In re Amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida considered The Florida Bar's petition to amend numerous Rules Regulating the Florida Bar and related bylaws. The court adopted the proposed amendments with one exception, declined to adopt a proposed rule establishing a conference-and-dialogue review process, requested further study from the Bar, and made the adopted amendments effective March 1, 2008.

Holdings

1. The court adopted the Florida Bar's proposed amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar and the proposed amendment to Bylaw 2-7.3, subject to the court's stated exception concerning proposed rule 1-12.2.
2. The court declined to adopt proposed rule 1-12.2 at that time because the proposal raised significant unresolved issues requiring further study.
3. The court directed the Florida Bar to study how other high courts process amendments to court or bar rules and to address ex parte communication issues, working with the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should adopt the Florida Bar's proposed amendments to the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar and related bylaw.
2. Whether the court should adopt a proposed rule establishing an optional conference-and-dialogue process for reviewing proposed amendments to the Bar rules.

Disposition

approved