and officialday later, on equality of under the law. for Three years a Mediation Day Celebration that included a half- day training session. The event which was which received organizational to university, assistance from sponsored stage by these the nationwide celebrations. American the Week. 1-7 as LawMay and Then Day Annually, in the 1998,the Florida Court’s Legislatureauthorized Dispute May Resolution 1 as Law Center, and the speaker guest was Chief Pariente. Justice This hadcelebration Bar Association chooses a special this three theme for Law important Week; year’s catalysts: the theme Florida Supreme Court’s was “Liberty Proclamation designating Under October 20, 2005, as Equal Powers.” Conflict Branches, Law: Separate cases. The chief justice reminded everyone of the urgencythe of cases. everyone reminded chief justice The justicealso stressed the long-range “The goal: essence of of teaching young people about the about Constitution civics and because this knowledge, she stressed, democracy make will isthem more likely the to vote ability and to will enable resolve them to peaceful she differences means,” declared, “Theseso through skills will become more informed, more engaged, more make responsible citizens.” better up, grow you when you, citizens. about about the value of mediation. Following this, sessions training students of grade-appropriate range a from chose Management,” Art,”“Anger Through “Peace like titles with “Diversity in and Action.” Although the pressing goal of conflicts resolve to how students teach to is mediation peer After After words of welcome from Sharon chief Press, of the keynote justice’s chief the and Center, Resolution Dispute address, peer mediators from one schools performed of a the buoyant elementary song and dance routine Resolution Resolution Day; Governor naming Jeb October 16-22, 2005, as Bush’s Mediation and Week; Proclamation the recognition of October Resolution Day. 20 Although commemorations of all sorts as National Conflict took place across the country and the world, one this of was the few events that focused on the schools. middle and in elementary mediation role of peer U Education and Outreach ls iist orrosa ela iist lsrosb Aohr urah ciiy ht mud h Cut with Court justices, the judges, and attorneys. imbued that activity outreach Another class visits to courtrooms as well as visits to classrooms by Court.”and booths, Mall” the at contests, oratory“Law forums, the with conversation’legal hearings, a and trials ‘have to mock having contests, for ability essay them contests, congratulated the she “mastered and stated, Pariente poster of advantagetook EducationAssociation,schools Related Law Florida the of support the with state: the hi agmns te wr pasd y h jsie: chose Over tothe participate in judicial branch activities. course of those days, justices: they learned about the oral the argument oral by exceeds—many not praised equals—if presentation “Your were Forthosedays,the girls twoof of 22 tothe Capitol. visit they arguments, presented their students law four the after state State and, the November, across Girls all week-long from thegirls school for Tallahasseehigh June, in in Then assembled ADA issues were at the heart theof competition Complexthis past justices. the by judged is and Court Supreme Florida the at held is which in the Final Four Competition, students—a culminates that year competition Competition first for Intramural the basis ofthe Annual Spring on selected aremembersNew competitions. international about interrogated playfully were they where chambers, Pariente’s Justice Chief to separation powers ascended of and the role the Judicial of Branch.” they building, the enhance public understanding and of appreciation for theof tour historical an taking and ActivityInvaders the in all Court employees “for all you do throughout the year to Thejustice chief Law extendedDay hertheme. thanks to called Your“Claim Powers,” year’sthis highlighted which activity instructional animated an in engaged employees Administrator.Courts Rotunda, the reception in a AfterState the of Office the and Court the of employees event for an planned even Court Supreme Florida the for a had also chance to participate in Courtthe festive learning opportunities, the at work who “students” the But L in regional, national, and even regional,national, and in participate members 30 its and 1968, in established was in social, ahappy schooling melding and of sweetness.the country, Florida State University’s student-run the separation powers of adiscussion team of and an ice cream university moot court Celebrated Theday’s teams. events as concluded with one particular amendments. of the best The interestSupreme takenparticular a has Court in the Other Activities for several months). entriestheremainedRotunda displaywinning on in (the an awardsluncheonbeforeattending an educationalsession in participated and Court the toured families their and winners the Association); Education Related Law Floridathe by sponsored Contest (also PosterEssay and of receptionfortheDay theLaw eight statewideofwinners day participating a After for system. Court case before the judicial justices. theAnd the on May 6, about the Court upon learninghosted a employees—converged Florida Law Related Education Association) argued their the by (sponsored Competition Supreme Appellate Court and CourtOffice of StateMoot Courts Administrator School High Florida Annual second the of finals the to children between thesix agesand of 13—the offspring of On May 5 at the Supreme Court, students who advanced wDyeet okpaei n rudcut l cos ruet ta cm bfr te or, Cif Justice Chief court,” the before come that arguments aw Day events took place in and around courts all across h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview parts areparts working together.” fair.country The seesaw stays threebalanced the when laws. the our makes This us somepeople obey Then make “Some laws. the people make Some people explain laws. the 14 iaiy n bsl ws h Tk Or agtr and Daughter Our Take the was bustle and vivacity Sons to Work Day. This past April, more than 30 than more April, past This Day. Work to Sons of Rights and were asked specific questions about questions specific asked were and Rights of Bill the about them taught Activity Invaders the what participate judicial in branch activities this pastJune. representatives visiting the Florida Supreme Court to JusticeChief Pariente aquestion poses to Girls State from G.W. ElementarySchool Carver –Sabina Alexandra–Sabina Gonzalez,firstgrader Education and Outreach . ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 The Mediator Qualifications Board, a 51-member body body a 51-member Board, Qualifications Mediator The in complaint convenes chief the justice, by appointed resolve to of panels five hearing and of three committees court-appointed or certified against filed grievances meeting annual their at was taken Thispicture mediators. 2005 in December likely likely to comply with the solutions. Thus,by leading typically to the peaceful resolution of disputes, the to responsive by being by and using efficiently, resources public critical a plays mediation litigant, of each needs particular justice— of administration the of improvement the in role an efficacious byproduct of which is that it builds public trust and confidence.one therefore, of Not surprisingly, strategic Court’s Supreme Florida of the cornerstones the for all available “equally plan has been to make mediation cases statewide.” eligible Mediation and arbitration are not new to this country: beginning in the 1930s, people made considerable use of these practices, primarily to settle labor-management rights civil the of rise the with disputes. later, years Thirty the notion movement, of developing methods alternative critical and appealing both became problems resolving for a community’s ability to solve disputes, but it also obvious advantages, for this practice not only strengthens strengthens only not practice this for advantages, obvious 15 The Y The rocess, prepared for a mock oral argument in which they they which in argument oral mock a for prepared rocess, training session at Florida State last University October, “Mediation “Mediation empowers individuals to develop solutions to conflicts that tailored to their Chiefparticular needs,” Justice Pariente strengthen relationships declared in her and 2005 ConflictResolution Proclamation. are An ardent advocate of (ADR), alternative the chief dispute encourages people of resolution all ages to take advantage of mediation: as she explained to 125 County Leon elementary and middle school peer mediators who participated in a Mediation Day Celebration and As As all of and role the about learn to young too never these is one suggest, educational that could be settled and more efficientlyand cost-effectively outreach the endeavors significanceof the judicialbranch. At the Law prevents the Day courts from being overburdened with cases event for Court building of out court. a senseof experience litigants employees, some Furthermore, what Chief read to moving particularly was it Justice her, said for that, resolutions because they then have the chance empowerment to at design the opportunity to map out of their own the younger essay and poster contest winners wrote. She called particular more and responsive solutions to creative their plights— attention had who Miami to from first-grader a winner, this contest poster year’s youngest her explain to year; last English speak to which learned just has only the added benefitof makingthe parties more of branches, poster three the a perfectly balancing seesaw this seven year old “Some wrote, people make the laws. Some people explain the laws. Then some people make seesaw fair. The country our laws. makes the This obey us together.” working are parts three the when balanced stays can and understands a grader first that “heartening” How so articulate what clearly the separation of powers is, the chief justice proclaimed, concluding “Through that, this lives.” change to able are really we outreach, took the parts of justices and attorneys, heard the case, and and case, the heard ofattorneys, can you parts and if the conflict, justices a took with people two are there “Whenever decision. a their made for them thanked chief justice The they’ll happier, be themselves, resolution a find them help participation and for their interest in the ThirdBranch, to willingness your shows State Girls in part saying,“Your lasting.” willlonger be solution the and be of knowledgeable and active in the governmental and in Florida.” processes judicial Using mediators to address community quandaries has Celebrating 20 Years of Progress of Progress Years 20 Celebrating by by choice or under duress—has the tools, services, and assistance he or she needs to navigate the justice system effectively. Center: Resolution The Dispute THROUGH IMPROVED SERVICES SERVICES IMPROVED THROUGH “Justice in Court’s Supreme Florida the Florida accountable,” and responsive, will be accessible, vision fair, statement affirms. effective, theIn spirit that of vision, the anyone that sure make to diligently works Court Supreme who enters the doors of a Florida courthouse—whether OUTREACH TO COURT USERS USERS COURT TO OUTREACH p Education and Outreach odc, n dsiln. s a As discipline. and conduct, in leader “a be to continues Florida legislature, the as well with unorthodox strategies as for solving disputes. courts the by ADR to commitment the to Due when, in the late 1960s, communities reinvigoratedbegan to training, experimentcertified were for board strategies grievance arbitrationa board, grievance and mediation and a mediatorethics advisory committee). by contexts—e.g., families, communities, neighborly andlocalcivicinterventions. Thus intimate, more Policy,and Rules ADRonCommittee Courtmediator a in with dealt been had times, simpler in that, disputes criminal w otetnie or-once eito rgasi ad t s urnl peaig o is 06 conference, 2006 its for preparing “Great currently is themed it attendees, and 850 the country. conference, together gathered which Expectations,” in annual programs mediation coordinatedcourt-connected extensive, most DRC the fourteenththe addition,of one Now,has In Florida then. its since burgeoned has year). each issues arbitration and mediation of use the and system, justice civil the in place venerated a to elevated was Florida in ADR legislation, this of result elements ADR of range a for standards create to authorized In addition, the Supreme Court arbitration. was or to mediation matter civil contested any refer to power the judges trial grant to adopted was legislation groundbreaking Commissions, 1985 and 1986 Legislative Study the of reports the of result a as 1987, when, in changed all That including certification, training, certification, including and provides staff assistance to four Florida Supreme Committee regarding the qualifications necessary to necessary qualifications the regarding Committee Supreme proposed amendments Florida filed by the ADR four Rules and to Policy assistance programs; staff ADR provides adoptedmodifications, their minor and only with Court, year,the with courts appellate state’s and the trial aids compendium; annual and newsletter a In one ofthe most significant frameworkannual for ADRADR Florida’s in accomplishmentsconference this court system.for mediators and arbitrators; an publishes sponsors volunteers; and to training mediation basic advanced provides programs; training mediation and legislative the implemented that committee rules special has a broad range responsibilities:of it certifies mediators civil referto empowering revolutionaryjudges legislation the Dean effect of to D’Alemberte,Florida helpedthe chairing as well arbitration andthatmediationas State “Sandy” to Talbot cases Commission University Study and Legislative College of Boyd Law, Joseph this Justicecenter the Chief chaired by Established who Strawn, ADR. U. of area David the in attorney research and to tribute education, training, for hub statewide first the was 1986, DRC’stwentiethanniversary, the payconference the will in founded (DRC), CenterFlorida’s Resolution Dispute grassroots efforts. by fomented was momentum ADR the of whole,most the on of cases to family mediation, but, referral judicial settlement the and arbitration centers dispute three programs, mediation citizen dependency 40 of mediation programs, circuitmediation civil 13 programs, creation mediation programs (all the 20 circuits are served), authorized 45 family legislation years, twelve first the For which County, 1975. Dade in center dispute in citizen first the origins established its had ADR county 49 programs, settlement dispute citizen nine 1970s. has litigation,”the sinceaccording methodsto the justice:chief(ADR) Floridaresolution currently dispute alternative of use the promoted actively has system Florida’scourt e h orsfudtesle lte ihcvlad or mdain ors n cmite (h Supreme (the committees and boards mediation Court and civil with glutted themselves found courts the hen h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview Seventh Circuit Judge Shawn Briese (pictured on left). Dispute Resolution Rules and Policy, which is chaired by Florida Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Justice Harry Lee Anstead serves as the liaison to the 16 nild“ooig u Ps…eertn or Future.” our Past…Celebrating Our “Honoringentitled recognizing and promoting mediation anas alternative to n epn wt ti tee n i cmeoain of commemoration in and theme, this with keeping In rne ad w electronic two and printed online and print in available Handbook its Programs as well as Arbitration its Mediation and updated of Compendium year, DRC past the the over Also certified mediators. 5,064 of total a to database o wih hr ae two are there which (of quarterlynewslettera Report, of publication its continued and versions) 5 nw ns seln the swelling ones, new 755 mediatorscertified1,668 and In renewed year, DRC fiscal the 2005-2006 the in addition, program. mediation appellate one and programs, (both of which arewhich of (both D Resource ADR The Resolution The Education and Outreach access to the courts, there there courts, the to access meaningful meaningful ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 speaker speaker was sentenced to 15 years in prison after If If they have mediation, the a in firm law or history attorney, of party, any involving having presided over a case they are obliged to reveal that fact before the mediation begins. Theyare also required to take judicial education status their which in ways the on focus that courses ethics as judges may interfere with their actions as mediators, or senior vice judges versa. Moreover, may not advertise, participate or firm law a with associate or business, solicit in any other activity that directly or indirectly promotes their mediation services. As a result of the Court is these confidentthat senior reforms, judges will “to be able continue to serve effectively and ethically as mediators in a manner that best serves justice system Florida’s and concerns.” ethical and conflicts potential avoids Access Meaningful Ensuring for Strategies Justice to of any and injury, justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay.” However, as has without articulated, been forcefully the the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Florida’s Florida’s constitution (article I, section “Thecourtsshall beopen to redress everyfor 21) person that mandates rule rule amendments to the Code of Judicial Conduct, is no access at all. at is access no litigants must only not words, other In be able to get into the courtroom—but their legal issues well. as court resolution just to brought be Florida’s must to secure diligently meaningful to work continues system all Floridians. for justice to access Interpreters Language Foreign a) Certifying In one Florida decision a few years ago, a non-native 17 The Y The ecome a mediator. The new requirements, which amend which requirements, mediator. a new The ecome This year, the Rules ADR Policy and Committee also the improvement of the administration of thethe administration improvement of justice—an of byproduct efficacious trust and is builds public which that it confidence. resolution of disputes, by using public public using of disputes, by resolution byand being efficiently, resources of each to the needs particular responsive in role a critical plays mediation litigant, By typically leading to the peaceful leading typically By According to According Sharon chief Press, of the DRC, the ADR Rules and Policy Committee is particularly proud of For instance, to be a family mediator under the old, degree-old, the under mediator family a be to instance, For the Mediators, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, based system, one would have needed a minimum of 40 for potential the Despite rules. procedural hours in court a certified familyother mediation training program; and a or health, mental ethical insocial work, thereconflict, have been Ph.D. or nodegree publishedcomplaints master’s against senior judges serving as mediators, so this was experience a or behavioral socialand mentorship science; a “the on thepartof effort proactive thetoCourt deal with that involves observing become mediations. To family supervised two conducting two family judge.” senior assigned an mediations needs one system, new point the under mediator a family and of propriety a senior judge acting as both a and mediator 30 points in certifiedmediation training; 25 pointsfor a judges senior changes, rules (e.g., noteworthy experience of more the mediation combination Among and education who plan to mediate are now required to be certifieda by years minimum with degree of five coupled a bachelor’s the Florida Supreme Court for that typeof mediation. and additional mediation training. training. mediation additional and of of mediation experience); 30 points for and mentorship; an additional 15 points that can come from a additional degree, advanced range more a including possibilities of ability, language foreign conversational work, mentorship the the Florida Rules education, training, for around revolve Certifiedto continue and Mediators, judges Court-Appointed are retired judges who are eligible for assignment been has experience of category addressed the the issueof mentorship—but senior judgesand asmediators (senior judicial duty). temporary to the Court, by the Instructed should which judges qualifications, the senior change, this of whether result added. a As considered closely committee point-based—an now are degree-based, heavily be to used be allowed to serve as if mediators—and, so under what credit get to mediator aspiring an enables that innovation adopted, Court the and proposed, it circumstances—and types experience. of other mediation for b shift shift in thinking” about what mediation truly is. These “recognize that amendments mediation is a separate and distinct enterprise—it’s not just law, and therapy. it’s a single has Mediation its isn’t own path…there not just right path.” Simply put, underpinning this change is the can become a “one good that mediator acknowledgement mediating.” by this this accomplishment because it a “such represents major Education and Outreach that the error resulted from the inadequate interpretation English speaking population of between 15 and 29.9%; provided by the defendant’sand interpreter.15 between of population speaking English that the error resulted from the inadequate interpretation non- a havecounties counties, 12 28 those Of non-English speaking. is population general A a toolbox.new the trial was ordered of when it more was discovered or 10% truck—when he thought he had entered a plea to stealing Florida ranks fourth the in nation. testdevelopment costs, standardsfor trainingtest administration, and educational programs, and statewide forums English speak who those “notandspeakers Englishwell,” non- of population of terms in enormous: is Florida in in savings tests,approved to partnership,accessprovides Understandably,commit. the potential for such problemsnot did they crimes for price exorbitant an pay errors the may defendantshapless if thendiscovered, not are But taxpayer. the for a price at hefty comes which ordered, be may trial new a discovered, are errors interpreting interpreters. if general, In language unqualified using from of plethora resulted have a that crises courtroom of examples unearth can one Nationwide, entire process. case the throughout made errors interpreter the of because overturned was conviction murder The defendant. the to read been had that rights the attorneys, and jury a significantmisimpression of u prxmtl ,0,3 ontsekEgiha oe certification Florida spring, process—untilthe when this the program, interpreters home. at English court speak not do approximately4,008,839 a strong dedicated been to creating formal a establish haveempoweredtomeans not was branchthat, judicial out of Florida’s courts total That population Florida’sof home. 17,788,023, at English than other language a speak five) though Even RAND Florida, 24% peopleof in Florida (over the age of of Statistics Population 2005 January the to According the National by 36-state judge, the a giving process, translation the consortium, and coordinated during the the Courts, in1995 sanitized State legal for translations, in to Founded Center untrained was who professor, the interrogation— but recorded professor the a language translate and transcribe hired Certification. prosecutor Interpreter Court the State Then inthe for Consortium from membership benefited has state interpreting.court in training the prior any have not did and 1997, interpret to hired was she language the in fluent since not Florida was own: Fortunately, its on entirely path this forge to had 1991. not has since program certification state, the police secured the services anof interpreter who another yet in case murder a for speakernon-native a of For the interrogation process five years. to sentenced and homicide reckless of convicted was he interpreters, certified with supplied was defendant the which for trial, second the At verdict and theHaitian- sentence.Language, Sign Spanish, order, are descending The top to 70%. ten foreignmurder languagethe out needs threwin judge the state, chief in the close that of flawed population prison—but speaking so non-English in was a process Dade—has years interpretation the 40 to sentenced convicted and was murder speaker of non-native a state, another In nwittingly pleading guilty to stealing a $125,000 dump Broken down by county, in 28 of Florida’s 67 counties, Florida’s67 of 28 county, in by down Broken dump $125,000 a stealing to guilty pleadingnwittingly h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview Miranda warning barrier.” may disadvantaged be by alanguage qualifiedassist to those who interpreters equally throughout our circuits by providing dispensed justice that is ensure program will language foreign This courtinterpreters. for] areliableprogram certification for basis states [the now nation, has in the most one ofthe culturally“Florida, diverse 18 he cute hv a o-nls sekn population speaking non-English a have counties three n hc mmes ae h opruiy o et and meet to opportunity the have members which in obligation, the court system has been committed to the to committed been has system court the obligation, county—Miami- one and 49.9%; and 30 between of exchange ideas. development a of statewide court interpreter training and are who those In keepingdisadvantaged with ofthis by a language barrier. rights process due the guarantee to equal access language—with to justice, native all the courts must their providedo what is necessary of to Floridians—regardless required is judiciary Florida’s Because Bosnian, and Laotian. Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, French, Arabic, –The Florida –The Supreme Court Education and Outreach do; do; and broaden the dialog by addressing the needs of the other court and self-represented community stakeholders. with In the process of being comprehensive developed services is framework a that will accomplish two important goals: will it help self-represented litigants as they it and process, judicial the through advance will the enable judges and court personnel involved in pro se cases to use their time efficiently. more ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 with the people: through “the with genius “the the of people: through our jury system,” resources, and procedural aid to these litigants. litigants. these to aid procedural and resources, the two court performance and Currently, accountability System Management Jury the c) Improving 19 In the process of being is developed the a process In comprehensive services that will framework goals: will it important help two accomplish self-represented as they litigants advance will it and enable process, thethrough judicial pro in involved court personnel and the judges efficiently. to use cases se their more time The Y The egislature egislature authorized the Supreme Court to “establish other and lawyers, staff, court administrators, court clerks, In January 2006, Chief Justice Pariente established a work work a established Pariente Justice Chief 2006, January In she acclaims, the people “partners become in the justice judges, appellate and people—trial 31 of continues consisting group system jury the that ensure to Wanting system.” Some litigants are se pro pro are some and se lawyer, a afford cannot because they because they do not want to hire a lawyer. decision, their for reason the whatever But, justice should be every bit as accessible to lawyers. with parties to is it as parties these unaware are litigants se pro instance, for If, of the and,necessary asprotocols a result, neglect to file the their required case will be probably delayed, which paperwork, and frustrated feel to them cause likely will end will courts the effect, side further a as disenfranchised; b) Providing Services for Self-represented Litigants Litigants Self-represented for Services Providing b) In Florida, litigants have the constitutionally-guaranteed commissions are taking the work group’s recommendations recommendations In Florida, litigants have the constitutionally-guaranteed group’s work the taking are commissions right to represent themselves in in se” Florida). “pro court (called on Since the 1980s, the number any matter particularly representation, se of pro for opt who of litigants support; services what into assessdetermine requirements; account budget the the analyze as need they for evaluate specificin the modifications; courts’ family current law level cases, has average, for been instance, 80% mounting of steadily: all on family 65% law of cases all and dissolution are already of available pro (e.g., bono legal help, aid), what marriage one cases self-represented the have courts at party could least in be this doing, what state. the doing, courts and should what be the courts can’t reasonably attempt to up with congested dockets. everyone Undeniably, loses need. they help the receive not do se litigants pro when Chief Justice frequently Pariente celebrates the judiciary power shares truly that of government branch only asthe be disadvantaged by a language barrier.” barrier.” a language by be disadvantaged Thechief justice is currently inthe process of appointing a Court Interpreter Certification Board that will certification and discipline of be interpreters; it responsible will also establish for continuing education and the other requirements that court interpreters will have to meet as well as the schedule for certificationfees. approach Once to pro the se certification litigation, thatregardsit foras themeetingneeds essential services” program identified 47 is “threshold inwill place, have Florida’s uniform, courts statewide standards richly of its needs the meeting better for thereby interpreters, report action an issued courtroom it and litigants, of self-represented envisions a court-based self-help and program that diverse has recommendations. population two and helping to prevent the Ultimately, sorts courtroom of crises the that may result from using unqualified work group purposes: to connect pro interpreters. court when se litigants with legal services, possible, and to provide access, information, program program will ensure that justice is dispensed equally throughout our circuits by providing qualified interpretersto assistthose who may L minimum standards and training” and procedures discipline, for conduct, qualifications,professional certification, for enablingpro se litigantsto navigatethe court system justice system partners—to brainstorm about of methods court-appointed foreign language court interpreters. In response, the Court “Florida, wrote, one effectively of the most and to culturally achievediverse states in the now nation, has meaningful access The to group, justice. which has taken [the basis for] a broad, a reliable certification program service-oriented for foreign language court interpreters. This Education and Outreach n cmuiain ewe te rsdn jde til n te ainl etr o Sae ors sd time a a for judges used ofworkload world real Courts measured that study State for Center National the and persons relevant other all and managers, jury attorneys, trial judge, presiding OSCA weights, the refine Toand the validate weights. between case communication and “Collaborationgoals: valid these at arrive to opinion achieve expert involves sampling which to necessary is what articulates vigorously order administrative The Method, Research Delphi thesystem. on based system The Florida’sthat is courts implemented receivegreaterweight. a case areprocesswhoensuredtherightdueor,to fromthejustice litigants far the more time-consuming, to a capital murder serviceable case— more as to well satisfying jurors—as the and meaningful more becomes it that experience so jury the reconfigure to determined is Court Supreme The and compliance, increasing citizen participation. juror yield, ensuring summoning the improving with charged are managers administrators, jury and court trial judges, presiding judges, chief things, other to begin implementing Among them. measures and directed the order trial courts of corrective The a series identified also wisely. used be must diem per juror of payment the for earmarked resources jury fiscal and duty; for being summoned unnecessarily by inconvenienced be not unduly must citizens place; takes gen_public/jury/bin/wg_finalreport.pdf). at online are information share (available or collaborate to failure March a to unacceptable.” due last report final its issued system, management jury of the and performance assessing measuring for with standards charged the group, updating work citizens our The inconveniencing unnecessarily or minimizing mistrials, 2004. least September at in Sizes Panel Jury for Standards or on Group inconvenience toDelays, our citizen continuances,jurors. eliminating jury Work of the while system,”established day justiceshe the the and jurors courthouse the selection supply at ample available an is ensuring in jurors factor of important most individual the theof needs theresponsive to and meaningful jurors “is potential and jurors make of to service the wantingthat certain further, and, jury, by trial a to right t must be available for the days on which jury selection recognized and embraced the need for new judges: last last judges: new for need the embraced and recognized of justice. Over selection the last jury two which years, Florida’s on days trial the courts have jury for available be efficient must and governorhave and legislature the fortunatebecause been effective more judges are needed an management system to tendency—then must have: an ensureample supply the theofjurors that timely the administration been outlining clearly objectives June, has three past increase—which this order administrative issued Court an Supreme the report, this to response In o operate in a manner that guarantees the constitutional associated with the management of cases and jurors is is jurors and cases of management the with associated thatmannerguarantees operatea o the constitutionalin h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview justice system. litigants are who todue right process ensured the from the more as well tothe jurors—as serviceable satisfying tothe it so that becomes more experience jury meaningful and The Supremeis to Court determined reconfigurethe http://www.flcourts.org/ d) Measuring andUpdating TrialCourt Workload http://www.flcourts.org/ Standards for Jury Panel Sizes. Circuit, chairs the Work Group on Judge Thomas Bateman,Second Judicial 20 ae cn e rcse sity ny f ors ae an have courts if only swiftly processed be can Cases adequate number of judges on the bench. When filings filings When bench. the on judges of number adequate range of cases in the in range cases courts. of apatc ad rdc liability product and malpractice professional a instance, cases—for case or a small claims case—receive relatively quickly—forexample,traffic civil a addressed be can that cases courts: trial the in of filed cases types different to 26 takes the it handle time of amount the dissects system caseload weighted The courts 1999. since using been Florida’shave which system, caseload weighted a called method deliberately-constructed very a of not arbitrary; in fact, it’s the product and where new judges are needed is determining when strategy for The a lower weight while more complex an additional 55—representing 59 new judges, and this year, for year, they approved funding for iiat wl hv prompter access to justice. have will litigants that and expeditiously more heard be will cases that means This increase judges. is significantbecause it court trial of number the in increase 13% a Education and Outreach In In September 2004, the Court created the Committee on District Court of Appeal Workload Appeal Workload and Jurisdiction to spearhead a comprehensive evaluation of DCAs. the wasgoalto determine committee’s The “whether, given the totality district circumstances, Florida’s courts of the are able to effectively and perform efficiently their primary functions service to the people.” in achieve To this goal, the committee evaluated the case mix of the DCAs—looking at three different pointsof time over a 40-year period; it assessed judicial workload workload on case processing. case on processing. workload In recommended its that, every eight an report, years, assessment should be conducted by a the Court-appointed review to committee determine committee whether the DCAs, both collectively and individually, are able to fulfill their constitutional mission. there are “If indications that the courts are ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 constitution constitution (article V, section 9) to establish uniform e) Evaluating DCA Workload and Jurisdiction Jurisdiction and Workload DCA Evaluating e) The Supreme Court isempowered Florida’s by 21 The Y The more complex cases—for instance, a professional a professional cases—for complex instance, more more far or, case liability product and malpractice case—receivea murder a capital time-consuming, greater weight. time it takes to handle the 26 different types the takescases to handle it 26 different of time in theaddressed casescan be filed trial thatcourts: case a civil traffic quickly—for example, relatively case—receiveor a small claims a lower weight while The weighted caseload system dissects the amount of thedissects amount system weighted caseload The orkload fluctuation, new legislation, and the availability the and legislation, new fluctuation, orkload they actually spend during that phase of a typical case. Updating the case weights is a rather elaborate process: this this process: elaborate rather a is weights case criteria the to Updating determine the need for additional judges as OSCA summer, staff willtravel across the state to offer sessions— of Training appellate Survey reviews redefine Weight or regular decrease, Case increase, Certification 60 to authorizes need the as well Court Therefore,the districts. covering all 20 circuits—to provide circuit and county organization. and structure, jurisdiction, DCAworkload, court court judges with information about the certificationof new judges case weight system (what based it is, how on it works, establishedrelative weights for cases disposed and important); to on why explain it’s the why merits; the and it examined the effectof caseload and case weights must be updated; to introduce will that survey Internet-based the to judges be used to update the case weights; and to show the judges how to fillthe survey out. As the training sessions will demonstrate, each case type has its own and survey, case court. of division Each by grouped are types representing events case type into is divided event each and case, the of phase particular a includes a brief description of that phase of the case and a struggling list to fulfillof their the mission, judicial then responsibleevents steps that might be part of such a case. will be Judges asked to a of consider of typical version redefinition geographic including considered, be should jurisdiction,” of matter subject alteration and districts the of that amount time the phase ofeach enter a case to and the report noted. As a consequence of this report, the W its various charges by June of next year. of year. next June by charges various its of of new resources make it so accuracy of essential the National the case weights periodically, to re-evaluate the establish to will beable Group the Work Study Resource Center for Based on State the responses to the judges’ Judicial the survey, Courts has be recommended re-measured that and they updated approximately must 1999 in every Resource established Judicial the weights 2005, case August years. in end,this the which to five To extent modified. be Study Work Group was charges: among them, it formed is responsible for and updating the given case enable will weights case weights several accurate having because, essential established in the is Group Work original Study Resource Judicial of the work This developing a methodology study that can be used to determine and for and having the number appropriate of judges will more enable Court the Supreme to justify its requests effectivelyfor new judges, the need for additional resources to and allocate more adeptly the general litigantsto feel magistrates, confident thatthat the child support administration of enforcement hearing officers, expedient. is fair and justice and officers. tohearing fulfill infraction aims group civil work The traffic Education and Outreach timely and efficient manner that meets the needs of our education requirements everythree years. people.” our of needs the meets that manner efficient and timely served, and must complete 30 hours of continuing judicial disclosurestatement for thefiscal year during which they courtsthese that ensure “continuea in justice dispense to will it because momentous is a financial must Bar, Florida not engage The in the jurisdictionfile practicemust law, of of standing good and in workloadmust be a member the DCA on committees the on of work The presented.”issues decisions considered carefully and researched status—senior judges must fulfill certain obligations: they that tomaintain status—and judge expeditiouslysenior processes for appeals…and renders qualify To thoroughly court efficient, well-resourced appellate An process. this to indispensable judges to database bysenior used chief judges. assign is caseload its with pace keeping court A liberties. and rights constitutionally-guaranteed and efrac i a atclr ra ol b sgiiaty y eti rqieet (bann cniun judicial continuing (obtaining requirements certain by significantly improved with ajurisdictional change. be could area particular a in performance provide abideto willingness their signal to to as well as retiring) are asked be used to help are the committee determine judges Forwhether a theto be“Consent form, Assigned court’s complete several factual forms. information (e.g., Service” about the court Judicialfrom which they evaluate to (anonymously) the DCAs; the survey results that will survey to an online opportunity an public the and lawyers,litigants, gives developed has to asked then are They committee judge. The senior a as the serve to desire from and retirement of their of theirchief retirement justice letter notifying the a submitto askedare judges senior bench, before aspiring confidence. months and trust review,public professionalism,and Three to appellate access of efficiency, terms elaborate. effectiveness, in criteria: five DCA each has evaluating with which charged been Committee, Assessment Jurisdiction and C blt t cmest fr h jdca sotal senior shortfall, judges have agreat been resource for judicial the judiciary. the for compensate to ability on the bench. their experience Because of their well as as sitting from judges active keeps death or sickness operation Florida’s of when judiciary. prevented are disruptions case and tackled; are backlogs commitmentcontinued to judges’ public helps service to enable the smooth Clearly, senior year. fiscal the up; stepped during are calendars trialaccess; court quicker have fiscal Altogether, year). 114senior judges satlitigants instance,on forthe judges, bench senior of availability the result of a As courts. the from expect to able are citizens 2005-2006 the in status judge senior granted were who judges judicial retired system,14 the (includingsenior status judges judge boost senior the have level of service that Florida’s in functionsimportant Performingof number a f ) Utilizing Senior Judges Supreme the by received been have forms these After laws the of application consistent ensuring errors, trial- level harmful corrects and identifies review Appellate appeared before them withinthe three last months. five attorneysprovideaskedto ofthewho names are also justice.system ofour integral to is impartialtribunaland to fair a willingness by they instance,and forheardcircuit, their own their appeal of outside and travel meaningful preferenceand wrote, timely“A docket their about Court the Jurisdiction, Workloadand Appeal of Court District on Committee the from report the Regarding ut rae te itit or o Apa Wrla Te rcs fr eoig sno jde is somewhat judge senior a becoming for process The Workload Appeal of Court District the created ourt h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview trust andtrust confidence. appellate review, professionalism, and public fiveeffectiveness, criteria: efficiency, access to of charged evaluating with in terms each DCA Jurisdiction Assessment Committee been has of Court District Appeal The Workload and 22 dcto ceis nt naig n h patc o law, of practice the in engaging not credits, education t.; o te uiil usinar,jde ae queried are judges Questionnaire, Judicial the for etc.); the andwisdom experiencethe of142 retired judges who of benefits the reaps today,system Florida’scourt of As or, n nur i sn t te Judicial the to if any sent out find to is Commission Qualifications inquiry an Court, s lcd n h Sno Jde nrnt ie a site, Intranet Judge name Senior the judge’s on placed is the application, the approves Court the If Court. Supreme forthe by approval considered is application the completed, Oncehavetheseinquiries been serve.toability continued judge’s the on information seeking letterrequestedfroma thejudge’s is judge chief Also judge. senior a become to seeking is who disciplinary action has been taken against a judge Education and Outreach from from the presentations of the day before—in order to address the following questions: what are the over face will courts the challenges what and years, eight to six next the strategies should be to employed address Then these all the gathered challenges? and participants reported on re- their group group discussions; reaction and encouraged. were interaction OSCA’s Strategic Planning Unit is compiling and analyzing individual the participant responses as well as the observations comments and from the groups, break-out and these will instrumental become in the revision the of two-year operational plan, a draft of which is due out this fall. Before beginning to update Task the plan, the strategic long-range ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 the workshop participants for their spirit of collaboration, collaboration, of spirit their for participants workshop the thanking them for putting their heads together to make the judiciary stronger and more responsive to the needs serves. it of people the Presentations were varied and included sessions on topical topical on sessions included and varied were Presentations areas such as “Embracing Growth and Diversity: Social and Economic “Where Changes,” Science, Technology, and the Law Intersect,” and “Court Organization the and Administration of Justice.” opportunity to ask Participants questions had and were an reflect encouraged upon to what they heard and to write responses down after their each session. On the wasparticipant second assigned to one of day, fiveeach break-out groups: Clarifying the Role of the Judicial the Branch; Administration Improving of Justice; Supporting Competence and Quality; Enhancing Public Access and Service; and and Confidence.Trust Building Public Withthe help of participants’ the use to guided was group each facilitator, a collective experience—coupled with the information Force on Force Judicial Branch Planning will identify outreach groups and hold sessions; feedback the plan is scheduled to be finalizedby May 2007and to besubmitted to the in June. Court attendees, the welcomed who Pariente, Chief Justice Both remarks, closing offered Lewis,who Justice-Elect Chief and the in shaping of public role the important the celebrated courts the guiding beenhas that plan strategic long-range over these last years, and they expressed appreciation to 23 The Y The During a break at the Judicial Branch Planning Planning Branch Judicial the at break a During Judicial Second Ferris, Janet Judge Workshop, Calabro, M. Dominic with confers Circuit, former while TaxWatch, Florida of president talks foreground, in Askew, Reuben Governor attendees. other with udicial Branch Planning: The Future Future The Planning: Branch udicial On On the firstday, participants an overview and of providing topics critical presentations listened decade. next the over system tocourt the affect range a to likely trends of Florida’s Florida’s constitution branch mandates have a long-range that plan (article III, section 19). But even the without this judicial constitutional requirement, courts the recognize the wisdom of and engaging operational in planning strategic because it offers an the branch opportunity to confronting—or about delineate to confront—the court the system and comprehensive robust, and a to deliberate, formulate major challenges approach for addressing those challenges. Deciding to meet these challenges head on, Chief created 2004, Justice of chief weeks within two becoming in July Pariente, the Task Force on Judicial was Branch charged Planning, with which finalizing an operational operational plan for 2004-2006; proposing an operational plan for 2006-2008; and recommending a updating and reviewing for strategy the court strategic plan—a plan designed to system’s long-range eight next the over courts the guide years. the the strategic plan. In a remarkable outreach gesture, broad a spectrum of participants—among them, university and judges, teachers attorneys, clerks, personnel, court professors, law enforcement personnel, and officers in public and private companies and organizations—was invited to participate in this planning process that will guide Chief Justice Pariente’s successors as the helm and they assume the leadership role for take the judicial branch. Thetwo-day Planning Workshop, an Judicial offshoot Branch of the work of was organized the to task help the force, court system identify challenges, future goals, and branch strategies. about the ways the in over courts which the various affect may trends next eight to years, make for recommendations updating presentations presentations and deliberations Held Held in Orlando this past May, the workshop had two purposes: strategic to reassess the long-range after and, place in been has that plan J Workshop Trends Education and Outreach first year on the bench. well as participate in a mentoring program, all within their comprehensive, two-week judicial education curriculum, as they are expected to complete the Florida Judicial College, a judges are held to the same standard; New however, in years.addition, three every education court of hours credit 1987, Florida judges must take a minimum of 30 approved adoptedtheby Florida Supreme CourtDecemberon 31, Administration Judicial of Rule a of consequence a As 1988. since only them take to required been have they 1970s, thoughlatethe sincecourses to education judicial of able advantage take been have judges Florida competently. fairly,effectively, professionally, and justice administer to ability her or F. of Those Serving in the Judiciary Court Education: Enhancing the Competence FOR JUDGES AND COURT PERSONNEL I and expertise and that reinforce his his reinforce that and expertise and that judge’sthe deepen knowledge, skills, opportunities educational provides program bench—this to the elected or appointed been has just who judge a judge—or court appellate or trial highly-esteemed seasoned, a is one Whether judges. state its of all of requirements and tools to meet the instructional needs education pedagogical developed has program court award-winning Florida’syears, the Over programs. training and education with judges Florida’s providing for mechanisms establishedfirst theformal1999) to Often called Often “theFatherEducation,” Court of Justice Ben of other court personnel well. needs as educational the address to programming the expand to underway now are efforts administrators,and court trial and marshals, appellate clerks, appellate for as well as judges initiativescourt county and circuit, appellate, educationalfor supports employees. Court court the certain Currently, and judges its for programs instructional dynamic generating for responsible also is the Supreme Court’s educational endeavors, of for recipients the Court only the aren’t users court and public The NSTRUCTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Overton (on the bench from 1974 h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview Florida Judicial College this past January, In his presentation at the first phase of the defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory. styles may be shaped by personality type as discussion ofthe ways in which judging Circuit, intrigues new judges with his Judge Scott Brownell, Twelfth Judicial 24 interactive online training, and videoconferences. Also Also videoconferences. and training, online interactive videoclips, Conferencing, Online Meeting Live as such strategies learning distance with experiment to continue judges.And, as the technologies improve, the program for toolwill training and referencecomprehensive a as serve will that ethics judicial on resource intranet an compile will program education court year,the next the Within presenter. the as science, political and law of professor University whether for judges or for court personnel, continues to be programming, educational for format popular most The about subject matter and delivery methods. recommendations make will consultant The staff. their court certain personnel instruction(e.g., court for administrators, appellate law clerks, and judges of for annually available hours are 900 approximately Currently, live, interactive presentations in a lecture and discussion discussion and lecture a in presentationsinteractivelive, services administrative assistants; personnel; case managers; and family court managers and judicial counsel; officers; clerks,attorneys,law court trial generalstaff and hearing and magistrates are studied be will that groups traditionallyaccesseducationcourtprograms:hadtothe not have who personnel court of groups different six of assessment educationalneeds an conducttoconsultant a Florida Court Education Council is in will the process of hiring programming The courtpersonnel.broaden includeothertogroupsof educational soon, and, marshals), hs e o oln videotapes Duke online Chemerinsky, Erwin of hosts set this niomn. oee, distance However, environment. The Florida Election Code, and Code, CommitteeEthicsJudicialAdvisory Election Florida Conduct, The Judicial of Code the to activities), Florida Bar Rules relating judicial assist candidatescampaignpoliticaland in that (guidelines 7 Canon Understanding to Aid An presentation, PowerPoint a include county court judgeships;the materials and for circuit for campaigning people Forums Conduct Campaign Judicial program’s education court the of version online an is instance, for year, this offering new instructional A well. as attractive become to beginning are formats learning oes ad uiil independence; judicial and powers, U.S. on of separationlaw,constitutional clerksthe law appellate for program learning distance a is year this of as available Also Opinions. The Year in Review 2005-2006 in the planning stage is an intranet framework that opinions underlining the need for a family court system that will readily contain the wide range of online delivery would provide children in court with greater protection mechanisms that the program envisions utilizing. and that would settle family discord with greater agility. In its fourth opinion, it identified twelve guiding principles The court education program also develops, edits, and as a foundation for defining and implementing a family electronically distributes court education publications court. Among them are the following: children should to enhance the competence of the judiciary and court live in safe and permanent homes; the court should first personnel. Some publications currently available are consider the needs and best interests of the children; the Domestic Violence Case Law Summaries with Index, court should coordinate or combine related family cases; An Aid to Understanding Canon 7, Judicial Ethics the court should manage its cases responsibly, keeping in Benchguide, Florida Traffic-related Appellate Opinions, mind the needs of the family; the court should coordinate and the Judicial Ethics Advisory Opinions Index. and make the best use of its resources as well as establish Projects under development or review include a contempt networks with community resources; the court should benchguide, a criminal benchguide for circuit judges, and identify services for the parties, design solutions that a pandemic flu benchguide. will engender long-term stability, and decrease the need

