Title: In Re: Amendment to The Code for Resolving Professionalism Complaints

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
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No. SC15-75 
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IN RE:  AMENDMENT TO THE CODE FOR 
RESOLVING PROFESSIONALISM COMPLAINTS. 
 
[January 29, 2015] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
In 2013 the Court adopted the Code for Resolving Professionalism 
Complaints (Code), after considering the request of the Supreme Court of Florida 
Commission on Professionalism.  See In re Code for Resolving Professionalism 
Complaints, 116 So. 3d 280 (Fla. 2013).  The Code provides a process to address 
attorney professionalism issues at a crucial point, which is the local level.  After 
further study of the Code by the Commission on Professionalism, the Court, on its 
own motion, amends the Code.1 
The Code provides for the establishment of Local Professionalism Panels.  
These are entities independent of The Florida Bar that are “established at the local 
                                          
 
 
1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const. 
 
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level for the purpose of resolving complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct by 
attorneys practicing in [those circuits].”  Id. at 283.  The structure for addressing 
professionalism issues also includes Circuit Committees on Professionalism.  The 
Committees were established pursuant to the Administrative Order issued by this 
Court on June 11, 1998, that directed the Chief Judge of each circuit to create and 
maintain in continuous operation a Circuit Committee on Professionalism.  Id. at 
281.  After considering the responsibilities performed by the Local Professionalism 
Panels and the Circuit Committees on Professionalism, we hereby amend the Code 
by adding Section 4, “Immunity,” to provide immunity from civil liability to 
members of the Local Professionalism Panels and members of the Circuit 
Committees on Professionalism, as well as to staff persons for these entities, for all 
acts performed in the course of their official duties.  See generally R. Regulating 
Fla. Bar 10-10.1 (Immunity); R. Regulating Fla. Bar 14-7.1(a) (Immunity). 
Accordingly, the Court amends the Code for Resolving Professionalism 
Complaints as set forth in the appendix to this opinion.  The amendment shall 
become effective immediately upon the release of this opinion.  Because the 
amendment was not previously published for comment, interested persons shall 
 
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have sixty days from the date of this opinion in which to file comments with the 
Court.2  
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 Proceedings – Code for Resolving Professionalism Complaints 
 
 
 
 
 
                                          
 
2.  All comments must be filed with the Court on or before March 30, 2015, 
with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has been served on the Director of 
The Florida Bar Center for Professionalism, Linda Calvert Hanson, 651 E. 
Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300, lcalvert@flabar.org, as well as a 
separate request for oral argument if the person filing the comment wishes to 
participate in oral argument, which may be scheduled in this case.  If filed by an 
attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be 
electronically filed via the Portal in accordance with In re Electronic Filing in the 
Supreme Court of Florida via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order 
No. AOSC13-7 (Feb. 18, 2013).  If filed by a nonlawyer or a lawyer not licensed to 
practice in Florida, the comment must be electronically filed via e-mail in 
accordance with In re Mandatory Submission of Electronic Copies of Documents, 
Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC04-84 (Sept. 13, 2004).  Electronically filed 
documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word 97 or higher.  Any person unable 
to submit a comment electronically must mail or hand-deliver the originally signed 
comment to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the Clerk, 500 South Duval 
Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional copies are required or will 
be accepted. 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
 
 
Section 4.  Immunity 
 
4.1.  Local Professionalism Panels and Circuit Committees on 
Professionalism:  The members of the Local Professionalism Panels, staff 
persons assisting those panels, members of the Circuit Committees on 
Professionalism, and staff persons assisting those committees, shall have 
absolute immunity from civil liability for all acts in the course and scope of 
their official duties.