Jennifer Bradley push for outside-of-chamber meetings by standby Judges clears Senate hurdle

A legislative proposal is moving in the Senate to modernize language about hearings as part of a larger state court legislative package.

Sen. Jennifer Bradley’s legislation (SB 538), which would allow remote meetings by circuit court duty Judges in each Florida circuit, advanced in the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

The new verbiage allowing meetings outside Judges’ chambers would replace outdated statutory language that didn’t contemplate such a thing.

The bill also would remove the $1,500 daily limit on arbitration fees, and would let a Judge authenticate documents of sworn written statements without using a seal.

An amendment adopted Tuesday also allows the Justice Administrative Commission to be responsible for “discretionary appropriations” if the bill is passed.

Various stakeholders showed to support the bill.

These included Judge Clay Roberts of the Florida Conference of DCA Judges; Tad David, lead staff for the Florida Supreme Court Committee on ADR Rules and Policy; Sean Burnfin of the State Court System; and Jason Welty of the Florida Clerk of Court Operation Corporation.

The bill has a stop in the Rules Committee ahead before it hits the Senate floor.

Rep. Kaylee Tuck’s House companion bill has one more stop ahead as well.