Case Title: In Re: Amendments To The Florida Rules Of Civil Procedure, The Florida Rules Of Criminal Procedure, The Standard Jury Instructions In Civil Cases, And The Standard Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases – Implementation Of Jury Innovations Committee Recommendation

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC05-1091

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2007-10-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
_____________ 
 
No. SC05-1091 
_____________ 
 
 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF CIVIL 
PROCEDURE, THE FLORIDA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 
THE STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL CASES, AND THE 
STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—
IMPLEMENTATION OF JURY INNOVATIONS COMMITTEE 
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
 
[October 4, 2007] 
 
WELLS, J. 
 
We have for consideration a number of proposed amendments to court rules 
and standard jury instructions.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
I.  BACKGROUND 
 
In November 1999, the Jury Innovations Committee (Committee) of this 
Court’s Judicial Management Council embarked on the most comprehensive 
review and thorough evaluation of Florida’s jury system in the history of this state.  
The Committee, appointed by then Chief Justice Major B. Harding, consisted of 
twenty-two members, who were broadly representative of the many groups 
interested in and affected by Florida’s civil and criminal jury system.  Members 
included judges from the district, circuit, and county courts, a state attorney, a 
public defender, a clerk of court, a trial court administrator, a jury coordinator, a 
professor of criminal justice, members of The Florida Bar, a former state senator, 
and four former jurors, one from a high-profile case.  This Committee identified 
and reviewed, among other things, the current use of juries, issues facing jury 
managers, accessibility issues, and proposals for jury improvement and innovations 
in other states. 
 
The Committee began its task with the challenge not to adhere to the status 
quo but instead to advocate reform and innovations.  After reviewing every aspect 
of our jury system, the Committee ultimately submitted a final report to this Court 
containing comprehensive recommendations for improving Florida’s jury system.  
After considering the Committee’s final report, the Court referred, either for 
implementation or for consideration and recommendation, a number of the Jury 
Innovations Committee’s recommendations to the Civil Procedure Rules 
Committee, the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, the Rules of Judicial 
Administration Committee, the Committee on Standard Jury Instructions—
Criminal (Criminal Jury Instructions Committee), the Committee on Standard Jury 
Instructions—Civil (Civil Jury Instructions Committee), and the Code and Rules of 
Evidence Committee.  In re Final Report of Jury Innovations Committee, Fla. 
Admin. Order No. AOSC03-041 (Oct.17, 2003).  The Court later referred one of 
 
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the Committee’s recommendations to the Criminal Court Steering Committee for 
implementation.  Specifically, the recommendations that were referred to one or 
more committees were as follows: 
Standardized Juror Questionnaires 
Pre-voir dire questionnaires are desirable and beneficial.  Model 
questionnaires should be developed for both civil and criminal cases, 
enabling lawyers to have a preview of jurors’ backgrounds.  In-court 
voir dire can then be limited to case-specific inquiries (subject to 
reasonable time limitations imposed by the court) and any follow-up 
questions necessary to clarify written answers. 
Questions by Jurors 
Jurors in both civil and criminal trials should be permitted to submit to 
the judge written questions to be asked of witnesses by the judge.  The 
judge has the discretion to determine which jury questions are to be 
asked of witnesses.  The Supreme Court should incorporate this right 
into the rules of civil and criminal procedure. 
 
Note-Taking by Jurors 
Jurors in both civil and criminal trials should be permitted to take 
notes and be advised they may do so.  This right should be 
incorporated into the rules of civil and criminal procedure.  Such rules 
would clarify that juror notes may be taken with them from the 
courtroom to the jury room.  These notes may be shared with other 
jurors, but must be destroyed after the verdict is delivered.  
Appropriate jury instructions must be given.  
 
 
Juror Notebooks 
Juror notebooks, which can serve a useful function (especially in civil 
cases) in lengthy and complex trials, should be specifically authorized 
by court rule. 
 
Juror Time Management 
 
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American Bar Association (ABA) Standard 13: Juror Use should be 
adopted as a rule of judicial administration.[1] 
Written Jury Instructions 
Copies of the written jury instructions should be given to jurors for 
their use during deliberations. 
Final Instructions Before Closing Arguments 
Judges should be encouraged to deliver their final instructions to the 
jury before closing arguments. 
 
