In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.210

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida adopted amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.210, changing the terminology from "examination" to "evaluation," requiring status hearings within 20 days, and generally requiring a final competency hearing within 45 days of the motion absent good cause. The Court declined to change the rule’s language concerning reasonable grounds to believe that a defendant "is not mentally competent to proceed" and made additional clarifying revisions, effective January 1, 2025. Justice Labarga dissented, arguing that extending the final-hearing deadline would likely delay hearings and worsen conditions for mentally ill defendants held in jail.