for additional court action; and court services should Children and Families Currently, Florida has a total of seven Supreme Court be available to parties at a reasonable cost. In short, the justices, 62 district courts of appeal judges, 564 circuit Supreme Court’s goal was to develop a comprehensive judges, 302 county court judges, and 142 senior judges strategy for handling and resolving all cases that involve (who are bound by the same education requirements as children and families—a strategy that would be impartial, active judges). And, given that the Florida Legislature efficient, and cost-effective and that would also be recently approved funding for an additional 35 circuit responsive to the emotional needs of the parties while judges and 20 county court judges, all of whom will be making the best use of available judicial resources. elected this November, the court education program will soon be responsible for an even more ambitious A fully-implemented unified family court (UFC) consists instructional curriculum. of a range of fundamental elements including the crossover docket, coordinated case management, security, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES family law advisory groups, court-related services, and the use of technology. UFCs also depend upon useful Unified Family Court: Innovative collaborations among various units of the court as well Strategies for Addressing Complex Cases

Dissolution of marriage, annulment, division of property, domestic violence, dependency, delinquency, truancy, paternity, child support, custodial care, adoption…family court comprises a wide range of legal concerns, often involving several different legal proceedings; as a result, family court cases are frequently complex and ponderous. In addition, over the last two decades, the volume of family court cases has been increasing inexorably. At the 2005 family court conference,“Understanding Family Conflict,” From fiscal year 1986-87 to 2004-05, for instance, over 500 justice system partners from across the state gathered for workshops, professional development sessions, circuit breakouts, and the number of domestic relations court filings networking opportunities. in Florida increased by 81.5%; over that same period, the number of juvenile delinquency and dependency court filings increased by 39.7%. Of all cases as beneficial outreach efforts to germane social service heard in circuit courts in fiscal year 2004-05, 43.7% were providers (the Department of Children and Families, domestic relations, delinquency, and dependency cases. Guardian Ad Litem, the Department of Revenue, etc.). As a result, UFCs have the ability to offer a remarkably Recognizing the need for significant reform, the Supreme high and integrated level of service to their users. Court, between 1991 and 2001, issued four separate 25 CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 The Year in Pictures

Chief Judge Robert J. Pleus, Jr. (Fifth DCA), Judge Martha Warner (Fourth DCA), and Judge Chris Altenbernd (Second DCA) participate in the District Court Budget Commission meeting held at the Florida Supreme Court. (above) Hillsborough County Court Judge Raul (Sonny) Palomino, recently elected the new president of the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, poses with his chief judge, Manuel Menendez, Jr., Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, who is also the chair of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges. (above)

At the United Judicial Conference, Chief Justice Pariente presents Judge Terry Terrell, First Judicial Circuit, with the Enveloped in judicial robes, Leon County elementary Judicial Award for Excellence. (below) school students adopted magisterial poses in celebration of Constitution Day at the Florida Supreme Court. (below)

The poster of Erin Morrow, 17, of Miami Killian Sr. High School, which is one of the winners of the law day poster contest sponsored by the Florida Law Related Education Association. (left)

26 The Year in Pictures

The poster of Kacie Colebrooke, 16, of Miami Killian Sr. High School, which is one of the winners of the law day poster contest sponsored by the Florida Law Related Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., Ninth Judicial Circuit, Education Association. (above) and Judge Stan Morris, Eighth Judicial Circuit, chair of the Trial Court Budget Commission, exchange ideas with the other members of the commission. (above)

Chief Justice Pariente poses with Girls State representatives who were at the Florida Supreme Court to participate in a two-day judicial branch education activity. (above)

At the May 2006 domestic violence coordinators meeting, Chief Justice Pariente presents a commendation to Ms. Cherie Simmers, family court manager in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, in recognition of her contributions to serving effectively domestic violence victims and their families. (below)

