State Courts System Committees
Last Revised September 22, 2010
Role of Court Committees
While the State Courts System is administered by the Chief Justice and the Florida Supreme Court, the policy development strategy of the judicial branch is, in many respects, very collegial. Committees are the mechanism established by the supreme court for developing consensus on appropriate judicial branch policies affecting the administration of justice. Committees allow the branch to take advantage of the rich intellectual, social, and experiential diversity of judges, practitioners, court staff, and topical experts.
State Courts System committees usually receive their authority and directive through an administrative order of the Chief Justice. Court committees have no authority to become involved in issues beyond the scope of their order, absent requesting and receiving approval in advance from the Chief Justice. Most court committees are advisory with no direct policy making authority; they make recommendations for consideration by the supreme court.
Committees may be appointed when a specific issue or concern is brought to the Chief Justice’s attention, or when the Chief Justice desires to evaluate and improve the court system’s performance in a particular area. Court committees make a vital contribution to the function of the judicial branch.
The current court committee structure involves FIVE committee types. Scroll through this page to read about EACH committee type, or click on any of the following to go directly to a SPECIFIC committee type.
Council
A council is responsible for addressing judicial administration issues that have statewide impact, affect multiple levels of the court system, or affect multiple constituencies in the court community. Council membership includes internal and external representation.
- Judicial Management Council - currently suspended; see Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.225
Commission
A commission addresses high-level policy issues that span the divisions and/or levels of the court. Membership of court commissions primarily consists of judicial officers and court personnel.
- District Court of Appeal Budget Commission – see Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.235 and AOSC09-32
- Trial Court Budget Commission – see Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.230 and AOSC10-33
- Commission on District Court of Appeal Performance and Accountability- see AOSC10-47
- Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability - see AOSC10-48
- Florida Courts Technology Commission – see Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.236 and AOSC10-45
- Appellate Court Technology Committee – see AOSC10-44
- Florida Court Education Council – see AOSC10-35
- Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and
Policy – see AOSC09-35
Steering Committee
A steering committee represents the interests of a particular court division. Steering committees develop an aspirational vision of the ideal court division; recommend models, standards, and best practices; and conduct court improvement initiatives. Steering committees also address the impact on their topical assignment area of new legislation, case law, federal guidelines, and other changes.
- Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court – see AOSC10-50
- Criminal Court Steering Committee – see AOSC10-34
- Subcommittee on Postconviction Relief – see AOSC10-40
Work Group/Task Force
A work group or task force is an ad hoc group appointed for a specific period of time to address a specific issue or narrow topic. Work groups and task forces conduct studies, prepare reports, and take other appropriate action as directed by the Chief Justice.
- Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning – not currently active
- Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity – see AOSC10-36
- Florida Innocence Commission – see AOSC10-39
- Governance Study Group – see AOSC09-43
- Task Force on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in the Court – see AOSC10-52
- Unified Committee on Judicial Compensation – Comprised of the Chief Justice; the chairs and chairs-elect of the district court, circuit court, and county court conferences; and the chairs and vice chairs of the DCA Budget Commission and the Trial Court Budget Commission.
Other Committee
This group encompasses other committees required by Court opinion, statutory provisions, or other requirements and that should, by reason of their regulatory or other responsibilities, operate more independently from Court oversight.
- Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases – see AOSC09-49
- Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases – see AOSC09-52
- Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Contract and Business Cases – see AOSC10-11
- Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism – see Order dated 10/19/1999
- Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee – see Petition of the Committee on Standards of Conduct for Judges, 327 So. 2d 5 (Fla. 1976)
- Mediation Qualifications Board – see rule 10.730, Florida Rules for Mediators
- Mediation Training Review Board – see AOSC09-22
- Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee – see AOSC10-37
- Court Interpreter Certification Board – see AOSC10-38
- Judicial Branch Records Management Committee – see AOSC10-16
- Local Rule Advisory Committee – see AOSC10-14
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