Case Title: In Re: Amendments to Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC15-176

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2015-06-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC15-176 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT 
RELATING TO ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR. 
 
[June 4, 2015] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of an amendment to Rule of 
the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar 1-21 (Membership) proposed 
by The Florida Board of Bar Examiners (Board).  See Fla. Bar Admiss. R. 1-12.1  
After considering the Board’s proposal, rather than amending rule 1-21 as 
proposed, we adopt new rule 1-21.1 (Additional Members).   
 
Rule 1-21 currently provides that the “Florida Board of Bar Examiners 
consists of 12 members of The Florida Bar and 3 public members who are not 
lawyers.”  The Board asks the Court to amend rule 1-21 to allow the Board to 
petition the Court for additional members to serve on the Board, as necessitated by 
                                          
 
 
1. We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. 
 
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the Board’s fluctuating workload.  According to the Board, having the option to 
request additional members will allow the Board to process applicant files in the 
most efficient manner possible.  The Board recognizes that its workload may vary 
as the number of applicants fluctuates.  Therefore, the proposed amendment to rule 
1-21 is intended to allow the size of the Board to expand when necessary, while 
allowing for a reduction to standard membership when the additional members’ 
terms end, if no replacement for the additional members proves necessary.  In the 
petition seeking to amend the rule, the Board also asks the Court to appoint two 
additional attorney members and one additional public member.2   
 
The Board’s general proposal to allow for additional Board members is well 
justified.  However, the Board’s proposed rule amendment fails to include 
procedures for requesting additional members and for appointing specific public or 
attorney members once the Court approves adding members.  The proposed rule 
amendment also fails to clarify the duration of the terms of the additional 
members.  Therefore, rather than amending rule 1-21 as proposed, we adopt new 
rule 1-21.1 (Additional Members) to provide the necessary procedures, as follows: 
 
1-21.1 Additional Members.  The board may submit to the 
court a request for additional members to serve, as necessary. The 
request and appointee recommendations must be submitted in the 
                                          
 
 
2.  Although the Board’s request for appointment of additional members 
suggests terms of service for the additional members, it fails to include specific 
appointee recommendations.   
 
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same manner as appointee recommendations under rules 1-22.2 and 1-
23.2. The term of service of a member appointed under this rule will 
be as provided in rules 1-22.3 and 1-23.3 or as otherwise approved by 
the court.  
We also decline to address the Board’s request for appointment of additional 
members in this rules case.  
Accordingly, we amend the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to 
Admissions to the Bar as set forth in the appendix to this opinion.  New language is 
indicated by underscoring.  The amendment shall become effective immediately 
upon the release of this opinion.  The Board may submit its request for additional 
members and appointee recommendations to the Court in accordance with new rule 
1-21.1. 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Rules of the Supreme Court of Florida Relating to 
Admissions to the Florida Bar  
 
Daryl M. Manning, Chair, Michele A. Gavagni, Executive Director, and Robert G. 
Blythe, General Counsel, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
 
 
1-20 Florida Board of Bar Examiners. 
1-21 Membership. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners consists of 
12 members of The Florida Bar and 3 public members who are not lawyers.   
1-21.1 Additional Members.  The board may submit to the court a 
request for additional members to serve, as necessary. The request and 
appointee recommendations must be submitted in the same manner as 
appointee recommendations under rules 1-22.2 and 1-23.2. The term of 
service of a member appointed under this rule will be as provided in rules 1-
22.3 and 1-23.3 or as otherwise approved by the court.