Florida House of Representatives Speaker Paul Renner thinks it may be time to reorganize the state’s circuit courts.
In a letter to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, Renner said that the boundaries of Florida’s judicial circuits have not been changed for decades, despite significant population and demographic changes.
The circuit court boundaries have been in place since 1969 and the population within each circuit is different.
“The size of our judicial circuits varies widely, from approximately 2.7 million people (in the Eleventh Circuit) to less than 100,000 people (in the Sixteenth Circuit),” Renner wrote.
By comparison, the 4th Judicial Circuit – Clay, Duval and Nassau counties – has a population of 1.35 million, according to data provided by the court.
Renner, a Republican, represents House District 19, which includes parts of St. Johns and all of Flagler County. He asserts that consolidation of the circuits might lead to greater efficiencies and uniformity in the judicial process, thereby increasing public trust and confidence.
“I also believe that the consolidation of circuits would result in improved economies of scale in the judiciary’s back-office operations, leading to substantial cost savings for Florida’s taxpayers,” he wrote.
After considering the proposal, Muniz signed an administrative order June 30 establishing a Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee.
“Without expressing any view on the merits at this time, the Court agrees that the question of whether there is a need to consolidate Florida’s judicial circuits deserves thoughtful consideration and careful study,” the order states.
Comprising appellate and circuit court judges, a public defender, a state attorney and two lawyers, the 14 committee members include 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Melissa Nelson and Jacksonville lawyer W. Braxton Gillam IV, a member of The Florida Bar board of governors and a past president of the Jacksonville Bar Association.
Muniz cites article V, section 9 of the Florida Constitution that states: “When the Court determines that there is a need to increase, decrease, or redefine judicial circuits, it must certify its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.”
The order further states that the constitution requires the court to have adopted uniform criteria to guide its determination. Consistent with the constitutional mandates, Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.241 gives the court instruction to “balance the potential impact and disruption caused by changes in judicial circuits ... against the need to address circumstances that limit the quality and efficiency of, and public confidence in, the judicial process.”
Muniz’s order directs the committee to:
• Limit its findings and recommendations to whether there is a need to consolidate (i.e., reduce the number of) Florida’s judicial circuits;
• Assume that district court of appeal boundaries will remain unchanged;
• Ensure that findings and recommendations are governed by the criteria set out in rule 2.241; and
• Before making its findings and recommendations, the committee must confer with the chief judges and other representatives of the courts, court budget commissions, The Florida Bar and the public, as required by rule 2.241, as well as with other justice system entities it deems appropriate.
The committee is directed to submit its findings to the chief justice, through the state courts administrator, by Dec. 1.
A virtual organizational meeting is scheduled 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14.
Subsequent meetings are scheduled Aug. 4, Aug. 25, Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17.