Summary
The Supreme Court of Florida adopts amendments to Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.450, governing the order of hearing. The amendments permit hearing officials to examine witnesses at any time before closing statements begin and clarify that no testimony or evidence may be entered into the record after closing statements commence. The amendments are effective immediately.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should adopt the proposed amendments to Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.450.
- Whether the rule should permit further examination of witnesses at any time before closing statements begin and prohibit additional testimony or evidence after closing statements commence.
Holdings
- The Supreme Court of Florida adopted the proposed amendments to rule 6.450 as reflected in the appendix.
- Under amended rule 6.450(e), a hearing official may further examine or allow further examination at any time before closing statements commence; under amended rule 6.450(f), once a closing statement has begun, no further testimony or evidence may be entered into the record.
Key quotations
“Having considered the Committee’s report, we hereby adopt the amendments as proposed.” (at 1)
“The more significant amendments are as follows.” (at 1)
“The amendments are effective immediately.” (at 1)
Factual background
The Florida Bar's Traffic Court Rules Committee proposed amendments to Florida Rule of Traffic Court 6.450, and the Committee unanimously approved the proposal. The Board of Governors unanimously recommended acceptance. The proposal was published online and in The Florida Bar News, later republished by the Supreme Court, and no comments were received.
Procedural history
The Florida Bar's Traffic Court Rules Committee filed a report proposing amendments to rule 6.450. The Committee and the Board of Governors unanimously recommended adoption, and the proposal was published twice for comment without receiving any comments. The Supreme Court of Florida adopted the amendments as proposed and made them effective immediately.