Justice Lewis offers words of wisdom and encouragement to the twenty-four teachers attending the five-day Justice Teaching Institute program, sponsored by the Florida Supreme Court. (above) 27 Children and Families for their particular family court needs. put their imaginations to work to create the best practices Florida’sof springboardall forto themcircuits, inspiring a as serves it possibilities;andsuggestions and ofsharing articulates it that promising, new UFC is ideas; The it is a compendium forum for a branch-wide this of litigants. significance se pro for conferences status monthly recently-published the is progress system’s Specifically, forum this success. greater enjoy and vision court the of illustration best Probablythe declared. she and when larger a sparkcanpartners, they as togetherwork people ones, in individual thinking of cases in terms of families rather than than dockets,” efforts their sharing for collective stage a with organizations in and agencies “People’s thoughts have finallybegun to point,” change—they are of knowledge and ideas and tipping forbuilding The understanding. the rationaleCourt for the forumImprovement, is simple: there’s andfar greater power past OSCA’sthe Office most conspicuous of of sign is finally range chief that Patterson, wide Rose this are proclaimed provides forum the Pariente, “We Justice elements. UFC implementing in strides considerable made have O vriwo h otrwriginvtosipeetd rfsinl fo ars te tt t ades issues address to state at online the(available circuits the by convene across to from opportunity professionals another generated conference, overview of the most rewarding innovations implemented comprehensive a Practices, Court Family of Compendium Department of Revenue, the Department of Juvenile become an annual event; the third, entitled “ to entitled Tools third, the event; of annual Workforceand, Innovation, for an Agency the become Control, to promises what Moveof Forward,”second is scheduled forthe 2006. August Juvenile was this Improvement, of Court Justice, the of DepartmentEducation, OSCA’s of Department Drug theOffice of Office by Coordinated practices. the best Revenue, the of Association, Department Board Domestic School Against Florida Coalition the Violence, Florida the Health, breakouts, as well as to meet, re-meet, of network, and share theChildren’s Council, Services andothers—gathered to Department professionalthe depth developmentcircuitFamilies, sessions,two and and Children together of Department the of employees include Members gathers Litem,children. Adof Guardianwelfare Aid, Legal Families, and Children attend that a plethora of workshops (24 choices altogether), professionals in- who share an interest momentous and investment in the initiative” of a Department Forum, the “brainstorming Leadership Justice, Children’s Juvenile the of Departments of creation the was year this advance court family Another oetc ilne uiil eiw rcs; n organize and process; review judicial violence domestic a initiate meetings; hall town court family up set court; family in hearings; kids for sessions monthlymic”“open status establish adoption biweekly offer cases; family for mediation child- of use the institute expand areas; waiting following:friendly which the the Among of are recommendations difficulty. many much without suggestions, realized be of can spectrum broad a includes compendium for the Cases”), Practices Violence Domestic Court “Family Cases,” Delinquency for Groups,”Advisory (e.g., Law Practices “Family Court “Family category by practices” “promising its Organizing org/gen_public/family/bin/04-05compendium.pdf ver the course of the past year, all of Florida’s circuits course, Third Branch representatives. Initiated by Chief by Initiated representatives. Branch course,Third Florida’scircuits of year, all past the of course the ver h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview service to their users. users. totheir service a remarkably and high integrated of level Unified familyhave courts ability the tooffer http://www.flcourts. 2004-2005 ). ). 28 500 participants—among them, judges, court personnel, courtjudges, them,participants—among 500 “Understanding Family Conflict,” the 2005 family court family 2005 Conflict,”Family the “Understanding tt atres ulc eedr,ad mlye o the of employees and defenders, public attorneys, state regarding the welfare of children and families. Over Over families. and children of welfare the regarding Program. and Angela Orkin, Executive Director ofthe FL GAL Hogenmuller, FL Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Bambi Lockman, FL Department ofEducation; John children in need; pictured here are ChiefJustice Pariente; to exchange ideas about how to provide better services to Members ofthe Children’s Leadership Forum convene aims to ignite these agencies to think and work and think to agencies these ignite to aims financial allocations more wisely, and provide better to services children and need. in wisely, more allocations limited financial their spend usefully, more collaborate to them get to is goal the child; the of best interests the concern primary their making arenas, specialized somewhat customary, their beyond Children and Families identify and exchange best practices, get get best identify practices, and exchange feedback, and make contacts with cross- with contacts make and feedback, counterparts. state A number of family court enterprises are in store for the coming year. More training opportunities will come as result a of two recently-awarded grants funded through the Dependency Court Improvement Program. which are The funded 2010, willthrough be grants, improvement court local-driven for used efforts. Also, to aid judges and court personnel who hear UFC cases,OSCA’s crossover Office of Court Improvement is inthe Tales Tales video was was video ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 and and domestic violence coordinators met two times. the process). the process). Thegoal of this project isto try to identify be appropriate not of sorts may in which cases mediation due to domestic violence as well as to determine when accommodations. special require might mediation In another series of family court initiatives, domestic this year; dependency case managers got together once, 29 The Y The from Delinquency Court Court Delinquency from guide and support to developed through families their and children court. delinquency of trials the Written by a panel of judges with with judges of panel a by Written the staff, OSCA of help the The Domestic Violence Injunction Case Injunction Violence Domestic The Domestic Domestic Violence Benchbook, certainly a forward- circuits to collect from information family court litigants managers managers regarding standards, processes, , developed with input from court court from input with developed , Guidelines Management coordinated and state Thesethe around meetings from staff provided administration and training, legislative information, updates, policy and professional by development the Office ofCourt Improvement, isnow completed October. the this is This published be to scheduled is and as presentations education. formal entailed meetings The setcentralized well a as discussions,androundtable informal participants place in have will courts the that time first especially relished the of guidelines for opportunity domestic violence case swap to ideas, details the relationship between substance judges that issues custody raises it and violence; domestic abuse and managers is a batterer. a parent when from consider to want might violence across coordinators the as state took well advantage as publication, Another of dependency several case meeting opportunities at the Supreme Court moving tool, was published this was year.fiscalearly published moving tool, Created regarding to their provide judges experiences with technical benchbook with legal assistance, includes domestic this the violence statutes critical and law federal cases as as well applicable violence and governing with domestic about and violence domestic with experiences their about the information and tools of array an mediation includes also law. It case process. questionnaire aims their perceived contains ability it to to participate example, meaningfully for in The elicit the batterers: with deal information pre-mediation who judges from for mediation litigants process; violence domestic of the cycle the on information background post-mediation aims questionnaire to get information and about its effect the on people parties’ involved in experiences court procedures; it withthe the outcomes of mediation process (specifically, management guidelines for other kinds of of kinds other for guidelines management cases.family The expectations, expectations, recommendations, practical, hands-on and applications. publication covers issues This like “The Legal Basis for Case “DV Management,” Case Manager Qualifications and Training,” “DV “TheInjunction Use Case Process,” “Ethics and Case of ADR in Cases,” DVI Management,” and “DV and applicable, Substance broadly be to Designed Abuse.” case for model a as serve also will guide the In another effort to address the plague of domestic violence, in the Domestic spring Violence Subcommittee of 2005, the Supreme Court Committee on ADR process of Rules compiling and a Policy bench Dispute and checklist. the Resolution Modeled Center after (with the the Office of 2004 support Court whichImprovement, provided Domestic domestic of Violence Checklist the for Judges, the identifycrossover cases aswell violence as thatchecklist focusesa and research expertise) Crossover Checklist undertook will include a a project discussion of to how to examine the interplay between requirements and order mediation evidentiary, on jurisdictional, the and domestic violence and type of each case. to unique UFC to determine the prospects for devising domestic cases family regarding for mechanism screening a A juvenile delinquency violence manual issues. is also being To this produced end, pre- questionnaires were developed and distributed in and several post-mediation intended to help by court Officepersonnel navigate Chapter 985, Courtof Improvement staff. manual This is Children and Families sesetaddtninotosfrdfeettpso ngtv bhvo ad ead fr oiie behavior. positive for rewards and behavior negative offensesas identified Chapter by 985. for sanctions given are offenders of tests, drug types anddifferent alcohol for options detention random andto Subjected assessment the summarizing chart a professionals.justice-system and and checklist, bench a frames, are carefully supervised by a time judge and aunit critical treatmentof substance ofabusers into treatment programsin tableswhich they proceedings, delinquency juvenile in events key particular of chart of flow a chapter, locations the non-violent of placing new provisions involves and that process old month 12-18 the both Not a reflects “specialty court,” that drug court chart is, a rather,include will an innovative, manual The to system outcome. the case the into child the of introduction the from the development drug court of initiatives. chronological presentation ofthe delinquency proceeding a provide to reorganizedrecently was which and system eod ot xesv du cut ytm n h U.S., the in system court drug extensive the most With second countries. many do as them, has state country; every the across exist courts drug 1,600 than more as DUI/drug Currently,courts and mental health courts. implemented around the state and country such been also have programs problem-solving type dependency,family and delinquency other and juvenile include to courts drug criminal 1989, beyondadult expanded Since has model court drug stages. the planning the in eight with at courts, least drug one in 102 each has circuit now and drug with Florida another for offenders. program treatment and diversion nation’srevolutionary, court-based court—a drug first the engineered and conceptualized Judge leaders, community Herbert Klein, theof Eleventh Judicial various Circuit, local of and support state the with and approval Court Supreme Florida with 1989, in Then taken, judges and court personnel acknowledged. be to had measures extreme Clearly, sanctions.federal with hit be wouldcourts the that and jail-overcrowding from suffer soon would county the that evident became it and substances, controlled charged of purchase and offenders possession with with inundated were was Courtrooms usage cocaine County. crack Dade of neighborhoods the and infest to beginning 1980s, late the was It Approach to Changing OffenderBehavior Florida’s Drug Courts: A Successful F mtoa srs t te hlrn n fmle wo ae rmr fcs f l du cut i te participants’ the is courts drug all of focus primary rehabilitation placedbeen the the in judicial trust system. of The have and who families treatment and children education. the of to interdisciplinary stress emotional range and aapproach,interaction non-adversarial ongoing services, court, a the courtrooms, with efficient, timely, equitable, and is cost-effective and that doesn’t to that cause additional manner a dedicated in demonstrably them resolving court drug is all in subsist features system key certain inhabits, it programs, e.g., courtfromthe removaldrugtraditionalcases of Florida’s difficult and make, must judiciary most the that decisions the critical and of some engender disputes Family oiaSaue,wihadessFoiasjvnl utc Florida continues to be a forerunner in the expansion and lorida Statutes, which addresses Florida’s juvenile justice h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview (Fourth DCA and FADCP chair). (OSCA’s statewide drug court coordinator);Epstein and(assistant Judge Melaniestate attorney May and past FADCPDrug Courtchair); Judge Jennifer Jeffrey Grandal Rosinek (Eleventh SchwartzJudicial (Rochester, Circuit); Martin NY, supervising judge(former and NADCPNADCP boardCEO and chair);NDCI executive director);Month Judge Award; John pictured here are retired ThisJudge May, Karen Freeman-WilsonFlorida was honored with the 2006 National Drug Court 30 Although each drug court is unique, needs, reflecting the is courtdrug Although each their cycle of drug abuse or addiction and entanglement and addiction or abuse drug of cycle their to end an putting of chance higher demonstrably a have However, when the offenders go throughdrug court, released. they are they when arrest and abuse of pattern this remain untreated, often which means problemsthat the offenders addiction generally repeat or abuse underlying process,their legal usual thethrough go arrestedand get Without drug court, when non-violent substance abusers eliminate—not simply to punish—the criminal behavior, community the of personality and resources, priorities, which they reside. to is which benefitsboth the offenders and the goal communities in paramount the recovery; and treatment Children and Families Report—a Report—a user-friendly, online interactive, system elements. multimedia with seeks The quarterly statistics report from all operational drug courts about the following information: type of drug court; number of current drug court participants; number of participants The report also enables of breakdown a each drug court gender, participant’s race, and ethnicity. So far, OSCA has been able to collect data for all of 2005 and for the first two quartersof 2006, and the responses of court have personnel been favorable: “clear “no instructions, problems”; easy problems getting in at all.” Designed entry”; to “no data critical developed elements capture ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 and and support) and by the Office of State the Courts the the participating drug courts around the state by way who who graduated from drug court; number of drug court opening graduation ceremony, which opening is graduation ceremony, broadcast live to 31 The Y The Report on , July 2004). According to other Administrator (OSCA). Now that five more circuits the cost of drug court—between of drug the cost $2,500 and $4,000 per person. Drug court is exceptionally cost-effective: compare offender— a drug of incarcerating cost the annual $50,000 perbetween $20,000 and person—with n the legal system. Therecidivism rate of those who do Dependency Court Improvement Grant, this initiative Florida’s Florida’s Drug Courts of time amount the between correlation a is there studies, have, currently circuits of 17 the training, completed have offenders participate in druga treatment program and their ability retention to stay clean and sober. program’s drug court Florida’s the and months, 18 or soon to 12 willlasts program have, programs. court fully-implemented dependency drug rate is high, between 60 and 70% (according to the data on Another juvenile drug courts that significant OSCA captured in accomplishment for 2005, instance, the was retention the implementation of April the Quarterly Drug Court Data rate rate is 66%). In addition, drug court is exceptionally cost-effective: compare the of incarcerating cost annual a drug offender—between $20,000 and $50,000 per person—with the of drug cost court—between $2,500 and $4,000 person. per The drug court 2005-06 program’s was greatest its Initiative. achievement Training by a Florida Funded Implementation Family in Dependency took place in Jacksonville. of Drug the State Featuring Courts Videoconferencing remarks Network. Court by Chief This the Fourth Judicial year, Circuit hosted the event, which Finally, Finally, drug court programs also benefit children and families. drug-free of number jurisdiction; Substance abuse the is a from major and contributing factor to transfers who parents of number participants; in female child to abuse born cases, for babies instance. Drug court holds out the currently are opportunity who program court for drug the long-term from graduated reduction of drug abuse and addiction, reunifications, of those and, children; their with reunified thus reducing the criminal behaviors number of children who are reunified with their parents. not not participate in a drug court program is 43.5% (Office on the 2003); February Policy, Control involvedDrug of National two three-daytraining sessions coordinated by the Drug National Court (which Institute organized the other hand, the recidivism rate of drug court graduates is between 16 training the and provided and agenda, the developed 27% sessions, (data taken from the that that drug use typically generates, so when drug succeed, courts the families and children who were victimized by the Drug Court the by Force, abusers Task substance have a greater chance of Court succeeding Data Report will also be helpful and in making as well. benefit another federal underlines Pariente Chief funding Justice in requests complying court personnel,the governor’soffice, national of and state with drug courts for information-requests children and that from we have to families: terminate the rights “Everyof a parent because time of a treatable addiction, public. we general the and have agencies, fractured a family with she child,” and parent the on effects devastating potential, Florida also celebrated its Seventh Graduation this Annual past during Drug NationalMay, Drug Court Court stresses. hope that there’s is addiction the treated, When Each one Month. year, jurisdiction is chosen to host be salvaged. can family the the i Fairness and Diversity o aut ad eeto fr ueie. n addition, In juveniles. forappropriation, legislativecontingentannual upon bill the detention and adults for incarceration or treatment jail-based including imposed, be to incentives and sanctions of protocol for allows it offenses forjuvenile pretrialintervention drug courts, and eligible the expands also bill The model. court using drug the cases dependency in abuse substance addressing of importance the identifies and proceedings dependency into courts drug of the 39, Florida Statutes, incorporates the principles to Court Intervention Drug Act,” which, Koch pursuanttoChapter J. forward Robert “The 175, Bill looks therecently-passed of House implementation also OSCA their accomplishments since completing the program. 13 to tribute pay “outstanding to drug court graduates,” invited who were was honored for May Melanie Judge and Dr. Aaron White (Duke University Medical Center). Control), Drug of (director,Office Janes WilliamBush, GovernorJeb Speakersincluded Control state’sStrategy.Drug the of direction future the into input their offer a Summit, to convenedstakeholders court drug Controlwhich in gathering Drug Annual Eighth governor’s the in participated system Florida’s court June, in Then national award; itthe was 2001recipient well. as this for out singled was Florida time second the is This Grandal (statewide drug court coordinator with OSCA). Circuit), Judge Melanie May (Fourth DCA), and Jennifer Judicial (Eleventh Rosinek Jeffrey Judge were award the J commemorated coordinator the 178statewide treatment-based drug of court graduates. drug court program. event the Circuit, JudicialFourth the Moran,of Donald delinquency drug court program in every every in judicial circuit. program court drug delinquency The goalis to establishand atraining.juvenile enhancement, implementation, funding toward going the with courts, drug delinquency Juvenile state’s of the juvenile expand will Justice,OSCA just Department the it from grant received $150,000 For the with stages. instance, planning the in projects court drug important of number a has also OSCA Third Branch representativesaccept to hand on Month.” Court Drug drug court initiatives. National outstanding recognizing its in accomplishments Professionals, “For Florida in Court distinguished leader award a Drugthe remains and legislature,thegovernor, Floridathe the system, partners, court state court of drug many Association 2006 National the the by with bestowed Award; Month presented Court Drug National was Florida May, in Also ustice Pariente, Governor Jeb Bush, and Chief Judge requires each judicial circuit to establish a position for a for position a establish to circuit judicial each requires Judge Chief and Bush, Jeb Governor Pariente, ustice h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview year’s Take Your Child to Work Day.employees about the Bill ofRights and the separation ofpowers at this ChiefJustice Pariente talks to the children ofSupreme Court and OSCA 32 the committee is chaired by Judge Gill Freeman, Eleventh peoplefromthebothpublic groupprivateofand sectors, of heterogeneousa Consistingof diversity serve.”communitythewe the reflect staff court and justice judges the if of system credibility the enhance and state this of people the serve better can System Courts State Florida and equal treatment is the mission to create a diverse court In status.”conjunction with the goals ensuringof fairness on race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, or socioeconomic to efforts System’seliminatefrom court operations inappropriate based bias Courts State the “advancing with charged was and order) administrative 2004 November a (in Pariente Justice and Chief by Fairness launched was on Diversity Committee Standing the to injustice,” rise give can which access treatment unequal meaningful in result to can barriers other or “Bias Because Courts Diversity: Eradicating Bias from Florida’s The Standing Committee on Fairness and FAIRNESS DIVERSITY AND the collaborationdedicatedof continuedand the to Due niomn; s h amnsrtv odr tts “The states, order administrative the as environment; Fairness and Diversity data data have been over 5,000 lawyers, collected judges, jurors, from litigants, and Moreover, court personnel. information was gathered gathered from a two-day hearing public held last January, during ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 courts. courts. Once the results of all this outreach will a write report committee have the analyzed,and compiled been underlying findings and recommendations by previous court court committees.” With the help of the St. Thomas two years. it First, will begin implementing strategies to create a comprehensive chronicle of of disparate treatment the in perceptions Florida courts. address the issue of It courthouse will accessibility for also people jurors, litigants, and/or the public on their perceptions of of perceptions their on public the and/or litigants, jurors, which which 31 individuals and organizations gave testimony will direct its attention to four initiatives over the next 33 The Y The also address the issue of courthouse accessibility for people people for the of courthouse issue accessibility also address with conducting disabilities—a that will project involve plans newnew transition self-evaluations developing and all for court facilities. The Standing Committee on Fairness and and willDiversity Fairness on Committee Standing The http://www.flcourts.org/ http://www.flcourts.org/ Promoting and and Promoting udicial Circuit, and it has four charges, two of which have Charge two required that the committee “conduct outreach outreach have which of “conduct two charges, four has committee it and the Circuit, udicial that required two Charge gen_public/family/diversity/bin/lawclerk_report.). pdf The report, based law on schools, current data law clerks from and Florida’s staff eight attorneys, and members of the registeringpublic. the and users, court judiciary, stakeholders, addressed the the perception perceptions of judicial clerkships, the percentage of racial minorities in unequal of private and schools law of role the treatment and positions, clerkship by For the third charge, need the committee the had to “evaluate to conduct new research on diversity and fairness employers in prompting aspiring attorneys to become— in clerks. become—law to not or the justice system or to update or expand research Based on committee this identified data, three the In charge four, the committee was directed to create a “Court Diversity Information Resource In Center staffaccurate and attorneys. of clerks law diversity the on improve and fair the a with Florida working Courts is it Internet that site, ensure addition,to including links to diversity and fairness model court education curricula, relevant cross-section of perceptions court of the system, state committee will unequal treatment hold in and three more the public national organizations, diversity publications, and other materials.” and, once hearings, the responses have the been received, This charge was accomplished in the summer of data 2005; survey the the with interactive those—along website analyze will is committee updated basis. ongoing an on expanded and hearing—to public at first the and received responses the Charge one has been successfully addressed: “Design a program to be report promote a and that and ensure the courts” diversity Florida of in treatment judicial disparate staff findings.attorneys and committee’s the outlining judicial submitted of Because lawclerks withinthe Florida State daunting. has this been task survey Courts magnitude, its far, So System and propose strategies strategies to implementation of facilitate the initiative.” Last timely December, the report, its completed committee Courts Courts , System and the Court approved (report is it available online in at January about their perceptions of inequitable treatment in the Ensuring Ensuring the Diversity of Staff Attorneys Judicial and Law Clerks Within the Florida State been accomplished and two of which are in progress. in progress. of are two and which been accomplished and obtain input from judges, court staff, attorneys, about about law clerk addition, the application positions; process in doesn’t encourage pool a of applicants, particularly diverse because many positions are filled withouthaving been advertised; and, the finally, salary hasnot typically been Law Library staff, the committee enticing. makingis progress this on Thecommittee has strategies identified already project, and, along withthe input fromthe surveys and public for hearings, this research review overcoming will play these role a barriers; these strategies students qualified encourage to schools law with working include unifieda creating and clerkships, court in to developing recommendations the for Court on fairness applying diversity consider to addressed. issues that need encouraging and system, tocourt the for website application be studied and/or chief in mind judges to keep diversity as they fillnew law The positions. staff and attorney clerk Standing Committee Fairness on Diversity and considerable considerable barriers that need to be addressed: qualified students law often lack awareness J The Year in Review 2005-2006 with disabilities—a proj ect that will involve conducting These reports providea breakdown of each circuit’s new self-evaluations and developing new transition workforce statistics, enabling OSCA to ascertain whether plans for all court the circuit workforce reflects the available local labor force. facilities. Finally, If any circuits are encountering obstacles in recruiting to complement women and minorities, these reports will register the state-level training concerns, and Personnel Services will provide guidance initiatives, the to the circuits on actions they may take to address these committee will obstacles. consider strategies for promoting diversity education for judges and court staff at the local level. With the creation of these two EEO positions, Florida’s court system has emphatically underscored how seriously “Justice requires that the court system be accessible to it takes its responsibility to ensure that the court all, respect the dignity of every person, include j udges population is diverse and that j ustice in Florida is fair, and court staff that reflect the community’s diversity, responsive, and accountable. and respond to the needs of all members of society,” the administrative order asserts. The Standing Committee TECHNOLOGY on Fairness and Diversity is making great strides in meeting the far-ranging and momentous requirements of this order. Technology in the Courts: Embracing Innovation and Change OSCA’s Human Resources Officer: Whether by making case processing more streamlined, Another Commitment to Fairness and by managing resources more effortlessly, or by providing Diversity better, more immediate access to up-to-date information for j udges, court personnel, and the public, innovative This spring, reinforcing the Court’s dedication to technologies have dramatically modified the ways in ensuring fairness and diversity throughout the j udicial which courts handle and deploy information, enabling branch, OSCA’s Personnel Services hired people to fill them to operate with an efficiency and effectiveness two newly-created EEO positions: a human resources that were hitherto inconceivable. Eager to incorporate officer and an assistant. Among their responsibilities, new technologies into court procedures, Florida’s court they will coordinate regular training programs—available system has built a reputation for embracing creativity and to the supervisors, managers, and employees of Florida’s originality in improving the administration of j ustice. courts—on a range of employee relations issues, and they will ensure that the court system’s workforce is The State Courts Network in compliance with its personnel rules and regulations The Information Systems Services (ISS) Division of as well as with state and federal employment laws and the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA)