 
Judicial Answers to Deliberating Jurors’ Questions 
Trial judges should be as responsive as possible and fully answer 
deliberating jurors’ questions, consistent with applicable case law.  
The trial judge, when possible, should not ask jurors to rely on their 
“collective memory” when the judge is faced with questions from a 
deliberating jury, but rather respond more directly to their inquiries. 
 
 
Read-Back of Testimony 
The Supreme Court should develop specific criteria for denying a 
read-back request.  Such criteria could include relevant factors, such 
as whether the requested testimony is too lengthy or too vague.  While 
the trial judge should have discretion in granting or denying the read-
back of testimony, such a read-back should not be denied unless the 
court finds that one of the criteria, such as excessive length or 
vagueness, is met. 
Juror Impasse 
Trial judges in criminal and civil cases should be allowed to assist 
deliberating juries in reaching a verdict where an Allen charge has 
been given and the jury continues to report that they are deadlocked.  
Jurors should know exactly what can occur if they cannot reach a 
verdict, that is, what a mistrial actually means. 
Post-Verdict Discussions 
Judges should advise jurors of their rights regarding post-verdict 
discussions at the conclusion of a trial.  This issue should become 
institutionalized through the judicial educational component of both 
                                          
 
 
1.  This recommendation refers to Standard 13 of the American Bar 
Association Standards Relating to Juror Use and Management (1993). 
 
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the New Judges College and the Advanced College for Judicial 
Education.  Experienced trial judges, acting as instructors at these 
respective colleges, can provide valuable insight and information to 
fellow judges regarding post-verdict discussions. 
 
The various committees have now submitted their reports in response to 
these recommendations, most of which propose various amendments to court rules 
or standard jury instructions.  The proposed amendments were published for 
comment, and a number of comments were received.  Some of the Jury 
Innovations Committee’s recommendations received adverse comments from 
various committees that submitted reports or those who commented on the 
proposed amendments. 
II.  AMENDMENTS 
 
Upon consideration of the reports submitted by the various committees, the 
comments filed in response to the publication of the proposed amendments, and the 
presentations of the parties during the two oral arguments heard in this case, we 
adopt the following amendments to court rules and authorize new and revised jury 
instructions in response to the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendations. 
A.  Standardized Juror Questionnaires 
As noted, the Jury Innovations Committee recommended the development of 
juror questionnaires for use in both civil and criminal cases.  The Florida Rules of 
Civil Procedure currently contain a standard juror questionnaire, form 1.984—
Juror Voir Dire Questionnaire.  We conclude that this form is adequate for use in 
 
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civil cases, and we adopt new Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.9855—Juror 
Voir Dire Questionnaire, as proposed by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, 
for use in criminal cases.  The use of these forms shall be at the discretion of the 
chief judge of each circuit court. 
B.  Questions by Jurors 
In response to the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation with 
regard to questions by jurors, we adopt new civil and criminal rules and authorize 
the publication and use of new civil and criminal jury instructions.  New Florida 
Rule of Civil Procedure 1.452 requires a court to permit jurors to submit written 
questions directed to witnesses or the court and provides the procedure for doing 
so.2  New Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.371 provides the trial court with 
discretion to permit juror questions during the trial under a similar procedure as set 
forth in the corresponding civil rule.  New standard civil instruction 1.13 and new 
standard criminal instruction 2.13 explain the procedure to the jury. 
C.  Juror Note-taking 
As noted, the Jury Innovations Committee recommended that jurors in both 
civil and criminal trials should be permitted to take notes and be advised they may 
do so.  To accomplish this purpose, we authorize the publication and use of revised 
standard civil instruction 1.8, as proposed by the Civil Jury Instructions 
                                          
 
 
2.  This is consistent with section 40.50(3), Florida Statutes (2006). 
 
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Committee.  We also authorize the publication and use of an identical criminal 
instruction, new standard criminal instruction 1.6.  The revised civil and new 
criminal instructions inform jurors that they may but are not required to take notes 
during the trial, give guidance on the use of notes, and advise the jurors that their 
notes will be destroyed once the trial is completed.  We also authorize a revision to 
standard civil instruction 7.2 regarding the use of notes during deliberations. 
 
