Florida Jury Health
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The right of trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate. The qualifications and the number of jurors, not fewer than six, shall be fixed by law.
—Florida Constitution Declaration of Rights; Article 1, Section 22
Legal Resources
- Constitution: Florida Constitution—1968 Revision
- Code/Statutes: Florida Statutes
- Legislature: Florida Legislature
- Judiciary: Florida Courts
- U.S. District Courts: Northern District, Southern District, Middle District
- Rules of Criminal Procedure: Florida Rules of Court Procedure
- Rules of Civil Procedure: Florida Rules of Court Procedure
Florida Jury News
The 13th Judicial Circuit has suspended all in-person jury trials until AT LEAST March. Pre-trial proceedings will proceed virtually.
Shannon Schott, president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Northeast Chapter, says that prosecutor's offices need to be triaging cases to avoid "a complete collapse of the criminal justice system".
View more Florida jury-related news.
COVID-19 Information
Florida Court Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 24 November 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | Varies by individual court with options for in-person and remote proceedings depending on the court's approved operational plan. |
| Civil Trial by Jury | Varies by individual court. May be conducted remotely with the consent of all parties as part of a pilot program. |
| Grand Juries | Varies by individual court. May be suspended, conducted remotely, or conducted in-person if certain criteria are met. |
Additional information available from the Florida Courts:
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 25 November 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | No known general suspension of trials by jury at this time. |
| Civil Trial by Jury | No known general suspension of trials by jury at this time. |
| Grand Juries | No known general suspension of grand juries at this time. |
Additional information available from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida:
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 25 November 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | All jury trials scheduled to begin on or after 30 March 2020 are continued until AT LEAST 5 April 2021. |
| Civil Trial by Jury | All jury trials scheduled to begin on or after 30 March 2020 are continued until AT LEAST 5 April 2021. |
| Grand Jury | Grand juries continue with partial sequestration of grand jurors while in the courthouse. |
Additional information available from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida:
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Rules by Jury Type
Status as of 25 November 2020.
| Criminal Trial by Jury | No known general suspension of trials by jury at this time. |
| Civil Trial by Jury | No known general suspension of trials by jury at this time. |
| Grand Juries | No known general suspension of grand juries at this time. |
Additional information available from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida:
Speedy Trial
State Court Time Limits
- for speedy trial without demand:
- within 90 days of arrest if the crime charged is a misdemeanor, per
- within 175 days of arrest if the crime charged is a felony, per
- for speedy trial upon demand:
- within 60 days, by filing with the court a separate pleading entitled “Demand for Speedy Trial,” and serving a copy on the prosecuting authority, per
- to set a trial date upon demand of speedy trial:
- no later than 5 days from the filing of a demand for speedy trial, the court shall hold a calendar call to announce in open court receipt of the demand and of setting the case for trial, per
- the court shall set the case for trial to commence at a date no less than 5 days nor more than 45 days from the date of the calendar call, per
- Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 3.191(b)(1)
- Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 3.191(b)(1)
COVID-19-Related Changes to State Court Speedy Trial Rules
Status as of 24 November 2020.
- Deadlines for offering jury trials to defendants have been extended by judicial orders.
- All time periods involving the speedy trial procedure in criminal and juvenile court proceedings shall remain suspended until 90 days after the Chief Justice has approved the certification of a chief judge of a judicial circuit that the circuit or a county within the circuit has transitioned to Phase 3 pursuant to AOSC20-32, as amended.
- With regard to persons arrested for first degree murder, all time periods under Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.133(b) and 3.134 shall remain suspended until such time as grand jury proceedings are resumed pursuant to Section III.A and be suspended during any period of time in which grand jury proceedings are suspended under Section III.A.(1)b. or IX.B.
