CS/HJR 7111

1
House Joint Resolution
2A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 2, 3,
34, 7, 11, 12, and 14 of Article V, Section 17 of Article
4III, and Sections 3 and 10 of Article IV, and the creation
5of Section 21 of Article V, of the State Constitution to
6divide the current Supreme Court into two divisions, one
7hearing civil cases and the other hearing criminal cases;
8providing for administration of the divisions; defining
9the jurisdiction of the divisions; providing for
10transition from the present Supreme Court; revising
11provisions relating to repeal of court rules; limiting
12readoption of a repealed court rule; providing for Senate
13confirmation of Supreme Court justices; expanding the
14jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; requiring the Judicial
15Qualifications Commission to make all of its files
16available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
17revising provisions relating to repeal of commission
18rules; requiring that a specified minimum percentage of
19general revenue funds be appropriated to the courts;
20making other conforming and modernizing changes to the
21State Constitution regarding the judicial system.
22
23Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25     That the following amendments to Sections 2, 3, 4, 7, 11,
2612, and 14 of Article V, Section 17 of Article III, and Sections
273 and 10 of Article IV, and the creation of Section 21 of
28Article V, of the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be
29submitted to the electors of this state for approval or
30rejection at the next general election or at an earlier special
31election specifically authorized by law for that purpose:
32
ARTICLE V
33
JUDICIARY
34     SECTION 2.  Administration; practice and procedure.-
35     (a)  The supreme court shall adopt rules for the practice
36and procedure in all courts including the time for seeking
37appellate review, the administrative supervision of all courts,
38the transfer to the court having jurisdiction of any proceeding
39when the jurisdiction of another court has been improvidently
40invoked, and a requirement that no cause shall be dismissed
41because an improper remedy has been sought. The supreme court
42shall adopt rules to allow it the court and the district courts
43of appeal to submit questions relating to military law to the
44federal Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for an advisory
45opinion. Rules of court may be repealed by general law that
46expresses the policy behind the repeal enacted by two-thirds
47vote of the membership of each house of the legislature. The
48court may readopt the repealed rule in conformance with the
49expressed legislative policy. If the readopted rule is again
50repealed by general law, the rule shall not be readopted. The
51legislature shall be the final authority to determine whether a
52readopted rule is again repealed. The supreme court divisions
53may meet jointly regarding rules or may assign categories of the
54rules to the divisions.
55     (b)(1)  The chief justice of the supreme court of Florida
56shall be chosen by a majority of the members of the court; shall
57be the chief administrative officer of the judicial system; and
58shall have the power to assign justices or judges, including
59consenting retired justices or judges, to temporary duty in any
60court for which the judge is qualified and to delegate to a
61chief judge of a judicial circuit the power to assign judges for
62duty in that circuit. The office of chief justice of the supreme
63court of Florida shall alternate between the chief justice of
64the civil division and the chief justice of the criminal
65division every four years.
66     (2)  The chief justice of each division shall each be
67chosen by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
68as provided in Section 11(d). The chief justice of a division
69shall be responsible for the administrative supervision of the
70division. The chief justice of each division shall have an
71eight-year term of office, with the terms of the division chief
72justices permanently set and staggered four years apart. A chief
73justice of a division shall also be the chief justice of the
74supreme court of Florida in the second half of his or her term.
75After a justice's term as chief justice of a division is
76concluded, the justice shall be a justice of the same division
77and may be reappointed and reconfirmed as chief justice of the
78division. A chief justice of a division is a justice of the
79supreme court of Florida subject to a retention election every
80six years pursuant to Section 10, and subject to the eligibility
81requirements of Section 8, which eligibility shall be determined
82by the retention term, not the term as a chief justice.
83     (3)  If there is a vacancy in the position of chief justice
84of a division, the justice who has served the most time with the
85division shall be the acting chief justice until a new chief
86justice of the division is appointed and confirmed for the
87remainder of the term.
88     (c)  A chief judge for each district court of appeal shall
89be chosen by a majority of the judges thereof or, if there is no
90majority, by the chief justice. The chief judge of a district
91court shall be responsible for the administrative supervision of
92the district court.
93     (d)  A chief judge in each circuit shall be chosen from
94among the circuit judges as provided by supreme court rule. The
95chief judge of a circuit shall be responsible for the
96administrative supervision of the circuit courts and county
97courts in the his circuit.
98     SECTION 3.  Supreme court; divisions.-
99     (a)  ORGANIZATION.-The supreme court shall consist of ten
100seven justices. Of the ten justices, five justices shall serve
101in the civil division and five justices shall serve in the
102criminal division. In each division Of the seven justices, each
103appellate district shall have at least one justice elected or
104appointed from the district to the supreme court division who is
105a resident of the district at the time of the original
106appointment or election. Four Five justices of a division shall
107constitute a quorum for that division and. the concurrence of
108three four justices shall be necessary to a decision. When
109vacancies or recusals for cause would prohibit the court from
110convening because of the requirements of this subsection
111section, judges assigned to temporary duty may be substituted
112for justices. The justices of both divisions, with seven
113justices constituting a quorum, shall jointly meet regarding
114court rules, administrative supervision of the courts, and
115disciplinary cases, but the justices shall not otherwise meet en
116banc.
