In re Certification of Need for Additional Judges

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court certifies the need for eight additional trial court judges for fiscal year 2019/2020: four circuit judges and four county judges. It identifies specific needs in the First, Ninth, and Fourteenth Judicial Circuits and in Hillsborough County, while decertifying three county court judgeships in Brevard and Pasco Counties. The court certifies no need for additional district court of appeal judges and discusses workload methodology, jurisdictional changes, legislative developments, and other factors affecting judicial need.

Holdings

1. The Court certified the need for eight additional trial court judges in Florida: four circuit court judges and four county court judges.
2. The Court decertified three county court judgeships: two in Brevard County and one in Pasco County.
3. The Court certified no need for additional judges in the district courts of appeal.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Florida Supreme Court should certify the need for additional trial court judges for fiscal year 2019/2020.
2. Whether the Court should decertify previously recognized county court judgeships based on the judicial-need assessment.
3. Whether any additional judgeships were needed in Florida's district courts of appeal.

Disposition

other