Posted June 25, 2010

Posted April 16, 2010

Posted March 23, 2010

Trial Court Budget Commission,
Chief Judges, and Administrators
Meet as Legislative Session Continues

March 22 – 23, 2010

The Trial Court Budget Commission (TCBC) met on March 22 at the Florida Supreme Court to discuss legislative budget issues that the court system faces during the current legislative session.  The Commission discussed the status of court operating budgets and trust funds, pay and benefits for judicial officers and court employees, and other court funding topics.

On March 23, on the wake of the Commission meeting, the Judicial Administration Committee met. Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Chair of the TCBC, provided a report on the court system’s legislative budget request and other updated budget information from the previous days’ meeting.

The Judicial Administration Committee also conferred about mortgage foreclosure cases. That discussion focused on the implementation status of Managed Mediation Programs, designed to ease the burden on the system of foreclosure cases, and a Foreclosure and Economic Recovery Funding Proposal, designed to eliminate the backlog of civil and foreclosure cases through the deployment of temporary resources in the trial courts.

Not only will the information from these meetings be beneficial in the management of the trial courts, but judicial leadership will also use the materials  to inform their legislative delegations about court funding issues.

For More Information:

• Trial Court Budget Commission, OSCA Web Site
• Administrative Order, AOSC09-43, Judicial Branch Governance Study

Posted March 12, 2010

Charles T. Canady Named Chief Justice-Elect of Florida

The Supreme Court of Florida unanimously named Charles T. Canady as Chief Justice-Elect on Wednesday, March 10. Justice Canady will serve for a two years as Chief Justice,
beginning July 1. 

Justice Canady was appointed to the Supreme Court on August 28, 2008 by Governor Charlie Crist. He took office on September 8, 2008. He is married to Jennifer Houghton, and he is the father of two children.

• Read Justice Canady's biography on the Florida Supreme Court web site.
• Also, read the press release issued by the Court on Wednesday, March 10.

Posted February 11, 2010

2008-09 Annual Report Chronicles Last Year's State Court System Activities

Although the 2008-09 Annual Report has been available for several months, other news events have precluded highlighting it until now.

If you have not taken the time to review the Report's contents, now is your opportunity. Begin by reading Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince's message and continue on with other pertinent court activity, including a two-page pictorial celebrating the "Farewells and Welcomes" of departing and new Supreme Court Justices.

• Read the 2008-09 Annual Report
• Or catch up on previous annual reports here

Posted January 11, 2010

Supreme Court Issues Administrative Order Regarding Foreclosures

In an attempt to address the avalanche of court cases resulting from the statewide foreclosure crisis, on December 29, 2009, Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince issued an Administrative Order requiring that each circuit implement a managed mediation program that will apply to all newly-filed Florida foreclosure cases involving homestead property. This order was based on recommendations by the Task Force on Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases.

As of November 2009, Florida ranked second-highest among states regarding property foreclosures. Foreclosures in this magnitude have created an economic crisis in our state, and they have also overburdened the state courts.

The Administrative Order mandates mediation in certain foreclosure cases, in an effort to encourage early settlement of cases and thus reduce the strain on courts. A prerequisite to mediation is that borrowers must attend foreclosure counseling prior to mediation so that they better understand and can expedite the mediation process when they participate.

For more in-depth information about the Administrative Order, the Task Force’s Final Report, and the managed mediation process, go to the Supreme Court’s Public Information page.