Supreme Court of Florida
In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and The…
October 2, 2014
Summary
The Florida Supreme Court adopted most of the Capital Postconviction Proceedings Subcommittee’s proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, Criminal Procedure, and Appellate Procedure, while rejecting the proposed new 180‑day time limitation for successive post‑conviction motions. The Court affirmed the need for mandatory attorney representation, new lead‑counsel qualifications, and enhanced case‑management duties for judges. It also approved procedural changes concerning court reporting, public‑records production, and record‑keeping. The decision reflects the Court’s goal of expediting capital post‑conviction cases within a two‑year window.