The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: SPB 2514
INTRODUCER: For consideration by the Appropriations Committee
SUBJECT: Judges
DATE: January 30, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
Harkness Sadberry Pre-meeting
I. Summary:
SPB 2514 amends s. 26.031, F.S., and s. 34.022, F.S., to establish two new circuit court
judgeships (one in the First Judicial Circuit and one in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit) and six
new county court judgeships (three in Orange County, two in Hillsborough County, and one in
Santa Rosa County).
The Supreme Court issued Order No. SC2023-1586, dated November 30, 2023, certifying the
need for one additional circuit court judge (Twentieth Circuit) and five additional county court
judges (three in Orange County and two in Hillsborough County).
The bill conforms to SPB 2500, the Senate’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General
Appropriations Act, which includes $3,361,276 in General Revenue funding, and authorizes
eighteen full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate of 1,991,093, for the newly
established judgeships and associated judicial assistants and attorney staffing.
The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
Article V, s. 9 of the State Constitution states:
Determination of number of judges.—The supreme court shall establish by
rule uniform criteria for the determination of the need for additional
judges except supreme court justices, the necessity for decreasing the
number of judges and for increasing, decreasing or redefining appellate
districts and judicial circuits. If the supreme court finds that a need exists
for increasing or decreasing the number of judges or increasing,
decreasing or redefining appellate districts and judicial circuits, it shall,
prior to the next regular session of the legislature, certify to the legislature
its findings and recommendations concerning such need. Upon receipt of
such certificate, the legislature, at the next regular session, shall consider
the findings and recommendations and may reject the recommendations or
REVISED: BILL: SPB 2514 Page 2
by law implement the recommendations in whole or in part; provided the
legislature may create more judicial offices than are recommended by the
supreme court or may decrease the number of judicial offices by a greater
number than recommended by the court only upon a finding of two-thirds
of the membership of both houses of the legislature, that such a need
exists.
To determine a need for trial court judgeships, the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA)
relies on an analysis of weighted caseload filings per judge. In 1999, at the request of the Florida
Legislature, the OSCA contracted with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to develop
and validate a Delphi-based Weighted Caseload System.
1
The weighted caseload system assigns a time value to cases by their case type, based on the
various kinds and complexity of the cases that are filed. The case type time value, or case
weight, establishes an approximate workload value per case filing by case type, which is used to
determine the number of judges required to handle these cases. The weighted caseload system is
revised periodically to account for changes in procedure and case complexity. The system was
updated by the OSCA and the NCSC in 2007, and most recently in 2016.
The Supreme Court issued Order No. SC2023-1586, dated November 30, 2023, in regard to the
Certification of Need for Additional Judges.
2
In the certification, the Court certified the need for:
One additional court judgeship in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit; and
Five additional county court judgeships, three in Orange County and two in Hillsborough
County.
Article V, s. 9 of the State Constitution requires that upon receipt of such certificate, the
Legislature, at the next regular session, to consider the findings and recommendations and reject
the recommendations or by law implement the recommendations in whole or in part. If the
Legislature creates more judicial offices than are recommended by the Court or decreases the
number of judicial offices by a greater number than recommended by the Court, then there needs
to be a finding of two-thirds of the membership of both houses of the Legislature, that such a
need exists.
3
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill establishes two new circuit court judgeships, one in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit and
one in the First Judicial Circuit, three new county court judgeships in Orange County, two new
county court judgeships in Hillsborough County, and one new county court judgeship in Santa
Rosa County. Specifically, the bill revises the judgeships as follows:
First Judicial Circuit: 25 to 26.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit: 31 to 32.
Hillsborough County: 23 to 25.
1
National Center for State Courts, Florida Judicial Workload Assessment Final Report, Office of the State Courts
Administrator (May 16, 2016), http://www.flcourts.org/core/fileparse.php/558/urlt/Final-Florida-Judicial-Workload-
Assessment-Final-report.pdf
2
In Re: Certification of Need for Additional Judges, SC2023-1586 (Fla. SC 2023)
3
Article V, s. 9, Fla. Const. BILL: SPB 2514 Page 3
Orange County: 19 to 22.
Santa Rosa County: 2 to 3.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill conforms current law to the Senate’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General
Appropriations Act, which includes $3,361,276 in General Revenue funding, and
authorizes eighteen full-time equivalent positions with associated salary rate of
1,991,093, for the newly established judgeships and associated judicial assistant and
attorney staffing.
The cost of county judges and judicial assistants are paid for by the state. Under s.
29.008, F.S., counties are responsible for facilities, security, communications and
information technology costs for county courts. The bill could result in additional costs in
these areas, to the extent that county courts will be receiving additional judges and BILL: SPB 2514 Page 4
associated staff; however, any additional costs associated with the newly established
positions can likely be absorbed within existing resources.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 26.031 and 34.022.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.