The December 15 Bar News Is Available. Top Stories Include the Court Calling for Fewer County Judges, Judicial Branch Funding Priorities, the CRC Discussing Retirement Age and Judicial Qualifications.

COURT SAYS 13 COUNTY JUDGES ARE NOT NEEDED
For the first time since courts were reorganized in 1972, the Florida Supreme Court has recommended a net reduction in the number of the state’s trial judges. The court reported that except for civil traffic cases, civil filings are up but criminal filings are down.

COURT SETS OUT FUNDING NEEDS
Florida courts are critically short of translators, state attorneys and public defenders are bleeding talent, and an avalanche of death penalty reviews is just over the horizon.

CRC DEBATES THE RETIREMENT AGE FOR JUDGES
Florida voters could raise the minimum requirements for becoming a judge, and the mandatory retirement age for judges and Supreme Court justices, under separate proposals gaining steam in the Constitution Revision Commission.

Read these and other stories featured in the Dec. 15 Bar News.