Case Title: In Re: Amendments To Florida Rules For Certified And Court-Appointed Mediators

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC10-1013

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2011-05-19T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC10-1013 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULES FOR CERTIFIED AND 
COURT-APPOINTED MEDIATORS. 
 
[May 19, 2011] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and 
Policy (Committee) filed a petition asking the Court to adopt amendments to rules 
10.130 and 10.830.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; § 44.106, 
Fla. Stat. (2010). 
 
Upon consideration of the Committee’s petition, we amend rules 10.130 and 
10.830 as proposed.  First, we amend rule 10.130(a) (Notification of Conviction; 
Definition) to expand the definition of the term “conviction” to include second-
degree misdemeanors involving dishonesty or false statement.  Next, we amend 
rule 10.830 (Sanctions) to provide separate requirements for reinstatement after 
suspension and reinstatement after decertification under the rule.  
 
Accordingly, Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators 
 
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10.130 and 10.830 are hereby amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  
New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-
through type.  These amendments shall become effective immediately upon the 
release of this opinion. 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
 
Original Proceedings – Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators 
 
Judge William D. Palmer, Chair, Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution 
Rules, Fifth District Court of Appeal, Daytona Beach, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
Rule 10.130 .  Notification of Conviction 
 
(a) 
Definition.  “Conviction” means a determination of guilt resulting 
fromwhich is the result of a trial, or entry of  a plea to a felony or misdemeanor of 
the first degreeof guilty or no contest, regardless of whether adjudication of 
guiltwas withheld or whether imposition of sentence was suspended, deferred, or 
withheld, and applies in relation to any of the following: All Florida, federal, out-
of-state, military, and foreign convictions as an adult or violations of county 
ordinances that bring within the municipal or county code the violation of a state 
statute or statutes shall qualify as convictions.  
 
(1) a felony, misdemeanor of the first degree, or misdemeanor of the second 
degree involving dishonesty or false statement; 
 
(2) a conviction of a similar offense described in subdivision (1) that includes a 
conviction by a federal, military, or tribal tribunal, including courts-martial 
conducted by the Armed Forces of the United States; 
 
(3) a conviction of a similar offense described in subdivision (1) that includes a 
conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or no contest resulting in a sanction in any 
jurisdiction of the United States or any foreign jurisdiction.  A sanction includes, 
but is not limited to, a fine, incarceration in a state prison, federal prison, private 
correctional facility, or local detention facility; or   
 
(4) a conviction of a similar offense described in subdivision (1) of a municipal 
or county ordinance in this or any other state. 
 
(b) 
 - (d) [No Change] 
 
 
Rule 10.830.  Sanctions 
 
(a) – (g) [No Change] 
 
(h)  Reinstatement after Suspension.  Except if inconsistent with rule 10.110, 
a mediator who has been suspended shall be reinstated as a certified mediator upon 
the expiration of the imposed or accepted suspension period and satisfaction of any 
 
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additional renewal obligations.    
 
(hi)  Reinstatement after Decertification.  Except if inconsistent with rule 
10.110, a mediator who has been suspended or decertified may be reinstated as a 
certified mediator.  Except as otherwise provided in the decision of the panel, no 
application for reinstatement may be tendered within 2 years after the date of 
decertification.  The reinstatement procedures shall be as follows: 
 
(1)  [No Change] 
 
(2)  The petition for reinstatement shall contain: 
 
(A) the name, age, residence, and address of the petitioner; 
 
(B) the offense or misconduct upon which the suspension or decertification 
was based, together with the date of such suspension or decertification; and 
 
(C) a concise statement of facts claimed to justify reinstatement as a 
certified mediator. 
 
(3)  [No Change]  
 
(4)  The panel shall review the petition and, if the petitioner is found to be unfit 
to mediate, the petition shall be dismissed.  If the petitioner is found fit to mediate, 
the panel shall notify the center and the center shall reinstate the petitioner as a 
certified mediator; provided, however, if the decertification has continued for more 
than 3 years, the reinstatement may be conditioned upon the completion of a 
certified training course as provided for in these rulescontingent on the petitioner’s 
completion of a certified mediation training program of the type for which the 
petitioner seeks to be reinstated.  Successive petitions for reinstatement based upon 
the same grounds may be reviewed without a hearing.