Fourth Rule Change in a Month: New Judicial Administration Rule 2.514 Governs Computation of Time

Today, the Florida Supreme Court adopted Rule of Judicial Administration 2.514 governing computation of time in all state court proceedings. The computation itself remains essentially the same as it had been under current rules 1.090 and 9.420, but clarifies that the 5 days additional time for mailing also applies to service by email. Oddly, though, this new rule 2.514 goes into effect October 1, 2012, one month AFTER the new email service rule goes into effect.

This is the fourth rule change adopted by the Court over the last month, the prior changes being:

• service by email (effective September 1, 2012);
• electronic filing (October 1 in appellate courts; April 1, 2013 in civil); and
• electronic discovery (September 1, 2012)).

One More Vote for Two Spaces

In Whatch Gonna Do--One Space or Two, Wayne Schiess agrees that the better practice is one space. I think the choice is even clearer than he does. What do you think?

E-service, E-filing, and Now E-discovery--Another Florida Rule Change

In addition to its recent opinion requiring service by email (effective September 1, 2012), the Supreme Court of Florida recently issued two more opinions changing the rules of civil procedure in significant ways.

First, the Court amended the rules to require electronic filing. This rule will take effect on October 1, 2012 in state appellate courts; and on April 1, 2013 in civil, probate, small claims, and family law divisions of the trial courts, as well as appeals to the circuit courts in those cases. The effective date for criminal and traffic cases will be October 1, 2013.

Second, the Court amended the rules to address electronic discovery. This rule will take effect on September 1, 2012.