In re Amendments to the Rules of Judicial Administration (Two-Year Cycle)

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida adopts most proposed amendments submitted in the 2005 regular-cycle review of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, along with an amendment to Rule 2.071(c) from the 2003 cycle. The opinion addresses amendments concerning trial court administration, public access to judicial records, attorney practice restrictions, related family cases, rulemaking procedures, communication equipment, and the cycle for proposing rule amendments. The court declines to adopt the proposed amendments to Rule 2.170 and Rule 2.071(d).

Holdings

1. The Court adopted all of the 2005 proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration except the proposed amendments to rule 2.170.
2. The Court adopted the proposed amendment to rule 2.071(c), changing the exception from delinquency proceedings to juvenile proceedings for purposes of the requirement that a timely request to participate in a short motion hearing through communication equipment generally be granted absent good cause.
3. The Court declined to adopt the proposed amendment to rule 2.071(d) that would have allowed courts to use communication equipment to take testimony over a party's objection.
4. The Court declined to adopt the proposed amendments to rule 2.170 concerning photographing jurors' faces, judicial authority to protect privacy and confidential matters, and use of court security cameras.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should adopt the 2005 proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
2. Whether the Court should adopt the previously proposed amendment to rule 2.071(c) concerning participation in motion hearings through communication equipment.
3. Whether the Court should adopt the proposed amendments to rule 2.071(d) concerning testimony through communication equipment.
4. Whether the Court should adopt the proposed amendments to rule 2.170 concerning photographing jurors, privacy and confidential matters, and use of court security cameras.

Disposition

other