On January 26, 2021, Chief Justice Charles Canady spoke to the Florida House Judiciary Committee, providing lawmakers with an update about the judicial branch’s response to COVID-19 and preparations to address pandemic-related caseload.

Judiciary Committee Chair Daniel Perez welcomed Canady and Clay County Clerk Tara Green, who serves as president of the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers to Tuesday’s first meeting of the committee in this legislative term.

“It does sound like Florida courts have done an amazing job with managing all of this,” said Representative Fentrice Driskell as she asked Canady about how other states have responded to the public health emergency.

Chief Justice Canady told members of the committee technological and procedural changes have seen judges adopt sweeping changes in the way they do their jobs since March 2020. The work of the courts has continued even as most in-person court events were curtailed.

“Largely through remote proceedings, trial courts in Florida are on track to dispose of a projected 2.8 million cases in Fiscal Year 2020-21,” Canady said.

The chief justice told members he took emergency actions to protect the health and safety of litigants and others. He said courts have a particular responsibility to do so.

“The judicial branch is different than private businesses or even other branches of government because people must come to our courthouses when they are summoned.  You might say we offer people invitations they cannot refuse,” Canady said.

As the nature of the pandemic has evolved in the last 11 months, courts in different parts of the state have responded to those changing circumstances. Many jurisdictions resumed jury trials in 2020 and subsequently suspended them again as infection rates and other health measures deteriorated in some areas. While work did continue, much of it remotely, Canady told lawmakers there were significant effects on the work of the courts.

While projections are regularly updated, a current analysis of filings and dispositions, along with expected future filings, Canady said it is anticipated there will be 1.1 million more cases pending on July 1, 2021, than there would be save for the pandemic and its impact on court work.

“From the beginning of the pandemic we have recognized the need to prepare for its aftermath.  We have tracked case filings and dispositions and projected what is to come. We’re all looking forward to the day when we can say we’ve got the pandemic in the rear-view mirror,” Canady said.

A pandemic recovery plan is in place, based on recommendations of the Court Continuity Workgroup Canady named to guide his actions.

Florida’s chief justice said there are some good outcomes amid all the disruption caused by the coronavirus.

“There are positive outcomes to report. Our response to the pandemic will forever change the way Florida’s courts operate.  Our new ways of doing things have been welcomed by attorneys and are very popular with many of those who come to the courts. Remote proceedings are here to stay,” Canady said.

Representative Michael Grieco, an attorney from Miami Beach, asked the chief justice how he anticipated remote hearings to be implemented the future. “This is coming from somebody who loves remote hearings right now,” Grieco said.

“We can reduce the cost to litigants, we can reduce the burden on litigants,” Canady said. “For instance, in county court, we have litigants who previously might have had to take a half a day off of work, or even a day, to go to court, and now they can participate through a remote proceeding they avoid the loss of income they otherwise would have suffered. … Where we can do it remotely and reduce the burden on lawyers and litigants by the use of remote technology, I believe we’ll be committed to doing that.”

Chair Perez thanked the chief justice for his presentation.

“We appreciate your insight and all the work you’re doing for the state of Florida from the bench,” Chair Perez said.

The Judiciary Committee’s meeting is available to stream on The Florida Channel’s website.