Fairness and Diversity Fairness regulations. provides support for the state-funded computer

One of their priorities is to develop a comprehensive, ongoing supervisory training program to ensure that supervisors cultivate the core competencies required for them to be successful in their role. Training will focus on topics such as the Family Medical Leave Act, ADA, diversity, fair labor standards, and civil rights complaint procedure, but it will also cover the so-called “soft skills” such as resolving employee conflicts, motivating employees, increasing productivity, and conducting performance management. Other training priorities are sexual harassment prevention and diversity training for Justice Cantero, liaison to the Supreme Court’s all court system employees. Florida Courts Technology Commission, addresses the members of the Trial Court Technology Committee; pictured with him The human resources officer will also focus on encouraging are Jannet Lewis, trial court technology officer, all circuits to submit their annual EEO reports to OSCA. and Judge John Kest, Ninth Judicial Circuit. 34 Technology generates generates forms and orders, tracks cases, and identifies backlogs, thus courts as assisting place they children with safe and strive stable to families. Developed in conjunction of and Children Department with the Families and the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the system is being tested in Dade County with plans for Miami- statewide implementation in the near future. The ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 Significantprogress hasalso been madeon the On-Line and those who are on supervised release status. status. release supervised on are who those and singles singles out high risk sexual offenders, sexual predators, System Information Management Case Judicial The Project System Sentencing On-Line 35 The Y The From a single query to the Judicial Inquiry System, judges have have judges System, Inquiry query a single to the Judicial From saving both thereby results, the benefitcomprehensive of search get time-sensitive can judges addition, In money. and time history criminal background information—like a complete check—almost instantly. Network, Network, nfrastructure nfrastructure of Florida’s court system, including the who preys on a child under 12 must be sentenced to no This year, the JIS was expanded to reflect the requirements the reflect to expanded was that JIS application the a web-based is which year, System, This Sentencing May in law into signed JLA), ( Act Lunsford Jessica of the electronically provides sentencing anyone data law, Florida to this of 2005. requirements the judges, Under state attorneys, clerks of court, the Florida Department of support support of approximately 700 end users computers that communicate and with each other desktop statewide ISSdevices. The network critical and servers 130 life for over be tracked must and in prison 25 years than and fewer if Appearance he First “JLA or she acalled new JIS function includes is ever released. As of the April, augmented Division also manages and supports the State The Judicial Inquiry System System Inquiry Judicial The TheJudicial Inquiry JIS)System ( isone of the Florida court system’s most innovative technological The projects. JIS, which streamlines information from of local, state, and range a federal agencies into a single, central Also“dashboard,” in enables the cases. neglect and abuse child finalin events tracks that stages system judges, developmentof judicial is a resourceful governmental staff, entities and to other access mechanism a creating a manage to of point entry, one through needed sources data wide the reports and range The collects that of system Judicial data Case through which justice system Managementpartners can JCMIS)share critical is ( Information designed single to provide a courts with a System From statewide readily. material judicial caseloads efficiently. system The automatically employed by the Florida employed Supreme Court, the five district courts of appeal, the twenty judicial circuits, and which gives Calendar,” judges OSCA have access and to secure thanks other communications, to criminal justice officials this automatic State Courts access Network. information to It supports necessary email for services, on-line legal research services for judges and the legal staff, appropriate handling and and access capacity instantly in Internet videoconferencing of 47 section,which Status the Alert recently-arrested its before and both during their for first appearance is arraignment. helpful Especially locations. court Courts Courts implemented in 2001, which currently services 85% of the The judiciary. 3,500 judicial personnel approximately benefit the have judges query, of comprehensive results, thereby saving search both addition, money. and In time judges can get time-sensitive complete a information—like criminal history background check—almost Agencies instantly. include drawn is information from the Florida which Association the of Comptrollers, and Clerks Department of Corrections, the Department of Highway Safety, of the Law Enforcement, and Department the Florida and the National JCMIS Crime dependency Information Centers. module will foundation ultimately Since for become January a of the broader this caseyear, has now which management JIS, the system to connected been that have circuits all dockets. of be used can in court support all family 1,000 users. over i Technology significantfunding challenges have yet be to resolved. integration, data and systems expanding and enhancing on focused initiatives with forward move to efforts their It should noted be that although the trial courts continue system. integrationthesystemstodata and throughout thecourt specifically,board, the ofwork therelating areas those of Courts the State Administratorof was legislatively directed to continue some Office the and expired, board the for term the 2006, 1, July On data. to access necessary achieve to needed changes operational and functional, policy,recommending for as well integration,as data for provide services. DCR the automatedCurrently, record. own courts600 of Florida’s the courtrooms and costs; operating in increase an without delivered being is information court-required transcripts; court to access greater have also courts the functionality; and specifications system particular meet to courts vendors DCR all Florida’srequiring standards developed have technology, innovative Since this adopting said. is that everything of record complete and accurate an create to capacity the has proceedings,DCR cutting-edge court annotates A and records, observes, that technology courtrooms. Florida’s continues in (DCR) increase reporting court to digital of use The Digital Court Reporting deployment this fall. being is piloted in system Alachua County and will The be ready for statewide sentences. of conditions required statutorily- the with automatically screens populate and create also probation currentlyorders, probationhandle violations, is can it that ISS so system the errors. of functionality the entry enhancing data of likelihood reduces which the data, re-keying for need the eliminates also system this calculations; assessment court accurate accuratecriminal with and with Packets, Commitment documents, prompt and sentencing concise more with them providing process, the through judges guides system this process, sentencing the automate to Created L n acs rqieet, n sadrs n protocols and standards and requirements, access and minimum data elements, functional the identifying requirements, with charged security specifically was It entities. systemcourtstate the facing electronicintegration issues addressing for responsible been has Board Technology CreatedthebyFlorida 2004, Legislature in the Article V The Article V TechnologyBoard wEfreet n h eateto Corrections. of Department the and Enforcement, aw h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview 36 n h ohr ad lrdas eih n fecl guard fiercely and relish Floridians hand, other And the on behalf.” their in acting persons of or state, the of the On Florida. in evident particularly is tension this and privacy, safeguarding and access opening between strain the by affected profoundly are nation the across Naturally, courts information. privacy-threatening and confidential, sensitive, of availability ready sudden, the is technology same this ofunavoidable consequencesthe However,of one access. immediate more and greater of and efficiency of promise its keeps generally technology Indisputably,above,detailed projectsthe by evidenced as Modern Society Integrating New Technologies into Online Access to Court Records: their fundamental, constitutional right of privacy: privacy: fundamental,their constitutional ofright “Every or employeebody, officer, public any of business official any public record made or received in connection with the copy or inspect grants towhich “everyright person…the 1992, in voters of 83% over by approved Amendment, Sunshine the of benefits the enjoy Floridians hand, one constitution. constitution. are guaranteed by Florida’s ofprivacy,right ofwhich both access tojudicial records the with addressing ways tobalance the activelySupreme been Court has For last five the years, the Technology is released”; the order also details be may records court specific which available. electronically made noted,and report committee’s the As as the justices agreed,the challenge “notmerely for the ThirdBranch is to an create policy electronic access and to advise the chief justice regarding regarding chief justice the advise to and implementation. their On the order issued an administrative Pariente same day, establishing Chief an interim Justice “allows extensive policy docket information, that judgments and orders final all as well as ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 In In addition to addressing the issue of online access as it Act. Disabilities Association Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers, The Technology Commission, and the Office of State the and and it called upon various entities, including the Florida 37 —in the Family Law Rules Committee, the Florida Courts The Y The http://www. http://www. “The issue,” the justices recognized, “is not whethernot “isrecognized, the justices the “The issue,” but electronically, available courts will make records they conditions what when willrather under so.” and do tural tural person has the right to be let alone and free from Court Records, which will propose revisions to Florida Between Between January and June of this year, the Court held three meetings to receive public comment, and, on June relates to court records, the 30, Court 2006, the will day on be which concentrating the on gavel the matter of passed online as access from it to relates people Chief with to Chief Pariente Justice Lewis,Justice an administrative disabilities, whether they are of employees state agencies or members of signed order, the by public: a both recently passed of bill establish requires them, was to issued and to implement recommendations committee’s the of be some provided with information that that employees with isdisabilities must comparable have to access to the and them as the basis for a consistent, statewide “Thepolicy protections. that and precautions privacy critical includes this must same access beto provided disabilities; further, information provided to the “is justices issue,” recognized,not individuals whether the courts who do when not rather but have electronically, available members records of make will the public with disabilities who are information seeking or services other Among so.” do will they from conditions what under and state agencies. particularly important Thiscommittee’s issue the approved order for issystem’s administrative the court Justice things, the a that Lewis, ensure to who tirelessly work to has pledged overall recommendation of providing online non-confidential court access records when suitable to safeguards to. adhered are conditions and facilities, online—are programs, and services—both face-to-face and in compliance with the Americans with public comments were accepted through through accepted were comments public June. sections— five early into Divided an Introduction, Recommendations, Member appendices—the report openly Comments, reflects the and intrinsic difficulty conclusions about comingin two such a to far-reaching and controversial issue (this is particularly true Member in Comments the section, which includes of two the sets courts, to be made available electronically, assuch on a website, as long as no confidential information Building Building on the efforts of legislative three committees, the Supreme Court’s 15-member different Steering the judicial Court, Drug and Treatment-Based on Force Task Committee on Privacy Florida and Bar, Court the Records Florida released Court its Education final Council, the Privacy, report— at online available is Access, report Committee (the 2005 and August on Families Court and Records ); Children flcourts.org/gen_public/stratplan/privacy.shtml in the Court, a draft was recommendations submitted in specific early and May, review Administrator,to Courts of of minority views as well as a rebuttal the majority However, of of members these did reach agreement views). but policy, records counter’ the ‘over about an to to as a companion a create blueprint for policy a on comprehensive court a number of important issues. report contains 24 Altogether, the recommendations: six be that swiftly implemented, four should that records that will aim serve to the public minimize and the the courts as inclusion they move of through the transition unnecessary from a personal system of information primarily in paper records court to one of and primarily 14 records, that digitalprovide an for architecture a records.” system Thus move to obligation its embraces and recognizes Court the so do responsibly. to forward—but access. of electronic This comprehensive administrative order also reflected intent to establish the a Court’s to Committee on Access na governmental intrusion into the person’s private life.” life.” private For person’s the into intrusion governmental Rule of the last five Judicial years, the Supreme Court Administration has beenactively 2.051 addressing regarding ways to balance the access to the judicial records conditions for electronic access,the responsibility of by the guaranteed are of which both of privacy, right the with filer,and sanctions for unauthorized filings; the it endorsed creation constitution. of Florida’s a pilot program in Manatee County; Technology smart and convenient system by the spring. thisimplement DCAs and circuits the all have to is goal courts.theiremployees The the in guide can theythat so training receive will staff technology and representatives personnel DCA and October,circuit personnel in conference,and September the at system the introduce will staff Personnel Services June.early in ended that in period ended that period pay the employees,with Court pay Supreme for April;early the with the live employees, OSCA went For system before. ever than quickly more far balances leave new her or his to access have online employee the lets which of process—all personnel’s auditing expediting thereby supervisor, the employee’s by approved and to timesheets submitted electronically monthly be to the enables system this Further, but basis) daily,randomweekly, monthly, a or (on time and Attendance Automated recently-implemented The taking its is mission. Services Personnel seriously how reveals site intranet redesigned Attendance and Leave System and of the expansive, newly- the new Automated Anofinspection employmentlaws.” local and state, federal, with compliance assuring while theofficers of and employees theState of Courts System, all technicaladvice, to service efficient courteous and and interpretation, policy responsible and sound to“provide is Services of Personnel OSCA’s Office of mission The Accommodating Assistance Technology to Provide More P esnl oia hus ad vn etrn hours. mentoring even and hours, holiday personal annual, sick, regularcompensatory, specialcompensatory, letsalso them make leave requests and track leave time— LeaveSystememployees onlyletswork not trackkeep of ersonnel Services: Employing h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview modules, toolkits, supervisor and afeedback form. benefits, employee relationsinformation, training tools, among them, employment information, and court personnel aplethora human resources of Personnel Services’ intranet new site offersjudges 38 Also featured is a feedback form that gives employees a employees gives that form feedback a is featured Also Act. Leave Medical Family the under off time requests the meet federal compliances when, for instance, addition, an employee supervisors that ensure in that checklists provide requests; toolkits certification medical and employees Toolkits, to letters sampleexample, Supervisor for contain, which are available Also opportunity). employment equal like subjects (on modules training of advantage take can one moreover, Program; Assistance Employee the and procedure, complaint discrimination information on topics like civil rights complaint procedure, availableonthe site, rangea is as of “EmployeeRelations” The New andEmployee retirement. Reference Manualis tuition, insurance, college prepaid on health Florida insurance, supplemental material find can one “Benefits,” class specifications, andposition description forms;under schedule, salary recruitment, on information to link can underEmployment,” instance, For “Court one access. to navigate—will humanresources toolsthat are clearly identified easy and to of easy multitude a with personnel exceptionallycourt and judges provide and at look to to go live in the fall, this new site—which is both pleasing prove court system is the state Personnel will Services’ of new intranetScheduled site. employees that and officers to invaluable project technology-based Another www.flcourts.org/index.shtml website, Courts State Florida the from accessed were documents added or updated, and, noted, unless otherwise can all be following the 2005-2006, year fiscal During as possible. be as responsive and to effective, accessible, efforts system’s court grow, state to the continues underscoring publications online of library The Online Publications Online Publications and Forms modifications. systemic and needs changing reflect speedily can it that so enough mobile straightforward, and relevant, it current, usable, readily keeping possible, as welcoming as and functional as site this make to is goal Their menu. user-friendly and extensive its site’s and look their contemporary about enthusiastic very are staff Personnel issues. personnel general about concernsshare as well as from this same form, employeesdoing; can ask is specificquestions it how know Services Personnel let to chance •2005 FamilyAssessments Court Self •Promoting and Ensuring the Diversity Judicial of •2004-2005 Compendium Family of Court Practices Florida State Courts System (December 2005) Staff AttorneysLawClerks and within the http:// The Passing of the GAvel The gavel passed peacefully and seamlessly to newto seamlessly and passed peacefully The gavel Chief Lewis former Justice Chief from Justice Pariente. ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 respect are any indications, this year’s ceremony certainly certainly ceremony this year’s respect are any indications, ceremonial ceremonial gavel passed from Chief Justice Barbara J. of the Court Florida Supreme building. As the program going going chief, and hopefully toward the future, extolling the promise of the Chief Pariente: Justice to Chief thanks gave first speakers new ’s chief vision. Justice Lewis Thusbegan by “our extending appreciation, our many Judicial Eleventh and Chief Farina, Joe Judge leadership,” Circuit, expressed “heartfelt his appreciation and sincere gratitude for everything you have done on behalf of the energetic her out singling Floridians,” all and system court As is customary, the the passing As of is customary, the gavel looks ceremony both fondly toward the past, paying homage to the out- THE PASSING OF THE GAVEL GAVEL THE OF PASSING THE Share “Come Lewis: Fred R. Chief Justice of Justice” Vision Your Us with On June 30, 2006, a day and jubilation marked (and both no dearth by of solemnity sports allusions), the to ChiefLewis R. Fred in Justice Pariente the courtroom leaflet “Theannounced, passing of the ceremonial gavel represents the peaceful and seamless transition of Chief Justice the of and Florida,” this commemoration was no exception. If collegiality, admiration, and mutual prognosticated a fluent passage from one chief next. to the gratitude, gratitude, and our love for your remarkable service and 39 ) The Y The http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/ (December 2005; access via the Supreme Court Court Supreme the via access 2005; (December website, of Appeal (September 2005) (September of Appeal Court Records (August 2005) (August Records Court Recommendations and Report Jurisdiction: and 2005) (October 2005) (September Influenza: Keeping the Courts Open (March (March Open Courts the Keeping Influenza: 2006) 2006) (March Report Final Status Status Resolution Report (April 2006) 2006) (April Report Resolution Compendium A regarding Florida’s state courts) state Florida’s regarding of Florida’s state court system) court state of Florida’s Cases 2006) (summer Cases 2006) (summer Summaries (2006) Summaries 2005) Disclosure Disclosure lorida Dispute Resolution Center’s The Center’s Resolution Dispute lorida Factors That Impact Caseload in the District Court Court District the in Caseload Impact That Factors DCA Workload Report to the Supreme Court Court Supreme the to Report Workload DCA Work Group on Standards for Jury Panel Sizes: Panel Jury for Standards on Group Work and Privacy on of Report Committee Final the Disclosure from Nonlawyer from Disclosure of Indigent Civil Determination for Application CourtNews (regular posting of newsworthy events events of posting (regular newsworthy CourtNews Cases Criminal for Instructions Jury Standard Trial Court Fact Sheet (November 2005) (November Sheet Fact Court Trial Query (2005) Statistics Court Trial newsletter quarterly (official Press FullCourt The Judicial Ethics Advisory Opinions: Topical Index Index Topical Opinions: Advisory Ethics Judicial Case Law Summary—Civil Violence Domestic Case Law Summary—Criminal Violence Domestic Judicial Certification Statistics (September 2005) (September Statistics Certification Judicial Opinions Appellate Traffic-Related Florida 7 Canon Understanding to Aid An Committee on District Court of Appeal Workload Workload of Appeal Court District on Committee Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Pandemic for Strategy Courts State Florida F 2005) (October Handbook Resource ADR The Programs: Arbitration and Mediation 2005 Florida Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Mandatory with of Compliance Certificate Trial Court Statistical Reference Guide (2004 Guide Reference Statistical Court Trial The Florida State Courts Annual Report: 2004-2005 2004-2005 Report: Annual Courts State Florida The • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • updated asneeded. updated the in added were below listed Those http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/forms_ rules/index.shtml Online Forms Forms Online are Law Forms Family Approved Court Supreme Florida past year.fiscal All formsthe may family lawbe accessed following: the from The Passing of the Gavel euea he utc n otnigwt he utc Ws Vrii, rie i Lkln t atn Florida attend to Dr.Tom Beckley,Reverend Price the 1965, Lakeland in College of Southern in native arrived Virginia, athletically-gifted WestAnstead—as a time that we who in serve our state courts young, the Justice since Chief with continuing and justice chief as tenure Wells’ Justice with period—beginning ten-year this on thinking: in her words, ”I believe that we will look back 2000 presidential election, school vouchers], but by how by vouchers],but school election,presidential 2000 [the cases high-profile the backof challenge the faced look we how will we that believe words, ”I her in thinking: systemic toward also forremembered just notbe decade, this will in thatwe but is unification budgetary toward only not system court the piloting is that shift state—a the to counties the from system court state the for responsibility 7, which shifted the primary funding Revision of implementation successful she the be would surmised, first, The out. particular stand would two in that accomplishments predicting twenty-first century, the of decade the first during Florida in justice of spirit the about remember would people what imagine to tried years, she four ahead Leapfrogging individual circuits, counties, and districts.” the unified family court. and salaries, judicial of benchmarking the system, our for best is what merely than rather justice of system additional trial court law clerks, the statewide technology a utc, seily o or most vulnerable, children.” our for “dispense especially to justice, done have judges Florida that all and for her appreciation underscored especially hurricanes, she eight the of pernicious threat the under even law, of in rule the upholding heroically” “performing hope system: justice“My the of trust for the in placed been have who children of needs the to responding in Florida’s successthanking past, thejudgestoward gesture a with began years,” also two last these journey incredible “this system’scourt the considered be accomplishmentwould Inherremarks, Justice Chief Pariente, commentingupon dvocacy on behalf of the additional 114 trial judges, the learned to think in terms of what is best for the whole the for best is what of terms in think to learned judges, trialthe 114 additionalthe of behalf on dvocacy h eri eiw 2005-2006 The Year inReview our individual circuits, counties, and districts.” system ofjustice rather merely than best for what is bestwhole for ofwhatlearned is the in tothink terms in atime our weas that serve state who courts justice and continuing Justice Chief with Anstead— Justice with Wells’period—beginning tenure chief as ten-year look back this on we that believe will “I the Florida Supreme Court. On June 30, 2006, ChiefJustice R. Fred Lewis became the fifty-second chief justice of –Chief Justice Pariente–Chief 40 n se niiae ta te eod major second the that anticipated she And Having known Chief Justice Lewis Lewis Justice Chief known Having justice,by our next chief Fred Lewis. in and dedication to children is shared said, “Fortunately, he your [Pariente’s] when interest chiefs incoming the and out-going the between gracefully segued Jr., Shaw, former J. Leander by Justice administered was oath the before speaker last the was who Farina, Judge Chief heard.” be must voices whose and addressed be must needs whose and system judicial the children who became entangled in in entangled became who our children us, among least the treated we The Passing of the GAvel are; are; his goal is to keep unfitattack baseless from judges protect to off also but bench the those judges who do their jobs competently. He also seeks greater ADA compliance in the courts, noting that over disabilities—over by impacted are three Floridians million alone; County Miami-Dade in people of 29% court facilities, programs, and services must But the “cornerstone of the next “cornerstone the But will be years teaching,” justice two Lewis he aims Chief stressed; Justice statewide “permanent, a to create to every out reaching for structure which through school Florida,” in the to form most going “We’re to supportcomprehensive approach ever been that’s civic education he vowed. attempted,” ear in Review in Review ear 2005-2006 nteraction nteraction between the bench and the bar; a committee “We’re going “We’re to form the most comprehensive approach to support civic education that’s ever been attempted,” he he ever been attempted,” to support civic that’s education i 41 The Y The Chief Justice of Florida. Chief Justice The passing of the ceremonial gavel represents of the gavel The ceremonial passing of the transition the seamless peaceful and Final guest speaker Annette Boyd Pitts, executive director director executive Pitts, Boyd Annette speaker guest Final vowed. of the Florida Law introduced herself Related as Education speaking meeting first her described she and on students, Association, and teachers behalf of Florida’s devotion, devotion, unpretentiousness, discipline, common touch, on educational jury zeal, instructions sensefor business of and contract disputes; fairness, respect for and the commitment law, to the underdog.” court. of family unified H. implementation continued and T. Smith, past president of the Bar National characterized Association, that evaluations judicial on force task a create will also He the new chief as “a judicial diamond” that “is now cut judges their who know to Florida of people the enable will justice.” justice.” In the closing remarks, Chief Justice Lewis, focusing on the importance “We are I”—laidall of or connected, “me and collaboration the we to opposed and asare all team” cooperation—the connected “the in of importance our ended by reiterating the search importance for visions of of he reminded justice,” everyone. the “we” in He out the his partnership-based vision for the next two years. Among his really judicial going “We’re priorities system: to work to will fulfill the be an open court system in the face and of whatever whether may occur, operational “we”—this this most he promised.inclusive promises hurricane of of this pronouns—he democracy,” reached And through or avian flu; technology the founded continued greater cases; applicationcomplex of on management the of in “values-based improvement justice. for strives truly who judgment”; an out to everyone inthe court to community, everyone in the executive and legislative branches…and to everyone by by this proposition—no one in his done position anything had ever like this before—but “Since she asserted, “Justice Lewis that has day,” visited schools three to four times a missing month, only one November month: thanked warmheartedly reasons.” She obvious 2000…for him, saying that “He has brought a human side to recently-appointed recently-appointed justice told her that volunteer for her organization, saying that he would like he wants to to visit Florida schools three or four times each month to talk about the courts, constitution. the justice Ms Pitts was system, understandably confounded and the with Chief Justice Lewis, which took place at a retirement retirement a at place took which Lewis, Chief Justice with party for Justice Kogan in 1998. At that meeting, the praised the new chief for his “integrity, passion, steadiness, steadiness, passion, “integrity, his for chief new the praised and and polished and shines brightly like the North Star in our legal “Afirmament.” visionary and an be and advocate” surveyed and “a “these teacher access of artificial because barriers is mustteachers” not how beBob problems inButterworth, dean place of for must be addressed St. Thomas Florida’s University citizens.” School of He Law,described will Chief also ensure Lewis.Justice that the And Chief courts declared Judge Farina that the initiate statewide most the is education that “believedproved and efforts chief new training for for court sensitivity the next personnel. two years break will to chance a child every giving be ingredient, important justice diversity he and teaching,” But stressed: the “cornerstone of he aims to create a “permanent, out statewide of structure their for out own ‘holler,’ of their own hopelessness, ofout despair.” own their reaching out to every school in through Florida,” which Florida’s Court Structure

Florida’s Court Structure

Florida’s court system consists of the following entities: two appellate level courts—the Supreme Court and five district courts of appeal—and two trial level courts— Supreme 20 circuit courts and 67 county courts. The chiefj ustice Court 7 Justices presides as the chief administrative officer of thej udicial branch. District Courts of Appeal On July 1, 1972, the Office of the State Courts 62 Judges Administrator (OSCA) was created with initial Circuit Courts emphasis on the development of a uniform case 564 Judges reporting system to provide information on activities in the j udiciary. Additional responsibilities include the preparation of the operating budget for the j udicial County Courts 302 Judges branch, proj ecting the need for new j udges, and serving as the liaison among the court system and the legislative branch, the executive branch, the auxiliary agencies of This pyramid reflects the composition of Florida’s courts at the court, and national court research and planning the end of fiscal year 2005-2006. agencies.

Appellate Courts Trial Courts

Supreme Court Circuit Courts

• Seven justices, six-year terms • 564 judges, six-year terms • Sits in Tallahassee • 20 judicial circuits • Five justices constitute a quorum • Number of j udges in each circuit based on caseload District Courts of Appeal • Judges preside individually, not on panels

• 62 judges, six-year terms County Courts • Five districts: 1st District Tallahassee: 15 judges • 302 judges, six-year terms 2nd District Lakeland: 14 judges • At least one judge in each of the 67 counties 3rd District Miami: 11 judges • Judges preside individually, not on panels 4th District West Palm Beach: 12 judges 5th District Daytona Beach: 10 judges • Cases generally reviewed by three-judge panels

42 Florida’s Court Structure

Supreme Court of Florida and county ordinances, traffic offenses, landlord-tenant The Supreme Court is the highest court in Florida. Five disputes, misdemeanor criminal matters, and monetary of the seven justices are required to constitute a quorum disputes up to $15,000. In addition, county court judges to conduct business, and four justices must agree on a may hear simplified dissolution of marriage cases. decision in each case. The court has exclusive authority to regulate the admission and discipline of lawyers in Florida as well as the responsibility to discipline and remove judges. DCA Circuits Mandatory jurisdiction includes death penalty cases, district court decisions declaring a state statute or 1st Circuit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 14 provision of the state constitution invalid, bond 2nd Circuit: 6, 10, 12, 13, 20 validations, rule of court procedures, and actions of 3rd Circuit: 11, 16 statewide agencies relating to public utilities. 4th Circuit: 15, 17, 19 5th Circuit: 5, 7, 9, 18 District Courts of Appeal The bulk of trial court decisions that are appealed are reviewed by three-judge panels of the district courts of Circuit Counties appeal (DCAs). In each district court, a chief judge, who is selected by the body of district court judges, is responsible for the administrative duties of the court. 1 Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton Jurisdiction extends to appeals from final judgments or 2 Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, orders of trial courts in cases that either are not directly Liberty, Wakulla appealable to the Supreme Court or are not taken from 3 Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, a county court to a circuit court, and to the review of Madison, Suwannee, Taylor certain non-final orders. The district courts have been 4 Clay, Duval, Nassau granted the power to review most final actions taken by 5 Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, state agencies in carrying out the duties of the executive Sumter branch of government. 6 Pasco, Pinellas 7 Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia Circuit Courts The majority of jury trials in Florida take place before 8 Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, circuit court judges. The circuit courts are referred to as Levy, Union the courts of general jurisdiction. Circuit courts hear all 9 Orange, Osceola criminal and civil matters not within the jurisdiction of 10 Hardee, Highlands, Polk county courts, including family law, juvenile delinquency 11 Miami-Dade and dependency, mental health, probate, guardianship, 12 DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota and civil matters over $15,000. They also hear some 13 Hillsborough appeals from county court rulings and judgments and 14 Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, from administrative hearings. Finally, they have the Washington power to issue extraordinary writs necessary to the 15 Palm Beach complete exercise of their jurisdiction. 16 Monroe County Courts 17 Broward Each county has at least one county court judge. The 18 Brevard, Seminole number of judges in each county court varies with the 19 Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, population and caseload of the county. County courts St. Lucie are courts of limited jurisdiction, which is established by 20 Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee statute. The county courts are sometimes referred to as “the people’s courts” because a large part of the courts’ work involves citizen disputes such as violations of municipal