117     (b)  JURISDICTION.-The appropriate division of the supreme
118court:
119     (1)  Shall hear appeals from final judgments of trial
120courts imposing the death penalty and from decisions of district
121courts of appeal declaring invalid a state statute or a
122provision of the state constitution.
123     (2)  When provided by general law, shall hear appeals from
124final judgments entered in proceedings for the validation of
125bonds or certificates of indebtedness and shall review action of
126statewide agencies relating to rates or service of utilities
127providing electric, gas, or telephone service. Only the civil
128division may have jurisdiction pursuant to this paragraph.
129     (3)  May review any decision of a district court of appeal
130that expressly declares valid a state statute, or that expressly
131construes a provision of the state or federal constitution, or
132that expressly affects a class of constitutional or state
133officers, or that expressly and directly conflicts with a
134decision of another district court of appeal or of the supreme
135court on the same question of law.
136     (4)  May review any decision of a district court of appeal
137that passes upon a question certified by it to be of great
138public importance, or that is certified by it to be in direct
139conflict with a decision of another district court of appeal, or
140that is found by that division of the supreme court to be of
141great public importance.
142     (5)  May review any order or judgment of a trial court
143certified by the district court of appeal in which an appeal is
144pending to be of great public importance, or to have a great
145effect on the proper administration of justice throughout the
146state, and certified to require immediate resolution by the
147supreme court.
148     (6)  May review a question of law certified by the Supreme
149Court of the United States or a United States Court of Appeals
150which is determinative of the cause and for which there is no
151controlling precedent of the supreme court of Florida.
152     (7)  May issue writs of prohibition to courts and all writs
153necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction.
154     (8)  May issue writs of mandamus and quo warranto to state
155officers and state agencies.
156     (9)  May, or any justice may, issue writs of habeas corpus
157returnable before the supreme court or any justice, a district
158court of appeal or any judge thereof, or any circuit judge. Only
159a justice in the criminal division may issue a writ of habeas
160corpus in a criminal case.
161     (10)  Shall, when requested by the attorney general
162pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 of Article IV, render
163an advisory opinion of the justices, addressing issues as
164provided by general law.
165     (11)  Shall hear appeals from final judgments of trial
166courts imposing the death penalty. Only the criminal division
167has any jurisdiction pursuant to this paragraph.
168     (c)  ASSIGNMENT OF CASES TO DIVISIONS.-Criminal cases shall
169be assigned to the criminal division, and civil cases shall be
170assigned to the civil division.
171     (1)  A criminal case is any case or controversy primarily
172involving the commission of a felony or misdemeanor. A criminal
173case shall also include any case or controversy involving
174criminal law, criminal penalties, criminal procedure, juvenile
175delinquency, or any related action regarding the interpretation
176of or resolution of matters directly affecting the criminal law.
177Equitable relief related to the criminal law, including actions
178in which a party seeks to enjoin the application or form of a
179criminal penalty, shall be within the jurisdiction of the
180criminal division.
181     (2)  A civil case is any case or controversy within the
182traditional concepts of civil law, including tort, contract,
183family law, probate, trusts, real property, employment law,
184taxation, and elections. The civil division shall have no
185jurisdiction or authority, whether express or implied, to issue
186a stay of execution or to hear any challenge of any law or
187procedure regarding the death penalty or the administration of a
188criminal penalty.
189     (3)  The legislature may, by general law, further define
190the types of cases that are to be referred to each division.
191     (d)  JURISDICTIONAL CONFLICTS.-If both divisions assert
192jurisdiction over a particular case, the chief justice of the
193supreme court of Florida shall decide where jurisdiction is
194appropriate.
195     (c)  CLERK AND MARSHAL.-The supreme court shall appoint a
196clerk and a marshal who shall hold office during the pleasure of
197the court and perform such duties as the court directs. Their
198compensation shall be fixed by general law. The marshal shall
199have the power to execute the process of the court throughout
200the state, and in any county may deputize the sheriff or a
201deputy sheriff for such purpose.
202     SECTION 4.  District courts of appeal.-
203     (a)  ORGANIZATION.-There shall be a district court of
204appeal serving each appellate district. Each district court of
205appeal shall consist of at least three judges. Three judges
206shall consider each case and the concurrence of two shall be
207necessary to a decision.
208     (b)  JURISDICTION.-
209     (1)  District courts of appeal shall have jurisdiction to
210hear appeals, that may be taken as a matter of right, from final
211judgments or orders of trial courts, including those entered on
212review of administrative action, not directly appealable to the
213supreme court or a circuit court. They may review interlocutory
214orders in such cases to the extent provided by rules adopted by
215the supreme court.
216     (2)  District courts of appeal shall have the power of
217direct review of administrative action, as prescribed by general
218law.
