Florida court clerks advocate for action on jury management amid budget challenges
Tiffany Moore Russell, president of the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers and Orange County Clerk of the Circuit Court, recently gave the State of the Clerk and Comptroller address in Tallahassee saying a five-year analysis of criminal, traffic, and civil cases since 2021 shows an upward trend that is projected to continue.
In a state where the volume of jury trials is climbing while funding remains stagnant, the need for comprehensive jury management has never been more pressing, said Tiffany Moore Russell, president of the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers and Orange County Clerk of the Circuit Court, during her keynote at the inaugural State of the Clerk and Comptroller address.
Russell said the best outcome during this legislative session “would be securing the funding necessary to meet the increasing demand for jurors.”
Russell’s call for action set the tone for the event, which was held in Tallahassee March 11 and kicked off Clerk’s Day at the Capitol.
House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison of Clay County welcomed attendees at the event’s opening, sharing that he had recently met with House Speaker Daniel Perez. During their discussion, they noted that “this is going to be, probably, a budget-heavy session in both chambers…so the emphasis is going to be a little bit lighter on policy.”
Garrison also highlighted that, despite the challenges ahead, “the fiscal health of the state has never been better.”
A five-year analysis of criminal, traffic, and civil cases shows an upward trend since 2021 that is projected to continue, according to Russell.
Staff retention also remains a major challenge, Jason Welty, head of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, recently told a House panel.
Russell said other clerk priorities for this session include securing funding for Baker and Marchman act case expenses, as there are no filing fees to support those services, and a joint request by the clerks, supervisors of elections, and property appraisers for a salary increase to match the raise state tax collectors received during the last session.
“We have a situation where it’s disjointed between constitutional officers, and our theory is we should all be the same,” said Russell.
Russell provided an overview of the duties of the clerks and comptrollers, saying they “operate at the intersection of justice and financial stewardship.” She highlighted the many duties of clerks and comptrollers within the justice system, their accomplishments, and challenges.
As an example, she pointed to the Comprehensive Case Information System which is used by law enforcement, judges, and state agencies. Clerks’ offices enter the data into the system while continually updating cybersecurity measures for it.
Statewide Property Alert Services was cited as an example of clerks’ “commitment to the modernization of local government” as the most recent tool offered by the clerks to assist the public by offering alerts to help prevent property fraud. She also touted the upcoming Operation Green Light which helps drivers with suspended licenses get reinstatements at reduced or waived fees.
Russell said, of the $852.9 million the clerks collected in FY 2023-2024, they retain 54.9%.
The Bar’s Criminal Law Section, in its latest report to the Board of Governors, noted its support for the FCCC’s Fund the Whole Courtroom campaign to educate legislators and the public on the need for comprehensive funding across the courts “to ensure a fully functional, efficient, and just judicial system for all Floridians.”