Finally, as proposed by the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, we 
add new subdivision (l) to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.430—
Retention of Court Records.  This new subdivision requires the court, at the 
conclusion of the trial and promptly following discharge of the jury, to collect juror 
notes and immediately destroy them. 
D.  Juror Notebooks 
To implement the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation that juror 
notebooks be authorized by court rule, we adopt new Florida Rule of Civil 
Procedure 1.455—Juror Notebooks and an identical criminal rule, new Florida 
Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.372—Juror Notebooks.  We also amend civil rule 
1.200(b) to add the potential use of juror notebooks to the list of issues to be 
addressed at the pretrial conference. 
E.  Juror Time Management 
 
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The Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation with regard to juror 
time management recognizes research that shows juror satisfaction is directly 
linked to how efficiently juror time is managed.  In keeping with this recognition, 
we adopt new Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.256—Juror Time 
Management.  This new rule incorporates the provisions of the American Bar 
Association Standards Relating to Juror Use and Management and is meant to 
provide meaningful guidance to the courts on how to achieve the most efficient use 
of juror time. 
F.  Written Jury Instructions 
To implement the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation regarding 
written jury instructions, we amend Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.470(b) and 
Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.390(b) and 3.400 to require the court to 
provide the jury with a written set of instructions for use in deliberations. 
G.  Final Instructions Before Closing Arguments 
As noted, the Jury Innovations Committee recommended that judges be 
encouraged to give final instructions to the jury before closing arguments.  We 
agree that there are advantages to doing so and that this procedure should be 
encouraged.3  However, we conclude that the timing of instructions should 
ultimately be left to the discretion of the trial judge on a case-by-case basis.  
                                          
 
 
3.  Current standard civil instruction 1.1 encourages this procedure. 
 
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Accordingly, we amend Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.470(b) to allow a trial 
judge to orally instruct the jury either before or after closing arguments and 
provide appropriate instructions during the trial.  If instructions are given prior to 
final argument, the amended rule directs the trial judge to give final procedural 
instructions after final arguments and before deliberations.  A similar amendment 
is made to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.390(a).4 
H.  Judicial Answers to Deliberating Jurors’ Questions 
In response to the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation that 
judges be as responsive as possible to deliberating jurors’ questions, we authorize 
the publication and use of new standard civil instruction 7.3(a)—Answers to Juror 
Inquiries During Deliberations, as proposed by the Civil Jury Instructions 
Committee.  This new instruction provides a format for judges to follow in 
recognizing and answering or, where appropriate, not answering juror questions. 5  
We also authorize an identical criminal instruction, new standard criminal 
instruction 4.3. 
                                          
 
 
4.  On the subjects of written jury instructions and final instructions before 
closing arguments, we also authorize notes on the use of standard civil instructions 
2.1, 7.1, and 7.2, as proposed by the Civil Jury Instructions Committee. 
 
 
5.  We also authorize the Civil Jury Instructions Committee’s 
recommendation that the last paragraph of standard civil instruction 7.2 be revised 
to provide: “If any of you need to communicate with me for any reason, write me a 
note and give it to the bailiff.  In your note, do not disclose any vote or split or the 
reason for the communication.” 
 
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I.  Read Back of Testimony 
The Jury Innovations Committee recommended that the Court develop 
specific criteria for the denial of a juror request to read back portions of the trial 
testimony.  However, in its response to this recommendation, the Civil Procedure 
Rules Committee declined to propose a rule on this subject, correctly pointing out 
that current Florida case law gives trial judges broad discretion in deciding whether 
to read back testimony.  See, e.g., Francis v. State, 808 So. 2d 110, 130 (Fla. 2001) 
(finding no abuse of discretion where trial court told jury that reading back of 
testimony would take three hours and then left it up to the jury to decide); State v. 
Riechmann, 777 So. 2d 342 (Fla. 2000); Henry v. State, 649 So. 2d 1361, 1365 
(Fla. 1994); Miller v. State, 605 So. 2d 492, 495 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992) (finding no 
abuse of discretion where court reporter did not have her notes with her); DeCastro 
v. State, 360 So. 2d 474 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978) (finding no abuse of discretion where 
it was not practical because testimony was extensive and court reporter was 
physically exhausted).  We conclude that trial judges should continue to have 
broad discretion in denying read-back requests.  Accordingly, we decline to adopt 
any rule in this respect. 
 
