Title: In Re: Amendments To Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC09-2395 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL 
PROCEDURE 3.853. 
 
[September 2, 2010] 
 
LABARGA, J. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed amendments to 
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.853 (Motion for Postconviction DNA 
Testing).  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
The Florida Bar’s Criminal Procedure Rules Committee (Committee) filed 
an out-of-cycle report on December 21, 2009, proposing amendments to rule 
3.853(c)(7), pertaining to the circumstances upon which a trial court may order 
DNA testing by a laboratory other than one operated by the Florida Department of 
Law Enforcement or its designee.  The Committee’s proposal, published by the 
Court in the February 10, 2010, edition of The Florida Bar News, did not prompt 
the filing of any comments. 
 
The Committee explains that subdivision (c)(7) of rule 3.853 inaccurately 
identifies the accrediting organizations that certify private DNA testing 
 
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laboratories.  Without certification from one of the accrediting bodies named in the 
rule, however, a laboratory is ineligible to perform DNA testing as an alternative to 
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or its designee.  The Committee’s 
proposal, accordingly, names the correct organizations in substitution for the 
named accrediting bodies either misidentified or no longer responsible for private 
laboratory accreditation. 
Upon consideration of the Committee’s report, we hereby adopt the 
proposed amendments to rule 3.853(c)(7), as reflected in the appendix to this 
opinion.   New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by 
struck-through type.  The amendments shall become effective immediately upon 
release of this opinion.   
 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, and PERRY, JJ., 
concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceedings – Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 
 
Robert T. Strain, Chair, Florida Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Tampa, 
Florida, John F. Harkness, Executive Director, and Krys Godwin, Staff Liaison, 
The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
RULE 3.853.  MOTION FOR POSTCONVICTION DNA TESTING 
  
(a) - (b)  [No change] 
 
(c)  Procedure 
 
 
(1) - (6)  [No change] 
 
(7)  The court-ordered DNA testing shall be ordered to be conducted 
by the Department of Law Enforcement or its designee, as provided by 
statute. However, the court, upon a showing of good cause, may order 
testing by another laboratory or agency certified by the American Society of 
Crime Laboratory Directors or the National Forensic Science Training 
Center/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) or Forensic Quality 
Services, Inc. (FQS) if requested by a movant who can bear the cost of such 
testing. 
 
 
(8)  [No change] 
(d) - (f)  [No change]