In 2001, the U.S. Department of Commerce invited Sarasota County Clerk of Court Karen Rushing to advise on creating a court system in Angola, ravaged by a 30-year war that left its rebel leader assassinated. “I took a third-world country that didn’t have electricity, and in less than five years, put them into a fully automated system,” Rushing said, explaining how she and the U.S. Commerce Department enlisted help from Portugal, Angola’s former colonial rulers.If she could accomplish that challenge with a unique collaboration, surely the Florida courts and clerks can work together on creating an integrated court computer system and statewide e-filing, right?
Court budget details emerge: A variety of court filing fees go up June 1
The bill to look at is SB 1718. That’s the implementing bill for the court-related sections of Florida’s 2009-10 budget. It’s the nitty-gritty of where the money will come from along with some detailed directions of how it will be spent. For example, the bill allows that when county court judges sit as circuit judges, they may again be paid a circuit judge salary “to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated by law for such purposes.” Another section directs the First District Court of Appeal, working in cooperation with the Office of Judges of Compensation Claims, to create a pilot project for the electronic filing of appeals in workers’ compensation cases. . . .
Foreclosure task force eyes ADR solutions
The Task Force on Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases has told the Supreme Court that uniform solutions are needed to deal with the high volume of mortgage foreclosure cases that are swamping the courts. The panel plans to design an alternative dispute resolution program for the court’s consideration. Those are among the recommendations included in the task force’s interim report released May 8. The fast-tracked, final report is due August 15.
Supreme Court hears arguments in judicial appointment dispute
When the Florida Constitution says that the governor “shall” perform a particular function, does he have the option of avoiding that duty, absent allegations of malfeasance or corruption? That was a key question raised in oral arguments before the Florida Supreme Court May 20 when the justices considered Gov. Charlie Crist’s refusal to pick a successor to retired Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Robert Pleus.