We do, however, authorize the publication and use of new civil and criminal 
jury instructions addressing the read-back of testimony.  New standard civil 
instruction 7.3(b) provides a framework for acknowledging and either granting, 
 
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deferring, or denying a jury’s request for a read-back of testimony.  For use in 
criminal trials, we authorize an identical criminal instruction, new standard 
criminal instruction 4.4. 
J.  Juror Impasse 
Both the Civil Jury Instructions Committee and the Criminal Jury 
Instructions Committee opposed the Jury Innovations Committee’s 
recommendation with regard to a more active judicial role in overcoming a juror 
impasse.  We defer to the jury instructions committees’ expertise on this matter 
and decline to adopt any amendments to the current standard jury instructions. 
K.  Post-Verdict Discussions 
In response to the Jury Innovations Committee’s recommendation that 
judges advise jurors of their rights regarding post-verdict discussions at the 
conclusion of a trial, we agree with the recommendation of the Civil Jury 
Instructions Committee that current standard civil instruction 7.4—Instructions 
Upon Discharge of Jury is sufficient.  We authorize the publication and use of 
revised standard criminal instruction 4.2—Instruction Upon Discharge of Jury as 
proposed by the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee. 
CONCLUSION 
 
Accordingly, we hereby amend the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, the 
Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, and the Florida Rules of Criminal 
 
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Procedure, as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  New language is indicated 
by underlining, and deleted language is struck through.  The amendments shall 
become effective on January 1, 2008, at 12:01 a.m. 
 
We also authorize the publication and use of the new and revised civil and 
criminal jury instructions as set forth in the appendix to this opinion.  In so doing, 
we express no opinion on the correctness of the instructions and remind all 
interested parties that this authorization forecloses neither requesting additional or 
alternative instructions nor contesting the legal correctness of the instructions.  We 
further caution all interested parties that any notes and comments associated with 
the instructions reflect only the opinion of the Civil or Criminal Jury Instructions 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  New language is indicated by underlining, and deleted 
language is struck through.  Like the court rule amendments, the new and revised 
instructions shall become effective on January 1, 2008, at 12:01 a.m. 
 
Finally, we wish to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Jury 
Innovations Committee, particularly by its Chair, the Honorable Robert Shevin of 
the Third District Court of Appeal,6 in bringing to this Court its comprehensive 
recommendations for innovation and improvement of the jury system in Florida.  
                                          
 
 
6.  Unfortunately, Judge Shevin died before the work on this important 
report was completed by this Court.  We do recognize his extraordinary dedication 
and service. 
 
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We also wish to thank the Civil Procedure Rules Committee, the Criminal 
Procedure Rules Committee, the Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, the 
Civil Jury Instructions Committee, the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, the 
Criminal Court Steering Committee, and the Code and Rules of Evidence 
Committee for their thoughtful consideration, recommendations, and insight into 
the issues referred to them.  The fruits of the labor of all of those who have 
participated in this matter will be gleaned by the citizens of this state in the form of 
a more meaningful and satisfying jury experience, as well as a more efficient and 
more effective jury system overall. 
 
It is so ordered. 
LEWIS, C.J., and ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, and CANTERO, JJ., concur. 
QUINCE, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion. 
BELL, J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
QUINCE, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. 
 
 
While I agree with many of the changes suggested by the various 
committees and adopted by this Court, I cannot agree in the areas of juror 
questioning and juror note-taking.  I would not adopt the proposal to allow 
questions by the jury.  I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of the parties 
through their attorneys to present the evidence to the jury in the form of their 
questions and the physical and demonstrative evidence.  In addition, I would not 
 
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allow jurors to take notes except in cases where the trial exceeds three days.  The 
collective memory of the jurors should not become what one juror may have 
written down. 
 
