Court Technology Officer Mike Smith and his staff are credited with transforming court operations to meet the incredible demands presented.   Mike and his team implemented technology solutions immediately to address the need for the courts to social distance while continuing to handle essential and critical proceedings as well as important,...

We are most proud of the speed with which we were able to transition the First Judicial Circuit to a remote model.  Because our judges and court staff had already been through a large-scale digital transformation with the implementation of the court application processing system, better known as the CAPS...

New expectations at courthouses around the state are highlighted in a VIDEO released today to prepare and assure people about changes to protect their health. A return to Florida’s courthouses during the ongoing public health emergency includes new steps such as touchless temperature checks, health screenings, physical distancing, and required...

Chief Justice Charles Canady delivered the annual State of the Judiciary address during the 2020 Virtual Annual Convention of the Florida Bar. Justice Canady’s remarks were recorded and delivered during the General Assembly meeting Friday, June 19.

Justice Canady concluded his remarks saying, “There are certainly great challenges ahead of...

Chief Justice Charles Canady issued two new administrative orders and a new “best practices” memorandum late June 16, 2020, adopting changes to guidelines for state court pandemic operations recommended by his COVID-19 Workgroup. They include a new provision letting individual counties or local trial-court circuits return to in-person jury...

Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new administrative order June 15, 2020, extending the term through the end of the year of a Workgroup charged with recommending ways for a staged return to full court operations during the coronavirus pandemic. The workgroup’s mission is to find ways for courts to operate...

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady on June 8, 2020, issued a memorandum providing new guidelines for the state courts on a resumption of in-person court proceedings during the pandemic. He also amended two earlier orders about jury proceedings.

The first new amended order extends the current suspension of the statewide...

Five trial-court circuits across the state have been chosen to conduct a test of remote technology as a safer alternative to traditional in-person civil jury trials. Locations for the pilot projects of civil jury trials are:

• Jacksonville’s Fourth Judicial Circuit comprising Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties.
• Daytona Beach’s Seventh Judicial Circuit...

On June 1, 2020, Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new administrative order adding Seminole County Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma to a COVID-19 Workgroup helping steer the state courts through the coronavirus pandemic. In the order, Canady noted that the mission of the Workgroup in advising him on emergency matters...

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an order late on May 21, 2020, creating a new pilot program for civil jury trials to be held using remote technology. It will explore ways to let one of the most central parts of the state justice system – jury trials – begin...