219     (3)  A district court of appeal or any judge thereof may
220issue writs of habeas corpus returnable before the court or any
221judge thereof or before any circuit judge within the territorial
222jurisdiction of the court. A district court of appeal may issue
223writs of mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto, and
224other writs necessary to the complete exercise of its
225jurisdiction. To the extent necessary to dispose of all issues
226in a cause properly before it, a district court of appeal may
227exercise any of the appellate jurisdiction of the circuit
228courts.
229     (c)  CLERKS AND MARSHALS.-Each district court of appeal
230shall appoint a clerk and a marshal who shall hold office during
231the pleasure of the court and perform such duties as the court
232directs. Their compensation shall be fixed by general law. The
233marshal shall have the power to execute the process of the court
234throughout the territorial jurisdiction of the court, and in any
235county may deputize the sheriff or a deputy sheriff for such
236purpose.
237     SECTION 7.  Specialized divisions.-The supreme court shall
238sit in a civil division and a criminal division, except where
239specifically authorized in this article to sit jointly. All
240other courts except the supreme court may sit in divisions as
241may be established by general law. A circuit or county court may
242hold civil and criminal trials and hearings in any place within
243the territorial jurisdiction of the court as designated by the
244chief judge of the circuit.
245     SECTION 11.  Vacancies.-
246     (a)  Whenever a vacancy occurs in a judicial office to
247which election for retention applies, the governor shall fill
248the vacancy by appointing for a term ending on the first Tuesday
249after the first Monday in January of the year following the next
250general election occurring at least one year after the date of
251appointment, one of not fewer than three persons nor more than
252six persons nominated by the appropriate judicial nominating
253commission.
254     (b)  The governor shall fill each vacancy on a circuit
255court or on a county court, wherein the judges are elected by a
256majority vote of the electors, by appointing for a term ending
257on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January of the
258year following the next primary and general election occurring
259at least one year after the date of appointment, one of not
260fewer than three persons nor more than six persons nominated by
261the appropriate judicial nominating commission. An election
262shall be held to fill that judicial office for the term of the
263office beginning at the end of the appointed term.
264     (c)  The nominations shall be made within thirty days from
265the occurrence of a vacancy unless the period is extended by the
266governor for a time not to exceed thirty days. The governor
267shall make the appointment within sixty days after the
268nominations have been certified to the governor.
269     (d)  Each appointment of a justice of the supreme court is
270subject to confirmation by the senate. The senate may sit for
271the purposes of confirmation regardless of whether the house of
272representatives is in session or not, or the senate may by its
273rules designate a committee of senators who shall vote on
274confirmations while the senate is not in session. If the senate
275fails to vote on the appointment of a justice within 90 days,
276the justice shall be deemed confirmed. If the senate votes to
277not confirm the appointment, the supreme court judicial
278nominating commission shall reconvene as though a new vacancy
279had occurred but may not renominate any person whose prior
280appointment to fill the same vacancy was not confirmed by the
281senate. The appointment of a justice is effective upon
282confirmation by the senate. A justice in one division may apply
283for a position in the other division but may not concurrently
284serve on both.
285     (e)(d)  There shall be a separate judicial nominating
286commission as provided by general law for the supreme court, one
287for each district court of appeal, and one for each judicial
288circuit for all trial courts within the circuit. Uniform rules
289of procedure shall be established by the judicial nominating
290commissions at each level of the court system. Such rules, or
291any part thereof, may be repealed by general law enacted by a
292majority vote of the membership of each house of the
293legislature, or by a majority vote of the justices of each
294division of the supreme court, five justices concurring. Except
295for deliberations of the judicial nominating commissions, the
296proceedings of the commissions and their records shall be open
297to the public.
298     SECTION 12.  Discipline; removal and retirement.-
299     (a)  JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION.-A judicial
300qualifications commission is created.
301     (1)  There shall be a judicial qualifications commission
302vested with jurisdiction to investigate and recommend to the
303Supreme Court of Florida the removal from office of any justice
304or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherwise,
305occurring on or after November 1, 1966, (without regard to the
306effective date of this section) demonstrates a present unfitness
307to hold office, and to investigate and recommend the discipline
308of a justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or
309otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966 (without regard
310to the effective date of this section), warrants such
311discipline. For purposes of this section, discipline is defined
312as any or all of the following: reprimand, fine, suspension with
313or without pay, or lawyer discipline. The commission shall have
314jurisdiction over justices and judges regarding allegations that
315misconduct occurred before or during service as a justice or
316judge if a complaint is made no later than one year following
317service as a justice or judge. The commission shall have
318jurisdiction regarding allegations of incapacity during service
319as a justice or judge. The commission shall be composed of:
320     a.  Two judges of district courts of appeal selected by the
321judges of those courts, two circuit judges selected by the
322judges of the circuit courts and two judges of county courts
323selected by the judges of those courts;
324     b.  Four electors who reside in the state, who are members
325of the bar of Florida, and who shall be chosen by the governing
326body of the bar of Florida; and
327     c.  Five electors who reside in the state, who have never
328held judicial office or been members of the bar of Florida, and
329who shall be appointed by the governor.
