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...

On May 14, 2020, Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new order amending earlier limits on court employee personal travel to regions in the United States where community spread of coronavirus is widespread. That restriction now is obsolete in light of Centers for Disease Control reports showing community spread exists...

After holding its first-ever “virtual” arguments May 6, the Florida Supreme Court will hold three more days of oral arguments using remote video teleconferencing when it hears cases in June. The next round of cases will be argued on June 2, 3, and 4 starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time each...

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady distributed “Best Practices” guidelines on May 11, 2020, that were developed by a statewide COVID-19 Workgroup to help people navigate new remote procedures used by state courts in the coronavirus pandemic. The guidelines offer help not just to judges and court staff but also to people...

As the hour for arguments approached, the view from the Florida Supreme Court bench on May 6, 2020, was of an empty courtroom galley. Court computer technician Tyler Teagle sat alone at the table normally reserved for lawyers and used his laptop to oversee the Court's first-ever virtual oral arguments....

Acting on the recommendations of a statewide Court Continuity Workgroup, Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new emergency order May 4 increasing the list of proceedings state courts will accomplish by remote technology during the coronavirus pandemic. 

It also extends the current suspension of jury trials in Florida until...

The Florida Supreme Court held several dry-run tests this week to prepare for a history-making transition. On May 6, 2020, the state's highest court will hold virtual oral arguments using remote technology for the first time in its 175-year history.

In practice runs this week, judges and attorneys successfully logged...

Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new administrative order April 29 suspending a requirement that state court judges must earn most of their continuing judicial education credits at in-person training events. The suspension will remain in effect until further order. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many regular judicial education programs...

Florida’s courts are taking steps now to prepare for the staged resumption of court operations that have been curtailed due to the public health emergency. An order from Chief Justice Charles T. Canady anticipates a phased approach to the eventual resumption of full operations.