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52 Fla. B. News 1 (2025)

handle is hein.barjournals/flabn0052 and id is 1 raw text is: FSCHS' Supreme Evening 2025 set forJanuiary16 -Page 4 O I since 194 The Florida Bar s Volume 52, Number 1 FloridaBar.org/News January 2025 Michael Fox Orr in line to lead The Florida Bar 'I will continue the Bar's efforts to increase access to courts by pursuing more resources and maintain our focus on protection of the public through lawyer regulation' By Jim Ash Senior Editor Michael Fox Orr, a board-certified civil trial lawyer from Jacksonville, is the newest Florida Bar president-elect designate. A shareholder with Orr Cook, and a veteran member of the Board of Governors, Orr was elected without opposition when the qualifying period ended December 16. I am humbled by this opportunity to lead more than 113,000 Florida Bar members, he said. This honor would not have been realized without the tremendous support of my friends and colleagues throughout Florida. Praising the Bar's rich history of professionalism and service to the public, Orr said he's eager to tackle the Bar members may now opt out of receiving the hard copy of the News The Florida Bar is now offering its members the option T _ to opt out of receiving the . nda printed version of The Florida - Bar News. This initiative, which aims to save significant resources, is in line with ongoing efforts to modernize the Bar's communications and respond to changing / member preferences for i digital content. I, Membersmaynoweasily 9 opt out of receiving the physical newspaper by sending an email to OptOutNews@floridabar.org Soon, a more streamlined process will be available directly through the member portal, allowing members to manage See News, page 11 challenges that lie ahead. I believe the best and brightest are among our membership and that, with hard work, we can solve those challenges together. Orr will succeed President-elect Rosalyn Sia Baker- Barnes, a West Palm Beach civil trial lawyer, when she succeeds President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr., at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in June. Orr will become president in June 2026. Orr said he plans to focus on the Bar's core mission, and among other things, will continue Sanchez-Medina's initiative to increase Bar involvement. See Orr, page 9 Supreme Court calls for 50 new judges Justices certify the need for 23 new circuit, 25 new county, and two new Sixth DCA judges By Mark D. Killian Editor The Florida Supreme Court has certified the need for 23 additional circuit court judgeships and 25 more for the county courts in its annual certification opinion. Acting December 12 in Case No. SC2024-1721, the justices also identified the need for two additional district courtjudgeships on the recently created Sixth District Court of Appeal. The ask for 50 new judgeships comes on the heels of the Legislature creating nine new judicial positions last session. While certifying no need to decrease the number of circuit, county, or DCA judgeships, the court acknowledges excess judicial capacity in the Second DCA and recommends the Legislature address that over time by reducing the number of statutorily authorized judgeships based on attrition, without requiring a judge to vacate his or her position involuntarily. Using a quantitative and qualitative judicial workload assessment involving the participation of more than 900 trial courtjudgesrepresenting all20judicialcircuits,the courtcertified the need for 23 new circuit court judges, distributed as follows: • One additional circuit court judge each for the First, Fourth, Ninth, 12th, 14th, 18th, and 19th circuits; • Two additional circuit court judges each for the Seventh, 10th, and 15th circuits; • Three additional circuit court judges for the Fifth Circuit; and • Seven additional circuit court judges in the 20th Circuit. The court also certified the need for 25 new county court judges, as follows: • One additional county court judge each for Walton, Clay, Nassau, Hernando, Lake, Marion, Sumter, Orange, Osceola, Polk, See Judges, page 8 Judges and lawyers brace for civil justice changes 'I think it's one of the biggest changes I've seen in my 43 years practicing civil law, and the lawyers need to adjust, they need to get on board' By Jim Ash Senior Editor Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jack Tuter has spent the past several months leading seminars, meeting with the local trial lawyers, and working with colleagues TUTER to develop proposed orders. New rules that frame the Supreme Court's civil justice reforms take effect January 1, and Tuter expects a sea change. I think it's one of the biggest changes I've seen in my 43 years practicing civil law, and the lawyers need to adjust, they need to get on board, Tuter said. During oral arguments in November, 13th Judicial Circuit Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe asked justices to delay implementation to devote more time to judicial training. Justices declined. Tuter said he has been working withthe 17judges in his circuit's civil division to make sure they are prepared. Just how prepared Florida's civil trial lawyers are remains to be seen. Veteran Jacksonville civil trial lawyer Thomas Bishop, of Bishop Page & Mills, isn't sure. There's a lot of lawyers who unfortunately are ignoring this, he said. They are not involved in following these changes, they may have heard whispers and written it off as panic at the front. But their view is, 'oh, it's just another rule change.'' The reforms involve multiple rule changes. Theygrew outofsweeping Judicial Management Council workgroup proposals in 2021 that called for amending the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and multiple other rule sets to promote See Changes, page 5 There is still time to apply to sit on a Bar committee The annual Committee Preference Form for Florida Bar members seeking appointment to committees for the 2025-26 Bar year are available in the MyFloridaBar Member Portal at member.floridabar.org. The form must be submitted by January 15. President-elect Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes will make appointments to over 70 standing BAKER-BARNES committees. Each committee's function and current membership are listed on The Florida Bar's website. I am excited about the opportunity to work with our incredible members across the state. Our members are the heart of our organization, and our committees are a great way for members to get involved and make a difference, said Baker-Barnes. Be sure to submit a preference form to share your valuable time and expertise on a standing See Forms, page 8 0 <9 'o (U <u-J o tcau M 'I- CL 0 L. w -J o o 0 N a) m LL ~) E F-- > M FloridaBar.org/News i