330     (2)  The members of the judicial qualifications commission
331shall serve staggered terms, not to exceed six years, as
332prescribed by general law. No member of the commission except a
333judge shall be eligible for state judicial office while acting
334as a member of the commission and for a period of two years
335thereafter. No member of the commission shall hold office in a
336political party or participate in any campaign for judicial
337office or hold public office; provided that a judge may campaign
338for judicial office and hold that office. The commission shall
339elect one of its members as its chairperson.
340     (3)  Members of the judicial qualifications commission not
341subject to impeachment shall be subject to removal from the
342commission pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 7,
343Florida Constitution.
344     (4)  The commission shall adopt rules regulating its
345proceedings, the filling of vacancies by the appointing
346authorities, the disqualification of members, the rotation of
347members between the panels, and the temporary replacement of
348disqualified or incapacitated members. The commission's rules,
349or any part thereof, may be repealed by general law enacted by a
350majority vote of the membership of each house of the
351legislature, or by the supreme court, seven five justices
352concurring. The commission shall have power to issue subpoenas.
353Until formal charges against a justice or judge are filed by the
354investigative panel with the clerk of the supreme court of
355Florida all proceedings by or before the commission shall be
356confidential; provided, however, upon a finding of probable
357cause and the filing by the investigative panel with said clerk
358of such formal charges against a justice or judge such charges
359and all further proceedings before the commission shall be
360public.
361     (5)  The commission shall have access to all information
362from all executive, legislative and judicial agencies, including
363grand juries, subject to the rules of the commission. At any
364time, on request of the speaker of the house of representatives
365or the governor, the commission shall make available to the
366house of representatives all information in the possession of
367the commission, which information shall remain confidential
368during any investigation and until such information is used in
369the pursuit for use in consideration of impeachment or
370suspension, respectively.
371     (b)  PANELS.-The commission shall be divided into an
372investigative panel and a hearing panel as established by rule
373of the commission. The investigative panel is vested with the
374jurisdiction to receive or initiate complaints, conduct
375investigations, dismiss complaints, and upon a vote of a simple
376majority of the panel submit formal charges to the hearing
377panel. The hearing panel is vested with the authority to receive
378and hear formal charges from the investigative panel and upon a
379two-thirds vote of the panel recommend to the supreme court the
380removal of a justice or judge or the involuntary retirement of a
381justice or judge for any permanent disability that seriously
382interferes with the performance of judicial duties. Upon a
383simple majority vote of the membership of the hearing panel, the
384panel may recommend to the supreme court that the justice or
385judge be subject to appropriate discipline.
386     (c)  SUPREME COURT.-The supreme court shall receive
387recommendations from the judicial qualifications commission's
388hearing panel.
389     (1)  The supreme court may accept, reject, or modify in
390whole or in part the findings, conclusions, and recommendations
391of the commission and it may order that the justice or judge be
392subjected to appropriate discipline, or be removed from office
393with termination of compensation for willful or persistent
394failure to perform judicial duties or for other conduct
395unbecoming a member of the judiciary demonstrating a present
396unfitness to hold office, or be involuntarily retired for any
397permanent disability that seriously interferes with the
398performance of judicial duties. Malafides, scienter or moral
399turpitude on the part of a justice or judge shall not be
400required for removal from office of a justice or judge whose
401conduct demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office. After
402the filing of a formal proceeding and upon request of the
403investigative panel, the supreme court may suspend the justice
404or judge from office, with or without compensation, pending
405final determination of the inquiry.
406     (2)  The supreme court may award costs to the prevailing
407party.
408     (d)  REMOVAL POWER.-The power of removal conferred by this
409section shall be both alternative and cumulative to the power of
410impeachment.
411     (e)  PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.-
412Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this section,
413if the person who is the subject of proceedings by the judicial
414qualifications commission is a justice of the supreme court of
415Florida all justices of such court automatically shall be
416disqualified to sit as justices of such court with respect to
417all proceedings therein concerning such person and the supreme
418court for such purposes shall be composed of a panel consisting
419of the seven chief judges of the judicial circuits of the state
420of Florida most senior in tenure of judicial office as circuit
421judge. For purposes of determining seniority of such circuit
422judges in the event there be judges of equal tenure in judicial
423office as circuit judge the judge or judges from the lower
424numbered circuit or circuits shall be deemed senior. In the
425event any such chief circuit judge is under investigation by the
426judicial qualifications commission or is otherwise disqualified
427or unable to serve on the panel, the next most senior chief
428circuit judge or judges shall serve in place of such
429disqualified or disabled chief circuit judge.
430     (f)  SCHEDULE TO SECTION 12.-
431     (1)  Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions
432of this section, all provisions of law and rules of court in
433force on the effective date of this article shall continue in
434effect until superseded in the manner authorized by the
435constitution.
436     (2)  After this section becomes effective and until adopted
437by rule of the commission consistent with it:
438     a.  The commission shall be divided, as determined by the
439chairperson, into one investigative panel and one hearing panel
440to meet the responsibilities set forth in this section.
