The Florida Bar will support the Supreme Court’s call for 61 new trial court judges and has given the Legal Needs of Children Committee permission to lobby for a comprehensive approach to representing children in court.
The Bar’s Board of Governors, at its Feb. 1 meeting, approved those recommendations from the Legislation Committee.
Board and committee member Larry Sellers, presenting the committee’s recommendations, said the Bar always supports the court’s annual certification for new judges. The court issued that opinion on January 17 and called for 19 new circuit judges and 42 new county judges.
The Legal Needs of Children Committee asked to support state efforts to “develop a comprehensive system and structure for child representation, which includes guardian ad litem, legal counsel for children, and public defender representation,” Sellers told the board.
He said the committee was still working out details of the position and noted no actual legislation had been filed. But the position will allow the committee to participate in anticipated legislative efforts to improve the representation of children in courts.
When those details become clearer, Sellers said the committee might ask the board to adopt a more specific position as a Bar legislative policy.
Board member Steve Chaykin said the Bar should be ready for such an action.
“I want to make sure that the Bar is on record in any critical stage in the legislative process on any legislation that carries out the committee’s recommendations or is opposed to the committee’s recommendations,” he said.
Sellers noted that, if necessary, the Bar’s Executive Committee can act for the board between its meetings to approve a legislative position.
— Courtesy Florida Bar News