11/29/23 Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee

In ongoing efforts to continually improve the judicial process, the Florida Supreme Court recommended in November 2021 the addition of a Sixth District Court of Appeal. The recommendation was based on work conducted by the District Court of Appeal Workload and Jurisdiction Assessment Committee, formed by then-Chief Justice Charles Canady. The committee noted the addition of a court of appeal would also boost citizen trust and confidence in the judiciary.

On June 2, 2022, the Sixth DCA was created when Governor DeSantis signed CS/HB 7027 into law.

In a June 15, 2023 letter, House Speaker Paul Renner asked the Florida Supreme Court to consider whether a consolidation of our state’s existing judicial circuits is warranted, citing that current boundaries of our judicial circuits have been in place since 1969 and the significant population and demographic changes of the past 50 years.

To consider and carefully study whether there is a need to consolidate Florida’s judicial circuits, the Supreme Court has appointed the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee.

The committee will submit its report to the Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice by Friday, December 1.