441     b.  The investigative panel shall be composed of:
442     1.  Four judges,
443     2.  Two members of the bar of Florida, and
444     3.  Three non-lawyers.
445     c.  The hearing panel shall be composed of:
446     1.  Two judges,
447     2.  Two members of the bar of Florida, and
448     3.  Two non-lawyers.
449     d.  Membership on the panels may rotate in a manner
450determined by the rules of the commission provided that no
451member shall vote as a member of the investigative and hearing
452panel on the same proceeding.
453     e.  The commission shall hire separate staff for each
454panel.
455     f.  The members of the commission shall serve for staggered
456terms of six years.
457     g.  The terms of office of the present members of the
458judicial qualifications commission shall expire upon the
459effective date of the amendments to this section approved by the
460legislature during the regular session of the legislature in
4611996 and new members shall be appointed to serve the following
462staggered terms:
463     1.  Group I.-The terms of five members, composed of two
464electors as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)c. of Article V, one member
465of the bar of Florida as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)b. of Article
466V, one judge from the district courts of appeal and one circuit
467judge as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)a. of Article V, shall expire
468on December 31, 1998.
469     2.  Group II.-The terms of five members, composed of one
470elector as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)c. of Article V, two members
471of the bar of Florida as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)b. of Article
472V, one circuit judge and one county judge as set forth in s.
47312(a)(1)a. of Article V shall expire on December 31, 2000.
474     3.  Group III.-The terms of five members, composed of two
475electors as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)c. of Article V, one member
476of the bar of Florida as set forth in s. 12(a)(1)b., one judge
477from the district courts of appeal and one county judge as set
478forth in s. 12(a)(1)a. of Article V, shall expire on December
47931, 2002.
480     g.h.  An appointment to fill a vacancy of the commission
481shall be for the remainder of the term.
482     h.i.  Selection of members by district courts of appeal
483judges, circuit judges, and county court judges, shall be by no
484less than a majority of the members voting at the respective
485courts' conferences. Selection of members by the board of
486governors of the bar of Florida shall be by no less than a
487majority of the board.
488     i.j.  The commission shall be entitled to recover the costs
489of investigation and prosecution, in addition to any penalty
490levied by the supreme court.
491     j.k.  The compensation of members and referees shall be the
492travel expenses or transportation and per diem allowance as
493provided by general law.
494     SECTION 14.  Funding.-
495     (a)  All justices and judges shall be compensated only by
496state salaries fixed by general law. Funding for the state
497courts system, state attorneys' offices, public defenders'
498offices, and court-appointed counsel, except as otherwise
499provided in subsection (c), shall be provided from state
500revenues appropriated by general law.
501     (b)  All funding for the offices of the clerks of the
502circuit and county courts performing court-related functions,
503except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsection
504(c), shall be provided by adequate and appropriate filing fees
505for judicial proceedings and service charges and costs for
506performing court-related functions as required by general law.
507Selected salaries, costs, and expenses of the state courts
508system may be funded from appropriate filing fees for judicial
509proceedings and service charges and costs for performing court-
510related functions, as provided by general law. Where the
511requirements of either the United States Constitution or the
512Constitution of the State of Florida preclude the imposition of
513filing fees for judicial proceedings and service charges and
514costs for performing court-related functions sufficient to fund
515the court-related functions of the offices of the clerks of the
516circuit and county courts, the state shall provide, as
517determined by the legislature, adequate and appropriate
518supplemental funding from state revenues appropriated by general
519law.
520     (c)  No county or municipality, except as provided in this
521subsection, shall be required to provide any funding for the
522state courts system, state attorneys' offices, public defenders'
523offices, court-appointed counsel or the offices of the clerks of
524the circuit and county courts performing court-related
525functions. Counties shall be required to fund the cost of
526communications services, existing radio systems, existing multi-
527agency criminal justice information systems, and the cost of
528construction or lease, maintenance, utilities, and security of
529facilities for the trial courts, public defenders' offices,
530state attorneys' offices, and the offices of the clerks of the
531circuit and county courts performing court-related functions.
532Counties shall also pay reasonable and necessary salaries,
533costs, and expenses of the state courts system to meet local
534requirements as determined by general law.
535     (d)  The judiciary shall have no power to fix
536appropriations.
537     (e)  The total appropriation of all fund sources to the
538judicial branch shall equal no less than 2.25 percent of the
539total general revenue funds appropriated in the general
540appropriation bill referred to in Section 19(b) of Article III.
541Any adjustments to the total appropriations of all fund sources
542to the judicial branch made in any special appropriations act
543shall equal no more than the percent of total general revenue
544appropriations adjusted in such special appropriations act.
545     SECTION 21.  Schedule to Article V amendment increasing the
546membership of the supreme court and creating divisions thereof.-
547     (a)  Except to the extent inconsistent with this article,
548all provisions of law and rules of court in force on the
549effective date of this article shall continue in effect until
550superseded in the manner authorized by the constitution.
551     (b)  The effective date of the amendment creating two
552divisions of the supreme court shall be upon passage by the
553electorate.