BELL, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. 
 
I fully concur with all but one of the innovative changes adopted in the 
majority opinion.  As adopted, Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.452––Questions 
by Jurors mandates that in every civil jury trial the court must allow “jurors to 
submit to the court written questions directed to witnesses or to the court.”  I agree 
that jurors in civil cases generally should be permitted to submit such questions.  
However, I also agree with what the Civil Procedure Rules Committee 
characterized as its “strong recommendation” that, as in new Florida Rule of 
Criminal Procedure 3.371, this rule should be permissive rather than mandatory. 
 
 
Original Proceeding – Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, the 
Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, 
and the Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases 
 
Corinne Cotton Hodak, Chair, Jacksonville, Florida, and Keith H. Park, Past Chair, 
the Civil Procedure Rules Committee, West Palm Beach, Florida; H. Scott 
Fingerhut, Chair, Miami, Florida, and the Honorable Thomas H. Bateman, Past 
Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Second Judicial Circuit, Tallahassee, 
Florida; Scott D. Makar, Chair, Standard Jury Instructions Rules Committee in 
Civil Cases, Office of General Counsel, Jacksonville, Florida, and the Honorable 
Ralph Artigliere, Past Chair, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Florida; the 
Honorable O. H. Eaton, Jr., Chair, Criminal Court Steering Committee, Eighteenth 
Judicial Circuit, Sanford, Florida; the Honorable Terry David Terrell, Chair, 
 
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Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, First Judicial Circuit, Pensacola, 
Florida, and Bill Cervone, Past Chair, Office of State Attorney, Eighth Judicial 
Circuit, Gainesville, Florida; the Honorable Robert T. Benton, II, Chair, Rules of 
Judicial Administration Committee, First District Court of Appeal, Tallahassee, 
Florida, and Katherine E. Giddings of Akerman Senterfitt, Tallahassee, Florida; 
 
 
for Petitioners 
 
Michael Ufferman, P.A. and Paula S. Saunders, Office of Public Defender, 
Tallahssee, Florida, on behalf of Florida Association of Criminal Defense 
Lawyers; Bill Wagner, Tampa, Florida; Bill Wagner, Tampa, Florida; the 
Honorable Kathleen F. Dekker, Second Judicial Circuit, Tallahassee, Florida; the 
Honorable Nancy A. Daniels, Office of Public Defender, Tallahassee, Florida on 
behalf of the Florida Public Defender Association; Daniel S. Ciener, Merritt Island, 
Florida; the Honorable David A. Glant, Eighth Judicial Circuit, Gainesville, 
Florida; Brian L. Tannebaum and Milton Hirsch, Miami, Florida, on behalf of 
Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers – Miami Chapter; the Honorable 
Dale Ross, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Arthur I. Jacobs 
of Jacobs and Associations, P.A., Fernandina Beach, Florida, on behalf of the 
Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association; John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive 
Director, the Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida and George Euripedes Tragos, Past 
Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Clearwater, Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
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APPENDIX 
FLORIDA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 
 
RULE 1.200.  PRETRIAL PROCEDURE 
 
 
(a) [No change] 
 
 
(b) Pretrial Conference.  After the action is at issue the court itself may or 
shall on the timely motion of any party require the parties to appear for a 
conference to consider and determine: 
 
(1) the simplification of the issues; 
 
(2) the necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings; 
 
(3) the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents 
that will avoid unnecessary proof; 
 
(4) the limitation of the number of expert witnesses; and 
 
(5) the potential use of juror notebooks; and 
 
(6) any matters permitted under subdivision (a) of this rule. 
 
(c)-(d) [No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
 
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RULE 1.452.  QUESTIONS BY JURORS 
 
 
(a) Questions Permitted.  The court shall permit jurors to submit to the 
court written questions directed to witnesses or to the court.  Such questions will be 
submitted after all counsel have concluded their questioning of a witness. 
 
 
(b) Procedure.  Any juror who has a question directed to the witness or the 
court shall prepare an unsigned, written question and give the question to the 
bailiff, who will give the question to the judge. 
 
