In a letter, the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee argued that it was not required by law to hold public meetings in November.
After receiving questions from legal professionals and others, a committee that is tasked with deciding whether or not to reduce the number of judicial districts in the state will now allow the public to participate at upcoming discussions.
According to a notice from the Office of the State Courts administrator, the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee is holding public meetings via videoconference on November 3 and 17. The public can join these sessions. The public may view the sessions, but cannot give public testimony.
The letter was addressed to Hillsborough State attorney Suzy Lopez who, last week, asked Attorney General Ashley Moody to review the legality of closed-door meetings planned by the committee. This would determine if they violated Florida Sunshine laws. In the letter, the courts administrator stated that the decision to open meetings was made “voluntarily and unanimously” by the committee. The private sessions would have not violated Florida’s open meetings laws. Some experts had previously raised concerns about the legality behind the closed sessions.
The committee was created by the Florida Supreme Court this year, at the request of Republican House Speaker Paul Renner. Renner suggested that merging some Florida’s 20 judicial district could increase efficiency. The committee’s task is to make a recommendation before December, and then the Legislature will decide. Florida officials have warned that merging district could disrupt the judiciary process.
Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2023/10/17/florida-supreme-court-suzy-lopez-judicial-circuit-assessment-committee-meetings/