554     (1)  On the first day after the election approving the
555amendment, the supreme court shall rank all of the justices then
556in office by seniority in service on the supreme court. The
557three who have the most seniority shall be the initial justices
558assigned to the criminal division, and the remaining justices
559shall be the initial justices assigned to the civil division.
560Initial appointments of existing justices to either division
561shall not be limited by the district court from which the
562justice was appointed. A justice assigned to a division of the
563supreme court pursuant to this paragraph shall remain in the
564same term of office and shall sit for future retention elections
565on the same cycle. The supreme court shall immediately transmit
566to the governor the names of the justices, their division
567assignments, and the districts from which they were appointed.
568The governor shall then direct the supreme court nominating
569commission to make its recommendations for the open seats of
570justices for both divisions, which recommendations must be
571delivered to the governor no later than the 60th day after the
572election. Before the 90th day after the election, the governor
573shall make the appointments for the open seats of justices for
574both divisions and shall also designate the chief justices of
575each division. The appointments and designations shall, in this
576instance only, not be subject to the advice and consent of the
577senate.
578     (2)  The supreme court shall inventory all cases in its
579possession and determine as to each case whether it will be
580assigned to the criminal division or the civil division. Newly
581filed cases shall be designated between the two new divisions as
582they are filed. The supreme court shall retain full jurisdiction
583and power over all cases until such cases are actually assigned
584to a division, including the power to issue final process that
585would have the effect of removing the case from the inventory of
586cases to be assigned.
587     (c)  The two divisions of the supreme court shall begin
588formal operations on the 120th day after the election. On that
589day:
590     (1)  Newly appointed justices shall take office.
591     (2)  The jurisdiction of the supreme court shall be divided
592between the divisions, and all pending cases shall be assigned
593to the appropriate division.
594     (3)  The term of the supreme court shall be deemed to have
595ended. All mandates issued by the supreme court prior to the end
596of the term shall be final and not subject to recall. No motion
597for reconsideration shall be considered.
598     (d)  The initial chief justice of the civil division shall
599also be the chief justice of the supreme court of Florida and
600shall serve in that position from the 120th day after the
601election through June 30, 2016. The initial chief justice of the
602criminal division shall be the chief justice of the criminal
603division from the 120th day after the election through June 30,
6042020. Thereafter, the offices of the chief justices of the
605divisions shall alternate as provided in Section 2.
606     (e)  All court rules adopted by the supreme court shall
607continue in full force and effect after the effective date of
608this amendment, subject to future amendment or repeal.
609     (f)  The legislature may, by general law, otherwise provide
610for the administrative transfer of employees, property, duties,
611and functions between the divisions.
612     (g)  The change in court funding provided in Section 14(e)
613shall be effective commencing in fiscal year 2013-2014.
614     (h)  The legislature shall have the power, by concurrent
615resolution, to delete from this article any subsection of this
616section 21, including this subsection, when all events to which
617the subsection to be deleted is or could become applicable have
618occurred.
619
ARTICLE III
620
LEGISLATURE
621     SECTION 17.  Impeachment.-
622     (a)  The governor, lieutenant governor, members of the
623cabinet, justices of the supreme court, judges of district
624courts of appeal, judges of circuit courts, and judges of county
625courts shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office.
626The house of representatives by two-thirds vote shall have the
627power to impeach an officer. The speaker of the house of
628representatives shall have power at any time to appoint a
629committee to investigate charges against any officer subject to
630impeachment.
631     (b)  An officer impeached by the house of representatives
632shall be disqualified from performing any official duties until
633acquitted by the senate, and, unless impeached, the governor may
634by appointment fill the office until completion of the trial.
635     (c)  All impeachments by the house of representatives shall
636be tried by the senate. The chief justice of the supreme court,
637or another justice of either division of the supreme court
638designated by the chief justice, shall preside at the trial,
639except in a trial of the chief justice of either division of the
640supreme court, in which case the governor shall preside. The
641senate shall determine the time for the trial of any impeachment
642and may sit for the trial whether the house of representatives
643is be in session or not. The time fixed for trial shall not be
644more than six months after the impeachment. During an
645impeachment trial senators shall be upon their oath or
646affirmation. No officer shall be convicted without the
647concurrence of two-thirds of the members of the senate present.
648Judgment of conviction in cases of impeachment shall remove the
649offender from office and, in the discretion of the senate, may
650include disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, or
651profit. Conviction or acquittal shall not affect the civil or
652criminal responsibility of the officer.
653
ARTICLE IV
654
EXECUTIVE
655     SECTION 3.  Succession to office of governor; acting
656governor.-
657     (a)  Upon vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant
658governor shall become governor. Further succession to the office
659of governor shall be prescribed by law. A successor shall serve
660for the remainder of the term.
661     (b)  Upon impeachment of the governor and until completion
662of trial thereof, or during the governor's physical or mental
663incapacity, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor.
