Florida's rapid growth calls for more courts, not fewer | Opinion
The Palm Beach Post recently reported that the Florida Supreme Court did not find a need to "consolidate” judicial circuits after Florida House Speaker Paul Renner “raised the idea of consolidation” since Florida’s population has dramatically increased, and that “the boundaries of Florida’s Judicial Circuits have been unchanged for decades.”
Mr. Renner claims that some consolidation may lead to “greater efficiencies” and “uniformity” in the “judicial process” leading to “improved economies of scale” and the saving of money for taxpayers.
After a thorough review by a “blue ribbon” Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee, headed by our own 4th District Court of Appeal Judge Jonathan Gerber as chair and including our Chief Judge Glenn Kelley of the 15th Judicial Circuit, that committee voted unanimously to recommend against such consolidation. This after taking months of feedback from state attorneys, public defenders, judges, sheriffs, elected officials, lawyers, and members of the public.
The Civics Project: Can the courts overrule Congress?
What seems clear, however, is that Mr. Renner either missed the point or, from a cynic’s point of view, was attempting to diminish access to the courts, especially for lower income folks and rural residents by making it more costly for them to attend among other things. By characterizing his request as “consolidation” – yes or no – he is avoiding the commonsense answer that what we need to respond to the population explosion is more judicial circuits to make it more convenient for people to attend court functions.
Frankly, there is more true democracy that takes place in the courthouses on a daily basis than takes place in the Legislature, as juries and judges are not beholden to nor controlled by lobbyists and corporate campaign contributors. We need more of the third branch of government, not less.
Richard D. Schuler is a board certified civil trial lawyer in West Palm Beach. He has held several legal leadership roles, including past president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida needs more courts and judicial circuits, not less