 
(c) Objections.  Out of the presence of the jury, the judge will read the 
question to all counsel, allow counsel to see the written question, and give counsel 
an opportunity to object to the question. 
 
RULE 1.455.  JUROR NOTEBOOKS 
 
 
In its discretion, the court may authorize documents and exhibits to be 
included in notebooks for use by the jurors during trial to aid them in performing 
their duties. 
 
RULE 1.470.  EXCEPTIONS UNNECESSARY; JURY INSTRUCTIONS 
 
 
(a) [No change] 
 
 
(b) Instructions to Jury.  Not later than at the close of the evidence, the 
parties shall file written requests that the court chargeinstruct the jury on the law 
set forth in such requests.  The court shall then require counsel to appear before it 
to settle the chargesinstructions to be given.  At such conference, all objections 
shall be made and ruled upon and the court shall inform counsel of such charges 
instructions as it will give.  No party may assign as error the giving of any charge 
instruction unless that party objects thereto at such time, or the failure to give any 
chargeinstruction unless that party requested the same.  The court shall orally 
charge instruct the jury before or after the arguments are completed and, when 
practicable, shall furnish a copy of its charges to the juryof counsel and may 
provide appropriate instructions during the trial.  If the instructions are given prior 
to final argument, the presiding judge shall give the jury final procedural 
instructions after final arguments are concluded and prior to deliberations.  The 
court shall provide each juror with a written set of the instructions for his or her 
use in deliberations.  The court shall file a copy of such instructions. 
 
 
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(c) [No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1988 Amendment.  The word “general” in the third sentence of subdivision 
(b) was deleted to require the court to specifically inform counsel of the 
changescharges it intends to give.  The last sentence of that subdivision was 
amended to encourage judges to furnish written copies of their charges to juries. 
 
 
 
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FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION 
 
RULE 2.256.  JUROR TIME MANAGEMENT 
 
 
(a) Optimum Use.  The services of prospective jurors should be employed 
so as to achieve optimum use with a minimum of inconvenience to jurors. 
 
 
(b) Minimum Number.  A minimally sufficient number of jurors needed to 
accommodate trial activity should be determined.  This information and 
appropriate management techniques should be used to adjust both the number of 
individuals summoned for jury duty and the number assigned to jury panels, 
consistent with any administrative orders issued by the Chief Justice. 
 
 
(c) Courtroom Assignment.  Each prospective juror who has reported to 
the courthouse should be assigned a courtroom for voir dire before any prospective 
juror is assigned a second time. 
 
 
(d) Calendar Coordination.  Jury management and calendar management 
should be coordinated to make effective use of jurors. 
 
RULE 2.430.  RETENTION OF COURT RECORDS 
 
 
 
(a)-(k) [No change] 
 
 
(l) Destruction of Jury Notes.  At the conclusion of the trial and promptly 
following discharge of the jury, the court shall collect all juror notes and 
immediately destroy the juror notes. 
 
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FLORIDA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 
 
RULE 3.371.  JUROR QUESTIONS OF WITNESSES 
 
 
 
(a) Judicial Discretion.  At the discretion of the presiding trial judge, jurors 
may be allowed to submit questions of witnesses during the trial. 
 
 
 
(b) Procedure.  The trial judge shall utilize the following procedure if a 
juror indicates that the juror wishes to ask a question: 
 
 
(1) the questions must be submitted in writing; 
 
 
(2) the trial judge shall review the question outside the presence of the jury; 
 
 
(3) counsel shall have an opportunity to object to the question outside the 
presence of the jury; 
 
 
(4) counsel shall be allowed to ask follow up questions; and 
 
 
(5) the jury must be advised that if a question submitted by a juror is not 
allowed for any reason, the juror must not discuss it with the other jurors and must 
not hold it against either party. 
 
RULE 3.372.  JUROR NOTEBOOKS 
 
 
 
In its discretion, the court may authorize documents and exhibits to be 
included in notebooks for use by the jurors during trial to aid them in performing 
their duties. 
 