664Further succession as acting governor shall be prescribed by
665law. Incapacity to serve as governor may be determined by the
666civil division of the supreme court upon due notice after
667docketing of a written suggestion thereof by two three cabinet
668members, and in such case restoration of capacity shall be
669similarly determined after docketing of written suggestion
670thereof by the governor, the legislature or two three cabinet
671members. Incapacity to serve as governor may also be established
672by certificate filed with the custodian of state records by the
673governor declaring incapacity for physical reasons to serve as
674governor, and in such case restoration of capacity shall be
675similarly established.
676     SECTION 10.  Attorney General.-The attorney general shall,
677as directed by general law, request the opinion of the justices
678of the civil division of the supreme court as to the validity of
679any initiative petition circulated pursuant to Section 3 of
680Article XI. The justices shall, subject to their rules of
681procedure, permit interested persons to be heard on the
682questions presented and shall render their written opinion no
683later than April 1 of the year in which the initiative is to be
684submitted to the voters pursuant to Section 5 of Article XI.
685
686     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
687placed on the ballot:
688
689
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
690
ARTICLE III, SECTION 17
691
ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 3 AND 10
692
ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 14, AND 21
693
694     STATE COURTS.-Proposing an amendment to the State
695Constitution regarding the courts.
696     Under current law, the Florida Supreme Court is the highest
697court in Florida and hears both civil and criminal cases. It has
6987 appointed justices. This amendment would divide the current
699Supreme Court into two divisions, one hearing civil cases and
700the other hearing criminal cases. Each division would have 5
701appointed justices who are permanently assigned. The 3 current
702justices who have the most service with the Florida Supreme
703Court would be assigned to the criminal division, the remaining
7044 current justices would be assigned to the civil division, and
705the Governor would appoint 3 new justices to fill the remaining
706openings in the two divisions. The existing jurisdiction of the
707Supreme Court would be expanded to allow discretionary review of
708certain lower court decisions. This amendment generally defines
709the civil law and criminal law jurisdiction of each division and
710allows the Legislature, by general law, to further define them.
711The jurisdiction of a division will be limited to the division's
712area, whether civil or criminal. The power of justices of the
713civil division to issue a writ of habeas corpus is limited by
714this amendment. This proposed amendment also creates a position
715of chief justice in each of the divisions with an 8-year term of
716office. The constitution currently provides that the Chief
717Justice of the Supreme Court is the administrative head of the
718state judicial system. This amendment provides that the position
719of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will rotate every 4 years
720between the chief justice of the civil division and the chief
721justice of the criminal division. The constitution currently
722also provides that the chief justice is chosen by vote of the
723justices. This amendment provides that the initial new justices
724and the initial chief justice of each division will be selected
725by the Governor and future chief justices will be selected by
726the Governor subject to Senate confirmation. A chief justice is,
727like a regular justice under current law, subject to a retention
728election every 6 years and subject to a mandatory retirement
729requirement applicable to all Florida justices and judges.
730     Under current law, the Governor appoints a justice from a
731list of nominees provided by a judicial nominating commission,
732and appointments by the Governor are not subject to
733confirmation. Other than the initial 3 new appointees, this
734amendment requires Senate confirmation of a justice before the
735appointee can take office. If the Senate votes not to confirm
736the appointment, the judicial nominating commission must
737reconvene and may not renominate any person whose prior
738appointment to fill the same vacancy was not confirmed by the
739Senate. For the purpose of confirmation, the Senate may meet at
740any time or may appoint a committee to decide confirmations
741while the Senate is not in session. If the Senate does not vote
742against confirmation within 90 days, the justice will be deemed
743confirmed and will take office.
744     The State Constitution authorizes the Supreme Court to
745adopt rules for the practice and procedure in all courts. The
746constitution further provides that a rule of court may be
747repealed by a general law enacted by a two-thirds vote of the
748membership of each house of the Legislature. This proposed
749constitutional amendment eliminates the requirement that a
750general law repealing a court rule pass by a two-thirds vote of
751each house. The Legislature could repeal a rule of court by a
752general law approved by a majority vote of each house of the
753Legislature that expresses the policy behind the repeal. The
754court could readopt the rule in conformance with the expressed
755policy, but if the Legislature repeals the readopted rule, this
756proposed amendment prohibits the court from readopting the
757repealed rule. The Legislature would decide if a rule has been
758repealed twice.
759     The Judicial Qualifications Commission is an independent
760commission created by the State Constitution to investigate and
761prosecute before the Florida Supreme Court alleged misconduct by
762a justice or judge. Currently under the constitution, commission
763proceedings are confidential until formal charges are filed by
764the investigative panel of the commission. Once formal charges
765are filed, the formal charges and all further proceedings of the
766commission are public. Currently, the constitution authorizes
767the House of Representatives to impeach a justice or judge.
768Further, the Speaker of the House of Representatives may
769request, and the Judicial Qualifications Commission must make
770available, all information in the commission's possession for
771use in deciding whether to impeach a justice or judge. This
772proposed amendment requires the commission to make all of its
773files available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
774rather than just the file of a justice or judge under
775investigation by the House of Representatives. Such files would
776maintain their confidentiality unless the House of
777Representatives initiates impeachment proceedings against a
778justice or judge, in which case the files related to that
779justice or judge may be open. The amendment deletes a
780requirement that a general law repealing a commission rule be
781passed by a majority vote of the membership of each house of the
782Legislature and revises the number of Supreme Court justices
783needed to repeal such a rule.