43 State Circuits and Appellate Districts

State Appellate Districts

TheFirst Appellate District comprises the 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 14th Circuits: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties Miami TheSecond Appellate District comprises the 6th, 10th, 12th, 13th, and 20th Circuits: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties

TheThird Appellate District comprises the 11th and 16th Circuits: Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties

TheFourth Appellate District comprises the 15th, 17th and 19th Circuits: Broward, Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties

TheFifth Appellate District comprises the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 18th Circuits: Brevard, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia Counties

44 Judicial Certification Table

District Court of Appeal Circuit County Session Requested Certifi ed Authorized %Authori zed Total Requested Certifi ed Authorized %Author i zed Total Requested Certifi ed Authorized %Author i zed Total Year (of those (of those (of those certifi ed ) certifi ed ) certifi ed ) 1997 3 0 0 n/a 61 16 7 7 100.0% 468 6 3 3 100.0% 263 1998 0 0 0 n/a 61 19 13 0 0.0% 468 12 5 0 0.0% 263 1999 1 1 1 100.0% 62 27 25 25 100.0% 493 17 6 6 100.0% 269 2000 0 0 0 n/a 62 34 30 0 0.0% 493 17 13 0 0.0% 269 2001 0 0 0 n/a 62 40 30 16 53.3% 509 23 14 11 78.6% 280 2002 2 2 0 0.0% 62 35 34 18 52.9% 527 16 13 0 0.0% 280 2003 3 2 0 0.0% 62 35 33 0 0.0% 527 23 21 0 0.0% 280 2004 4 4 0 0.0% 62 54 51 0 0.0% 527 38 33 0 0.0% 280 2005 2 2 0 0.0% 62 69 67 37 52.2% 564 44 41 22 48.8% 302 2006 2 0 0 0.0% 62 41 40 35 87.5% 599 26 24 20 83.3% 322

Judicial Certification Table

For the last seven years, the Supreme Court has used a weighted caseload system to evaluate the need for new trial court judgeships. The weighted caseload system analyzes Florida’s trial court caseload statistics according to complexity. Complex cases, such as capital murder cases, receive a higher weight, while less complex cases, such as civil traffic cases, receive a lower weight. These weights are then applied to case filing statistics to determine the need for additional judgeships.

Having an adequate number of judgeships is essential: if judicial workload exceeds capacity and a judicial need deficit is not addressed, likely consequences may be case processing delays, less time devoted to dispo sitions, and potentially diminished access to the courts.

In December 2005, the Florida Supreme Court certified the need for 66 new judges for the 2006 2007 fiscal year: two DCA judges, 40 circuit judges, and 24 county court judges. The Florida Legislature approved funding for 55 new judges—35 circuit and 20 county court judges—all of whom will run for election in November 2006.

45 Court Administration

Administration publications; providing technical support for trial and appellate courts; developing strategic planning; and other Office of the State Courts Administrator related functions. For more information about OSCA, visit The Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA) the Florida State Courts website at http://www.flcourts. was created in 1972 to serve the chief j ustice in carrying org out his or her responsibilities as the chief administrative officer of jthe udicial branch.OSCA ’s purpose is Trial Court Administrators to provide professional court management and The trial court administrator supports the chiefj udge in his administration of the state’s j udicial system—basically, or her constitutional role as the administrative supervisor of the non-adj udicatory services and functions necessary the circuit and county courts; each of the 20 circuits in Florida for the smooth operation of the has a trial court administrator. The judicial branch, which includes office of the trial court administrator the Florida Supreme Court, the provides professional staff support district courts of appeal, the circuit to ensure effective and efficient court courts, and the county courts. operations.

OSCA has a range of duties: Trial court administrators have it prepares the j udicial branch’s multiple responsibilities. They budget requests to the legislature; manage j udicial operations such it monitors legislation; and as courtroom scheduling, facilities it serves as a point of contact State Courts Administrator management, caseflow policy, ADA for legislators and their staff Elisabeth H. Goodner policy, statistical analysis, inter-branch regarding issues related to the and intergovernmental relations, state court system. OSCA also provides a wide range technology planning, j ury oversight, public information, of educational programs for j udges; these programs, and emergency planning. They also oversee court business which enable j udges to meet mandatory continuing operations including personnel, planning and budgeting, education requirements, are designed to increase finance and accounting, purchasing, property and records, judicial knowledge and skills, thereby improving the and staff training. administration of j ustice. In addition, the trial court administrators provide OSCA also assists with implementing administrative administration and support for essential court resources and legislative initiatives for family, dependency, and including court reporting, court interpreters, expert delinquency court cases; collecting and analyzing witnesses, staff attorneys, magistrates and hearing officers, statistical information relevant to court operations; mediation, and case management. For links to the homepage offering statewide mediation training and certification of all of Florida’s circuit courts, go to http://www.flcourts. through the Dispute Resolution Center; coordinating, org/courts/circuit/circuit.shtml writing, and editing administrative and court education

Group shot of OSCA staff 46 Florida’s Budget

2005-2006 Fiscal Year Appropriations

Criminal Justice & Human Services, Corrections, $22,443,267,282 $3,828,447,820 35.7% 6.1% Natural Resources/ Environment/Growth Mgt./ Transportation, $11,315,792,959 Judicial Branch, 18.0% $405,406,944 0.6% General Government, $4,987,354,807 7.9% Education (all other funds), Educational Enhancement $18,778,069,736 Lottery Trust Fund, 29.9% $1,138,176,676 1.8%

Total: $62,896,516,224 Note: Totals include only issues that were funded in the General Appropriations Act, SB 2600

2006-2007 Fiscal Year Appropriations

Criminal Justice & Corrections, Human Services, $4,155,559,381 $23,525,944,681 5.9% 33.2% Natural Resources/ Environment/Growth Mgt./ Transportation,

Judicial Branch, $14,465,581,101

$450,390,384 20.4% 0.6% General Government, $5,319,137,958 7.5% Education (all other funds), Educational Enhancement $21,535,376,053 Lottery Trust Fund, 30.4% $1,439,065,540 2.0%

Total: $70,891,055,098 Note: Totals include only issues that were funded in the General Appropriations Act, HB 5001

47 State Courts System Appropriations

Judicial System Appropriations 2005-2006 Fiscal Year

State Courts System $405,406,944 Justice Administration Executive Direction $107,041,336 Trial Courts, Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Program $26,259,278 $330,466,557 State Attorneys $344,883,004 81.5% Public Defenders Judicial Circuit $169,196,655 Public Defenders Appellate $13,156,907 Capital Collateral Regional Counsel $7,257,905 Total $1,073,202,029

Note: Totals include only issues that were funded in the General Appropriations Act, SB 2600.

JQC, $819,710 Supreme 0.2% Court, $11,662,306 DCAs, 2.9% $38,825,347 9.6% Administered OSCA, Funds, $17,358,690 $6,274,334 4.3% Florida’s 1.5% courts get less than 1% of the state’s total budget Judicial System Appropriations 2006-2007 Fiscal Year

State Courts System $450,390,384 Justice Administration Executive Direction $115,894,547 Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Program $33,978,176 State Attorneys $374,107,995 Public Defenders Judicial Circuit $187,207,280 Public Defenders Appellate $14,233,047 Trial Courts, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel $7,712,137 $360,507,155 Total $1,183,523,566 80.0% Note: Totals include only issues that were funded in the General Appropriations Act, HB 5001.

JQC, $1,014,828 Supreme 0.2% Court, $19,441,097 4.3% DCAs, $43,250,847 9.6% Administered OSCA, Funds, $18,252,123 $7,924,334 4.1% 1.8%

48 Filings

Florida’s Trial Courts Circuit and County Court Filings FY 1995-96 to 2004-05

3,000,000 2,851,814 2,661,225 2,680,666

2,500,000 2,438,084

1,923,400 1,986,145 2,000,000 1,864,549 1,887,911 1,922,822 1,777,222

1,500,000

1,000,000 717,888 756,155 770,513 776,293 785,236 811,561 834,648 839,139 859,452 836,620

500,000

0 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 County Court Circuit Court

Florida’s Appellate Courts Florida Appellate Filings FY 1995-96 to 2004-05

30,000

24,567 24,114 25,000 23,590 23,649 24,157 22,104 21,679 21,691 21,607 21,346

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000 2,358 2,544 2,448 2,571 2,855 2,975 2,916 2,549 2,473 2,475

0 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 District Court Supreme Court

49 DCA Filings by Case Category

Notice of Appeal and Petition FY 2004-05 (as of July 2006)

* Criminal Post Conviction include notice of appeal only.

DCA Case Category Total Filings All Administrative 1,593 All Civil 5,159 All Criminal 8,879 All Criminal Post Conviction* 5,953 All Family 1,041 All Juvenile 1,194 All Probate/Guardianship 201 All Workers’ Compensation 547

24,567

DCA Case Category Total Filings DCA Case Category Total Filings DCA Case Category Total Filings 1 Administrative 832 3 Administrative 178 5 Administrative 167 Civil 1,123 Civil 775 Civil 717 Criminal 1,925 Criminal 927 Criminal 1,780 Criminal Post Conviction* 1,058 Criminal Post Conviction* 948 Criminal Post Conviction* 1,132 Family 205 Family 170 Family 230 Juvenile 257 Juvenile 135 Juvenile 234 Probate/Guardianship 21 Probate/Guardianship 48 Probate/Guardianship 25 Workers’ Compensation 547 3,181 4,285 5,968 4 Administrative 270 2 Administrative 146 Civil 1,263 Total 24,567 Civil 1,281 Criminal 1,746 Criminal 2,501 Criminal Post Conviction* 1,150 Criminal Post Conviction* 1,665 Family 334 Family 102 Juvenile 233 Juvenile 335 Probate/Guardianship 55 Probate/Guardianship 52 5,051 6,082 Court Filings by Circuit and Division

FY 2004-05 (Drawn from Frozen Database on 7-19-2006)

Circuit County Division Total Filings All All Adult Criminal 199,009 All All Civil 162,116 All All Family Court* 365,990 All All Probate 109,505 All All County Adult Criminal 996,377 All All County Civil** 1,684,289

3,517,286

50 Court Filings by Circuit and Division

* This table has changed from previous years. Family Court includes Domestic Relations, Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency with the exception of Termination of Parental Rights Dispositions. **These data do not include all Civil Traffic Infractions reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. They only represent those Civil Traffic Infraction filings involving a judge or hearing officer.

Circuit Division Total Filings Circuit Division Total Filings Circuit Division Total Filings 1 Adult Criminal 10,587 8 Adult Criminal 4,611 15 Adult Criminal 10,944 Civil 5,018 Civil 2,291 Civil 11,453 Family Court* 16,609 Family Court* 7,835 Family Court* 18,423 Probate 4,064 Probate 2,098 Probate 8,082 County Adult Criminal 34,646 County Adult Criminal 21,879 County Adult Criminal 73,473 County Civil** 32,334 County Civil** 25,793 County Civil** 155,883 103,258 64,507 278,258

2 Adult Criminal 5,336 9 Adult Criminal 16,043 16 Adult Criminal 1,302 Civil 3,985 Civil 12,754 Civil 762 Family Court* 7,436 Family Court* 28,972 Family Court* 1,792 Probate 2,751 Probate 5,510 Probate 532 County Adult Criminal 17,693 County Adult Criminal 60,417 County Adult Criminal 4,683 County Civil** 25,197 County Civil** 88,521 County Civil** 4,780 62,398 212,217 13,851

3 Adult Criminal 2,158 10 Adult Criminal 8,571 17 Adult Criminal 15,341 Civil 1,297 Civil 5,684 Civil 18,898 Family Court* 4,922 Family Court* 18,775 Family Court* 35,478 Probate 1,104 Probate 4,681 Probate 8,801 County Adult Criminal 9,880 County Adult Criminal 40,169 County Adult Criminal 91,391 County Civil** 9,524 County Civil** 35,039 County Civil** 318,541 28,885 112,919 488,450

4 Adult Criminal 10,030 11 Adult Criminal 26,003 18 Adult Criminal 8,048 Civil 10,311 Civil 26,445 Civil 5,944 Family Court* 24,529 Family Court* 41,545 Family Court* 15,819 Probate 5,461 Probate 10,133 Probate 5,447 County Adult Criminal 87,590 County Adult Criminal 139,118 County Adult Criminal 42,134 County Civil** 83,248 County Civil** 494,445 County Civil** 56,258 221,169 737,689 133,650

5 Adult Criminal 10,215 12 Adult Criminal 6,889 19 Adult Criminal 5,999 Civil 7,410 Civil 4,533 Civil 3,771 Family Court* 19,611 Family Court* 13,502 Family Court* 10,961 Probate 7,218 Probate 5,750 Probate 3,706 County Adult Criminal 35,650 County Adult Criminal 30,537 County Adult Criminal 31,663 County Civil** 39,778 County Civil** 31,132 County Civil** 29,980 119,882 92,343 86,080

6 Adult Criminal 16,940 13 Adult Criminal 18,028 20 Adult Criminal 8,258 Civil 11,821 Civil 11,323 Civil 9,918 Family Court* 28,350 Family Court* 28,308 Family Court* 18,241 Probate 10,056 Probate 5,413 Probate 11,005 County Adult Criminal 73,283 County Adult Criminal 76,142 County Adult Criminal 49,570 County Civil** 68,943 County Civil** 76,954 County Civil** 47,419 209,393 216,168 144,411

7 Adult Criminal 9,236 14 Adult Criminal 4,470 Total 3,517,286 Civil 6,179 Civil 2,319 Family Court* 17,422 Family Court* 7,460 Probate 5,769 Probate 1,924 County Adult Criminal 55,888 County Adult Criminal 20,571 County Civil** 44,502 County Civil** 16,018 138,996 52,762

51 Court Filings by Circuit, County, & Division

FY 2004-05 (Drawn from Frozen Database on 7-19-2006)

* This table has changed from previous years. Family Court includes Domestic Relations, Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency with the exception of Termination of Parental Rights Dispositions.

**These data do not include all Civil Traffic Infractions reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. They only represent those Civil Traffic Infraction filings involving a judge or hearing officer.

Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings 1 Escambia Adult Criminal 5,790 Leon Adult Criminal 3,718 Madison Adult Criminal 198 Civil 2,331 Civil 3,025 Civil 137 Family Court* 7,949 Family Court* 4,806 Family Court* 540 Probate 2,026 Probate 1,839 Probate 114 County Adult Criminal 15,290 County Adult Criminal 13,167 County Adult Criminal 1,096 County Civil** 14,120 County Civil** 19,184 County Civil** 1,556 47,506 45,739 3,641 Okaloosa Adult Criminal 2,625 Liberty Adult Criminal 81 Suwannee Adult Criminal 549 Civil 1,070 Civil 36 Civil 247 Family Court* 4,601 Family Court* 191 Family Court* 1,119 Probate 1,180 Probate 33 Probate 240 County Adult Criminal 9,447 County Adult Criminal 214 County Adult Criminal 1,992 County Civil** 10,053 County Civil** 553 County Civil** 1,525 28,976 1,108 5,672 Santa Rosa Adult Criminal 1,162 Wakulla Adult Criminal 383 Taylor Adult Criminal 215 Civil 1,076 Civil 284 Civil 88 Family Court* 2,754 Family Court* 471 Family Court* 606 Probate 566 Probate 153 Probate 171 County Adult Criminal 5,418 County Adult Criminal 1,086 County Adult Criminal 1,283 County Civil** 5,919 County Civil** 1,228 County Civil** 1,003 16,895 3,605 3,366 Walton Adult Criminal 1,010 3 Columbia Adult Criminal 836 4 Clay Adult Criminal 1,048 Civil 541 Civil 556 Civil 1,214 Family Court* 1,305 Family Court* 1,757 Family Court* 2,841 Probate 292 Probate 347 Probate 421 County Adult Criminal 4,491 County Adult Criminal 4,065 County Adult Criminal 6,143 County Civil** 2,242 County Civil** 3,408 County Civil** 6,944 9,881 10,969 18,611 2 Franklin Adult Criminal 218 Dixie Adult Criminal 88 Duval Adult Criminal 8,397 Civil 105 Civil 120 Civil 8,591 Family Court* 279 Family Court* 492 Family Court* 20,328 Probate 97 Probate 110 Probate 4,794 County Adult Criminal 1,043 County Adult Criminal 509 County Adult Criminal 77,917 County Civil** 637 County Civil** 597 County Civil** 74,158 2,379 1,916 194,185 Gadsden Adult Criminal 759 Hamilton Adult Criminal 220 Nassau Adult Criminal 585 Civil 391 Civil 111 Civil 506 Family Court* 1,452 Family Court* 259 Family Court* 1,360 Probate 552 Probate 69 Probate 246 County Adult Criminal 1,784 County Adult Criminal 735 County Adult Criminal 3,530 County Civil** 2,681 County Civil** 1,087 County Civil** 2,146 7,619 2,481 8,373

Jefferson Adult Criminal 177 Lafayette Adult Criminal 52 5 Citrus Adult Criminal 1,081 Civil 144 Civil 38 Civil 974 Family Court* 237 Family Court* 149 Family Court* 2,783 Probate 77 Probate 53 Probate 1,435 County Adult Criminal 399 County Adult Criminal 200 County Adult Criminal 4,007 County Civil** 914 County Civil** 348 County Civil** 4,369 1,948 840 14,649

52 Court Filings by Circuit, County, & Division

Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings Hernando Adult Criminal 1,755 Volusia Adult Criminal 6,349 10 Hardee Adult Criminal 335 Civil 1,302 Civil 4,002 Civil 156 Family Court* 3,483 Family Court* 11,003 Family Court* 962 Probate 1,681 Probate 4,103 Probate 127 County Adult Criminal 5,444 County Adult Criminal 40,554 County Adult Criminal 1,699 County Civil** 6,872 County Civil** 30,382 County Civil** 1,127 20,537 96,393 4,406 Lake Adult Criminal 3,100 8 Alachua Adult Criminal 3,344 Highlands Adult Criminal 864 Civil 1,647 Civil 1,280 Civil 756 Family Court* 4,661 Family Court* 5,055 Family Court* 1,833 Probate 1,282 Probate 1,433 Probate 1,254 County Adult Criminal 10,812 County Adult Criminal 17,351 County Adult Criminal 3,515 County Civil** 10,449 County Civil** 19,954 County Civil** 3,284 31,951 48,417 11,506 Marion Adult Criminal 3,655 Baker Adult Criminal 328 Polk Adult Criminal 7,372 Civil 2,683 Civil 217 Civil 4,772 Family Court* 7,556 Family Court* 601 Family Court* 15,980 Probate 2,550 Probate 206 Probate 3,300 County Adult Criminal 13,139 County Adult Criminal 1,017 County Adult Criminal 34,955 County Civil** 14,596 County Civil** 1,203 County Civil** 30,628 44,179 3,572 97,007 Sumter Adult Criminal 624 Bradford Adult Criminal 344 11 Dade Adult Criminal 26,003 Civil 804 Civil 263 Civil 26,445 Family Court* 1,128 Family Court* 543 Family Court* 41,545 Probate 270 Probate 105 Probate 10,133 County Adult Criminal 2,248 County Adult Criminal 1,442 CountyAdultCriminal 139,118 County Civil** 3,492 County Civil** 2,124 County Civil** 494,445 8,566 4,821 737,689 6 Pasco Adult Criminal 3,855 Gilchrist Adult Criminal 130 12 Desoto Adult Criminal 586 Civil 3,408 Civil 76 Civil 220 Family Court* 8,509 Family Court* 378 Family Court* 800 Probate 3,198 Probate 57 Probate 151 County Adult Criminal 15,981 County Adult Criminal 523 County Adult Criminal 1,648 County Civil** 15,687 County Civil** 461 County Civil** 1,153 50,638 1,625 4,558 Pinellas Adult Criminal 13,085 Levy Adult Criminal 260 Manatee Adult Criminal 2,945 Civil 8,413 Civil 331 Civil 1,691 Family Court* 19,841 Family Court* 897 Family Court* 6,276 Probate 6,858 Probate 243 Probate 1,795 County Adult Criminal 57,302 County Adult Criminal 1,199 County Adult Criminal 13,992 County Civil** 53,256 County Civil** 1,611 County Civil** 12,014 158,755 4,541 38,713 7 Flagler Adult Criminal 716 Union Adult Criminal 205 Sarasota Adult Criminal 3,358 Civil 587 Civil 124 Civil 2,622 Family Court* 1,292 Family Court* 361 Family Court* 6,426 Probate 554 Probate 54 Probate 3,804 County Adult Criminal 2,793 County Adult Criminal 347 County Adult Criminal 14,897 County Civil** 2,565 County Civil** 440 County Civil** 17,965 8,507 1,531 49,072 Putnam Adult Criminal 721 9 Orange Adult Criminal 13,236 13 HillsboroughAdult Criminal 18,028 Civil 604 Civil 10,342 Civil 11,323 Family Court* 2,201 Family Court* 23,585 Family Court* 28,308 Probate 435 Probate 4,511 Probate 5,413 County Adult Criminal 4,638 County Adult Criminal 49,288 County Adult Criminal 76,142 County Civil** 3,473 County Civil** 71,455 County Civil** 76,954 12,072 172,417 216,168 St. Johns Adult Criminal 1,450 Osceola Adult Criminal 2,807 14 Bay Adult Criminal 2,975 Civil 986 Civil 2,412 Civil 1,273 Family Court* 2,926 Family Court* 5,387 Family Court* 4,418 Probate 677 Probate 999 Probate 1,144 County Adult Criminal 7,903 County Adult Criminal 11,129 County Adult Criminal 14,453 County Civil** 8,082 County Civil** 17,066 County Civil** 10,231 22,024 39,800 34,494

53 Court Filings by Circuit, County, & Division

Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings Circuit County Division Total Filings Calhoun Adult Criminal 213 17 Broward Adult Criminal 15,341 St. Lucie Adult Criminal 2,565 Civil 101 Civil 18,898 Civil 1,683 Family Court* 427 Family Court* 35,478 Family Court* 5,110 Probate 64 Probate 8,801 Probate 1,647 County Adult Criminal 684 CountyAdult Criminal 91,391 CountyAdult Criminal 15,913 County Civil** 530 County Civil** 318,541 County Civil** 16,517 2,019 488,450 43,435 Gulf Adult Criminal 207 18 Brevard Adult Criminal 4,794 20 Charlotte Adult Criminal 1,402 Civil 120 Civil 3,367 Civil 1,893 Family Court* 340 Family Court* 9,699 Family Court* 2,676 Probate 78 Probate 3,405 Probate 2,886 County Adult Criminal 779 CountyAdult Criminal 28,702 County Adult Criminal 5,205 County Civil** 595 County Civil** 29,161 County Civil** 5,061 2,119 79,128 19,123 Holmes Adult Criminal 320 Seminole Adult Criminal 3,254 Collier Adult Criminal 2,760 Civil 129 Civil 2,577 Civil 2,122 Family Court* 429 Family Court* 6,120 Family Court* 4,675 Probate 100 Probate 2,042 Probate 1,870 County Adult Criminal 1,053 CountyAdult Criminal 13,432 County Adult Criminal 18,613 County Civil** 792 County Civil** 27,097 County Civil** 16,116 2,823 54,522 46,156 Jackson Adult Criminal 516 19 Indian RiverAdult Criminal 1,424 Glades Adult Criminal 133 Civil 358 Civil 763 Civil 96 Family Court* 1,306 Family Court* 2,327 Family Court* 218 Probate 333 Probate 985 Probate 37 County Adult Criminal 2,231 County Adult Criminal 5,738 County Adult Criminal 566 County Civil** 2,326 County Civil** 4,896 County Civil** 595 7,070 16,133 1,645 WashingtonAdult Criminal 239 Martin Adult Criminal 1,368 Hendry Adult Criminal 458 Civil 338 Civil 998 Civil 336 Family Court* 540 Family Court* 2,302 Family Court* 1,064 Probate 205 Probate 843 Probate 184 County Adult Criminal 1,371 County Adult Criminal 7,694 County Adult Criminal 2,801 County Civil** 1,544 County Civil** 6,726 County Civil** 1,464 4,237 19,931 6,307 15 Palm Beach Adult Criminal 10,944 OkeechobeeAdult Criminal 642 Lee Adult Criminal 3,505 Civil 11,453 Civil 327 Civil 5,471 Family Court* 18,423 Family Court* 1,222 Family Court* 9,608 Probate 8,082 Probate 231 Probate 6,028 County Adult Criminal 73,473 County Adult Criminal 2,318 County Adult Criminal 22,385 County Civil** 155,883 County Civil** 1,841 County Civil** 24,183 278,258 6,581 71,180 16 Monroe Adult Criminal 1,302 Civil 762 Family Court* 1,792 Probate 532 County Adult Criminal 4,683 County Civil** 4,780 13,851

54 Court Contacts for 2006-2007

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT 3rd Judicial Circuit Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Chief Justice R. FRED LEWIS (850) 488-0007 Taylor counties Clerk Thomas D. Hall (850) 488-0125 Chief Judge JULIAN E. COLLINS (386) 719-7546 Acting Marshal Kevin White (850) 488-8845 Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke (386) 758-2163 Director of Public Info. Craig Waters (850) 414-7641 Website http://www.jud3.flcourts.org Website http://www.floridasupremecourt.org 4th Judicial Circuit DISTRICT COURTS OF APPEAL Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties Chief Judge DONALD R. MORAN, JR. (904) 630-2541 1st DCA Court Administrator H. Britt Beasley (904) 630-1693 Chief Judge CHARLES J. KAHN, JR. (850) 487-2323 Website http://www.coj.net/Departments/ Clerk Jon S. Wheeler (850) 488-6151 Fourth+Judicial+Circuit+Court/default.htm Marshal Donald H. Brannon (850) 488-8136 Website http://www.1dca.org 5th Judicial Circuit Hernando, Lake, Marion, Citrus, and Sumter counties 2nd DCA Chief Judge VICTOR J. MUSLEH (352) 401-6770 Chief Judge CAROLYN K. FULMER (863) 499-2290 Court Administrator David M. Trammell (352) 401 6701 Clerk James R. Birkhold (863) 499-2290 Website http://www.circuit5.org Marshal Velma Johnson (863) 499-2290 Website http://www.2dca.org 6th Judicial Circuit Pasco and Pinellas counties 3rd DCA Chief Judge DAVID A. DEMERS (727) 582-7882 Chief Judge GERALD B. COPE, JR. (305) 229-3200 Court Administrator Gay Inskeep (727) 582-7477 Clerk Mary Cay Blanks (305) 229-3200 Website http://www.jud6.org Marshal Dottie Munro (305) 229-3200 Website http://www.3dca.flcourts.org 7th Judicial Circuit Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia counties 4th DCA Chief Judge WILLIAM A. PARSONS (386) 239-7790 Chief Judge Court Administrator Mark Weinberg (386) 257-6097 W. MATTHEW STEVENSON (561) 242-2058 Website http://www.circuit7.org Clerk Marilyn Beuttenmuller (561) 242-2000 Marshal Glen Rubin (561) 242-2000 8th Judicial Circuit Website http://www.4dca.org Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties Chief Judge FREDERICK D. SMITH (352) 374-3652 5th DCA Court Administrator Ted McFetridge (352) 374-3648 Chief Judge ROBERT J. PLEUS, JR. (386) 947-1550 Website http://www.circuit8.org Clerk Susan Wright (386) 255-8600 Marshal Ty W. Berdeaux (386) 947-1500 9th Judicial Circuit Website http://www.5dca.org Orange and Osceola counties Chief Judge BELVIN PERRY, JR. (407) 836-2008 CIRCUIT COURTS Court Administrator Matthew Benefiel (407) 836-2050 Website http://www.ninja9.org 1st Judicial Circuit Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties 10th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge KIM A. SKIEVASKI (850) 595-4456 Hardee, Highlands, and Polk counties Court Administrator Wayne Peacock (850) 595-4400 Chief Judge RONALD A. HERRING (863) 534-4650 Website http://www.firstjudicialcircuit.org Court Administrator Nick Sudzina (863) 534-4690 Website http://www.jud10.org 2nd Judicial Circuit Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla 11th Judicial Circuit counties Miami-Dade County Chief Judge CHARLES A. FRANCIS (850) 577-4306 Chief Judge JOSEPH P. FARINA (305) 349-7054 Court Administrator Grant Slayden (850) 577-4420 Court Administrator Ruben Carrerou (305) 349-7001 Website http://www.2ndcircuit.leon.fl.us Website http://www.jud11.flcourts.org

55 Court Contacts for 2006-2007

12th Judicial Circuit OSCA STAFF CONTACTS DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties Chief Judge ROBERT B. BENNETT, JR. (941) 861-7942 State Courts Administrator Court Administrator Walt Smith (941) 861-7800 Elisabeth H. Goodner (850) 922-5081 Website http://12circuit.state.fl.us Deputy State Courts Administrator Blan L. Teagle (850) 488-9922 13th Judicial Circuit General Counsel Hillsborough County Laura Rush (850) 922-5109 Chief Judge Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations MANUEL MENENDEZ, JR. (813) 272-5022 Brenda G. Johnson (850) 922-5692 Court Administrator Mike Bridenback (813) 272-5894 Director of Administrative Services Website http://fljud13.org Charlotte Jerrett (850) 488-9922 Budget Services Manager 14th Judicial Circuit Dorothy Burke (850) 488-9922 Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Finance and Accounting Manager counties Lavitta Stanford (850) 488-3737 Chief Judge WILLIAM L. WRIGHT (850) 482-9078 General Services Manager Court Administrator Jennifer Dyer Wells (850) 747-5327 Tom Long (850) 487-2373 Website http://www.jud14.flcourts.org Chief of Strategic Planning Barbara French (850) 488-6569 15th Judicial Circuit Chief of Personnel Services Palm Beach County David Pepper (850) 922-7033 Chief Judge KATHLEEN J. KROLL (561) 355-4378 Chief of Court Services Court Administrator Susan Ferrante (561) 355-2431 Greg Youchock (850) 922-5108 Website http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/cadmin Chief of Court Improvement Rose Patterson (850) 487-1414 16th Judicial Circuit Chief of Court Education Monroe County Martha Martin (850) 922-5079 Chief Judge RICHARD G. PAYNE (305) 292-3433 Publications Attorney Court Administrator Mary Vanden Brook (305) 292-3423 Susan Leseman (850) 410-3352 Website http://www.jud16.flcourts.org Chief of Dispute Resolution Sharon Press (850) 921-2910 17th Judicial Circuit ISS State Courts Technology Officer Broward County Chris Noel (850) 488-6568 Chief Judge DALE ROSS (954) 831-7837 ISS Applications Development Manager Court Administrator Carol Ortman (954) 831-7740 Clyde Conrad (850) 487-7980 Website http://www.17th.flcourts.org Information Systems Support Manager John Cook (850) 488-6576 18th Judicial Circuit Information Systems Support Manager Brevard and Seminole counties Alan Neubauer (850) 414-7741 Chief Judge Tonya B. Rainwater (321) 617-7283 Information Systems Services Manager Court Administrator Mark Van Bever (321) 633-2171 Maria Arnold (850) 487-7074 Website http://www.flcourts18.org Email for OSCA Staff [email protected] 19th Judicial Circuit Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties OSCA Website http://www.flcourts.org Chief Judge WILLIAM A. ROBY (772) 871-7252 Court Administrator Tom Genung (772) 462-1472 Website http://www.circuit19.org

20th Judicial Circuit Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties Chief Judge HUGH D. HAYES (239) 774-8116 Court Administrator L. Caron Jeffreys (239) 335-2231 Website http://www.ca.cjis20.org

56 The 2005-2006 Florida State Courts Annual Report is published by The Office of the State Courts Administrator 500 South Duval Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1900

For more information, call (850) 922-5081 or visit www.flcourts.org

Under the direction of Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente State Courts Administrator Elisabeth H. Goodner Deputy State Courts Administrator Blan L. Teagle Publications Attorney Susan Leseman

Written and edited by Beth C. Schwartz Court Publications Writer

Photographs and design by Phillip Pollock Web Administrator The 2005-2006 Florida State Courts Annual Report is Published by The Office of the State Courts Administrator Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1900

For more information, call (850) 922-5081 or visit www.flcourts.org