Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC17-2004 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO 
FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 3.220. 
 
[May 10, 2018] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of the out-of-cycle report of 
The Florida Bar’s Criminal Procedure Rules Committee (Committee), proposing 
an amendment to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 (Discovery).  See Fla. 
R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(e).  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 pertains to discovery in criminal 
cases.  Subdivision (d) addresses a defendant’s obligation upon electing to 
participate in reciprocal discovery.  The Committee proposes amending 
subdivision (d)(1)(B)(ii) of rule 3.220 to require that only reports or statements of 
experts that the defendant intends to use at a hearing or at trial must be disclosed to 
the prosecutor.  The Committee explains that the amendment is necessary based on 
the decision in Kidder v. State, 117 So. 3d 1166 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013), which held 
 
 
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that the plain language of the rule “requires a defendant to disclose and permit the 
inspection and copying of ‘reports or statements of experts made in connection 
with the particular case, including results of . . . scientific tests, experiments, or 
comparisons.’ ”  117 So. 3d at 1169-70.  Thus, Kidder was required to disclose the 
results of a blood alcohol test, irrespective of the fact that she did not intend to use 
the report at trial.        
After considering the Committee’s proposal, we amend Florida Rule of 
Criminal Procedure 3.220(d) as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  New 
language is indicated by underscoring.  The amendment shall become effective 
immediately upon the release of this opinion.   
 
 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 
 
Judge Jon Berkley Morgan, Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, 
Kissimmee, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, and Heather Savage 
Telfer, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
RULE 3.220. 
DISCOVERY 
 
(a)-(c) 
[No Change] 
 
(d) Defendant’s Obligation. 
      (1) 
If a defendant elects to participate in discovery, either through 
filing the appropriate notice or by participating in any discovery process, including 
the taking of a discovery deposition, the following disclosures shall be made: 
 
 
(A) 
[No change] 
 
          (B) 
Within 15 days after receipt of the prosecutor’s Discovery 
Exhibit the defendant shall serve a written Discovery Exhibit which shall disclose 
to and permit the prosecutor to inspect, copy, test, and photograph the following 
information and material that is in the defendant’s possession or control: 
 
                  (i) 
the statement of any person listed in subdivision 
(d)(1)(A), other than that of the defendant; 
                 (ii) 
reports or statements of experts, that the defendant 
intends to use as a witness at a trial or hearing, made in connection with the 
particular case, including results of physical or mental examinations and of 
scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons; and 
                (iii) 
any tangible papers or objects that the defendant intends 
to use in the hearing or trial. 
 
      (2)-(3) [No changes] 
 
(e)-(o) 
[No changes] 
 
Committee Notes 
[No changes] 
 
Court Commentary 
[No changes]