RULE 3.390.  JURY INSTRUCTIONS 
 
 
(a) Subject of Instructions.  The presiding judge shall charge instruct the 
jury only on the law of the case at the conclusion of before or after the argument of 
counsel and may provide appropriate instructions during the trial.  If the 
instructions are given prior to final argument, the presiding judge shall give the 
jury final procedural instructions after final arguments are concluded and prior to 
deliberations.  Except in capital cases, the judge shall not instruct the jury on the 
sentence that may be imposed for the offense for which the accused is on trial. 
 
 
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(b) Form of Instructions.  EveryThe charge instruction to a jury shall be 
orally delivered, and charges in capital cases shall, and in the discretion of the 
court in noncapital cases may, also be in writing.  All written charges instructions 
shall also be filed in the cause.  Charges in other than capital cases shall be taken 
by the court reporter and, if the jury returns a verdict of guilty, transcribed by the 
court reporter and filed in the cause. 
 
 
(c)-(e) [No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
RULE 3.400.  MATERIALS TO THE JURY ROOM 
 
 
(a) Discretionary Materials.  The court may permit the jury, upon retiring 
for deliberation, to take to the jury room: 
 
 
 
(1) a copy of the charges against the defendant; 
 
 
 
(2) forms of verdict approved by the court, after being first submitted  to 
counsel; 
 
 
(3) in noncapital cases, any instructions given, but if any instruction is taken 
all the instructions shall be taken; 
 
 
 
(4) all things received in evidence other than depositions.  If the thing 
received in evidence is a public record or a private document which, in the opinion 
of the court, ought not to be taken from the person having it in custody, a copy 
shall be taken or sent instead of the original. 
 
 
(b) Mandatory Materials. In capital cases, tThe court must provide the 
jury, upon retiring for deliberation, with a written copy of allthe instructions given 
to take to the jury room. 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
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RULE 3.9855.  JUROR VOIR DIRE QUESTIONNAIRE 
 
JUROR VOIR DIRE QUESTIONNAIRE 
 
1. 
Name and date of birth __________________________________________ 
 
2. 
What city, town or area of the county do you live in? __________________  
 
Zip code _________ 
 
3. 
Years of residence: 
In Florida _________ 
 
 
 
 
 
In this county_________ 
 
4. 
Former residence _______________________________________________ 
 
5. 
Marital status (married, single, divorced, widow, or widower) ___________ 
 
6. 
Your occupation and employer ___________________________________ 
__________________________________________________________________ 
 
7. 
If you are not now employed, give your last occupation and employer 
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ 
 
8. 
If married, name and occupation of spouse 
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ 
 
9. 
Have you ever served as a juror before?  yes _____ no ____ 
 
If yes, civil ____  criminal ____ 
 
Did the jury reach a verdict?  yes _____ no _____ 
 
Were you the foreperson?  yes _____ no _____ 
 
10. 
If you have children, give the age, sex and occupation of those children 
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ 
 
11. 
Are you either a close friend or relative of any law enforcement 
officer?_______  
 
 
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12. 
Have you, a close friend, or family member been the victim of a 
crime?________  
 
13. 
Have you, a close friend, or family member been arrested or accused of a 
crime?________ 
 
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FLORIDA STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL CASES 
 
1.8 
 
NOTE-TAKING BY JURORS 
 
 
a.  Note-taking permitted 
 
If you would like to take notes during the trial, you may do so.  On the other 
hand, of course, you are not required to take notes if you do not want to.  That will 
be left up to you individually. 
 
You will be provided with a note pad and a pen for use if you wish to take 
notes.  Any notes that you take will be for your personal use.  However, you should 
not take them with you from the courtroom.  During recesses, the bailiff will take 
possession of your notes and will return them to you when we reconvene.  After 
you have completed your deliberations, the bailiff will deliver your notes to me.  
They will be destroyed.  No one will ever read your notes. 
 
If you take notes, do not get so involved in note-taking that you become 
distracted from the proceedings.  Your notes should be used only as aids to your 
memory. 
 
Whether or not you take notes, you should rely on your memory of the 
evidence and you should not be unduly influenced by the notes of other jurors.  
Notes are not entitled to any greater weight than each juror’s memory of the 
evidence.