In today’s meeting of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Court Rules Committee, I learned an aggressive schedule has been proposed for the implementation of electronic filing in Florida courts. The schedule includes target dates for “voluntary” electronic filing and “mandatory” electronic filing. NOTE: The schedule is a proposal only at this point. Still, lawyers need to begin preparing their offices for electronic filing and the receipt of documents via electronic service. The proposed schedule is as follows:
July 1, 2012: Voluntary e-filing available in all civil divisions (except juvenile) in all counties and appellate courts
October 1, 2012: Mandatory e-filing in all Florida appellate courts
January 1, 2013: Voluntary e-filing available in criminal and juvenile matters in all counties
April 1, 2013: Mandatory e-filing in all civil divisions (except juvenile) in all counties
October 1, 2013: Mandatory e-filing in criminal and juvenile matters in all counties
In related news, a separate rule authorizing or requiring service of documents (whether filed or not) is pending.