784     State appropriations are made annually by general law.
785Current law does not require any specific level of funding for
786any agency or department. This amendment requires that the
787courts be appropriated a minimum of 2.25 percent of general
788revenue funding beginning with the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
789     This amendment will take effect upon its passage by the
790electorate and provides a schedule for implementation of its
791provisions. This amendment makes other conforming and
792modernizing changes to the State Constitution regarding the
793judicial system, including removing the positions of clerk and
794marshal of the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal from the
795constitution; lowering the number of Cabinet members required to
796petition the Supreme Court regarding disability of the Governor,
797to conform to a prior change in the size of the Cabinet;
798removing provisions related to the Governor's power to seek
799investigative files from the Judicial Qualifications Commission,
800to conform to a prior change removing the Governor's power to
801suspend a judge; providing for transition to the new divisions;
802removing outdated schedules related to the Judicial
803Qualifications Commission; and making conforming and technical
804changes in the judicial articles of the constitution.
805
806     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
807placed on the ballot if a court declares the preceding statement
808defective and the decision of the court is not reversed:
809
810
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
811
ARTICLE III, SECTION 17
812
ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 3 AND 10
813
ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 14, AND 21
814
815     JUDICIARY.-Proposing a revision of the Judiciary Article of
816the Florida Constitution; reorganizing the Florida Supreme Court
817into divisions; requiring Senate confirmation for appointment of
818a Supreme Court justice; providing standards and procedures for
819legislative repeal of a court rule; providing a minimum level of
820court funding; allowing legislative review of confidential files
821of the Judicial Qualifications Commission; and providing for
822transition.
823
824     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
825placed on the ballot if a court declares the preceding
826statements defective and the decision of the court is not
827reversed:
828
829
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
830
ARTICLE III, SECTION 17
831
ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 3 AND 10
832
ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 14, AND 21
833
834     STATE COURTS.-Proposing an amendment to the State
835Constitution regarding the courts; changing the authority of the
836Legislature to repeal a court rule by 2/3 vote of the membership
837of each house to a simple majority of each house; limiting the
838Supreme Court's ability to readopt a rule repealed by the
839Legislature; replacing the current seven-member Supreme Court
840with two five-member divisions of the Supreme Court, one with
841civil jurisdiction and one with criminal jurisdiction;
842establishing a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who shall
843serve as the chief administrative officer for the courts;
844establishing a chief justice for the civil division of the
845Supreme Court; establishing a chief justice for the criminal
846division of the Supreme Court; providing for the manner of
847selection and term for the chief justice of each division of the
848Supreme Court; changing the manner of designation and term of
849office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; providing that
850a chief justice of a division of the Supreme Court is subject to
851a retention vote every 6 years based on the term for retention
852and subject to the eligibility as currently established in the
853State Constitution; providing for manner of replacement of a
854chief justice of a division; providing for apportionment of
855current justices among the civil and criminal divisions of the
856Supreme Court; changing the requirements for a quorum from four
857to three as being necessary for a decision; providing authority
858and circumstances where the divisions of the Supreme Court may
859meet en banc; providing jurisdiction for each division of the
860Supreme Court, including matters which will be exclusive to each
861division; expanding the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to
862include appeals from decisions of any district court of appeal
863that a division deems to be of great public importance;
864providing that the Legislature may further define the split of
865jurisdiction between civil and criminal matters; providing that
866the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court decides jurisdiction
867should both divisions claim jurisdiction over the same case;
868removing references to clerks and marshals; requiring Senate
869confirmation before a justice may take office; providing that if
870the Senate does not act within 90 days the nominee is deemed
871confirmed as a justice; allowing the Senate to meet outside of
872regular session without having the House of Representatives
873convene at the same time; allowing Senate Rule to designate a
874committee that may confirm a nominee; deleting outdated
875references; requiring the Judicial Qualifications Commission to
876provide the House of Representatives access to records;
877providing for confidentiality of records; requiring a minimum
878level of funding for the judicial system; providing for
879transition; requiring the current Supreme Court to list its
880members by seniority in office; providing that the three most
881senior justices be assigned to the criminal division and the
882remaining justices assigned to the criminal division; providing
883time limits for appointments by the Governor for the remaining
884seats; providing an exception to Senate confirmation for initial
885appointments; requiring the Governor to name the initial chief
886justice of each division; providing that the initial chief
887justice of the civil division be named the Chief Justice of the
888Supreme Court; requiring that existing cases be split between
889the divisions; providing that cases decided before the split
890into divisions are final and not subject to rehearing or recall
891of the mandate; providing for the terms of the initial chief
892justices of the divisions; providing for adoption of court
893rules; allowing the Legislature by general law to further
894provide for transition; providing that the transition schedules
895may be deleted by general law when they have become outdated;
896amending provision on impeachment to conform; and providing that
897the civil division determines incapacity of the Governor upon
898petition of two Cabinet members.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.