Case Name: In re AMENDMENTS TO the FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION-PUBLIC ACCESS TO JUDICIAL RECORDS. In re AMENDMENTS TO the RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR-PUBLIC RECORDS
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1992-10-29
Citations: 608 So. 2d 472
Docket Number: Nos. 80419, 80432
Parties: In re AMENDMENTS TO the FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION-PUBLIC ACCESS TO JUDICIAL RECORDS. In re AMENDMENTS TO the RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR—PUBLIC RECORDS.
Judges: BARKETT, C.J., and McDONALD, SHAW, GRIMES, KOGAN and HARDING, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 608
Pages: 472–478

Head Matter:
In re AMENDMENTS TO the FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION-PUBLIC ACCESS TO JUDICIAL RECORDS. In re AMENDMENTS TO the RULES REGULATING THE FLORIDA BAR—PUBLIC RECORDS.
Nos. 80419, 80432.
Supreme Court of Florida.
Oct. 29, 1992.
Gerald T. Wetherington, Chairman, Public Records Rules Drafting Committee, Alan T. Dimond, President, Patricia Ann Seitz, President-elect, Miami, John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director, and John A. Boggs, Director, Lawyer Regulation, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, for petitioner.
Henry P. Trawick, Jr., Sarasota, Parker D. Thomson and Carol A. Licko of Thomson, Muraro, Razook & Hart, P.A., Miami, on behalf of The Florida Press Ass’n and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.
Scott Foster, Gulf Breeze, Barry Richard of Greenberg, Trauring, Hoffman, Lipoff, Rosen & Quentel, P.A., Tallahassee, on behalf of The First Amendment Foundation.
Harvey M. Alper of Massey, Alper & Walden, P.A., Altamonte Spring, Ronald A. Bibace, Boca Raton, and Gregg D. Thomas and David S. Bralow of Holland & Knight, P.A., Tampa, on behalf of the Tribune Co., responding.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The Public Records Rules Drafting Committee petitioned this Court to approve its proposed changes to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. The Florida Bar also filed a petition with this Court submitting proposed amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. Because both proposals concern public access to records, we have consolidated the two cases. We have jurisdiction pursuant to article V, section 2(a) of the Florida Constitution.
The petitions were prompted by a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution which will be on the ballot on the November 3, 1992 election. The proposed amendment essentially provides that all records of the judicial branch shall be public except those exempted by Court rule in effect on the date of the adoption of the amendment or those exempted by the legislature. The proposed amendments were published in the Florida Bar News on September 15, 1992, and several comments were filed in response. Based on our consideration of those comments, the proposed drafts, and oral arguments, we have adopted the appended amendments. The amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration are, in part, designed to clarify the rules on public access to the records of the judicial branch of government and its agencies. In light of Florida's strong policy in favor of open government, the public is entitled to inspect the records of the judiciary, with certain exceptions.
The amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration are intended to reflect the judiciary's responsibility to perform both an administrative function and an adjudicatory function. In its administrative role, the judiciary is a governmental branch expending public funds and employing government personnel. Thus, records generated while courts are acting in an administrative capacity should be subject to the same standards that govern similar rec ords of other branches of government. The judiciary's adjudicatory responsibilities, however, require a modified policy toward public inspection. We find that the exceptions to the public access rule, listed in rule 2.051(a) of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, are reasonable and necessary. They permit the judiciary to protect the rights of all citizens and perform its responsibilities. The rules we adopt do not close any judicial records not presently closed and in some instances open certain records which were formerly closed. Several individuals and groups requested the opening of even further judicial records, but the Court is unsure whether or not the opening of these additional records could have the effect of damaging or disrupting the judicial system. Because the proposed amendment prohibits the Court from later enacting a rule which would close any other records, the Court determined to deny such additional requests at this time. However, the Court is desirous of further input on these additional requests to assess their impact upon the integrity of our judicial system. This will permit further analysis of these requests and give the Court flexibility to open such additional records in the future as may be in the best interest of the public and the judicial system. We therefore adopt the amendments as set forth following this opinion as rule 2.051, Public Access to Judicial Records, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
The Florida Bar has proposed amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar that address public access to records in the possession of the bar. The amendments delineate certain records which the bar may clearly refuse to disclose, establishes confidentiality restrictions on advisory ethics opinions, and sets the procedures for maintaining and inspecting bar records. After a review of the bar's proposal and the comments received, we adopt the amendments to the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar as set forth following this opinion. We have added rules 1-14.1 and 7-5.1, and we have amended bylaw 2-9.4 and rules 10-8.1 and 15-4.2.
The amendments adopted herein shall be effective immediately upon the filing of this opinion.
It is so ordered.
BARKETT, C.J., and McDONALD, SHAW, GRIMES, KOGAN and HARDING, JJ., concur.
OVERTON, J., concurs specially with an opinion.
NO MOTION FOR REHEARING WILL BE ALLOWED.
. Section 119.01, Florida Statutes (1991), expressly provides that "all state, county, and municipal records shall at all times be open for a personal inspection by any person."