Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.030
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC21-591
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: December 16, 2021

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
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No. SC21-591 
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IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL 
PROCEDURE 3.030. 
 
December 16, 2021 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed 
amendments to the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure.  See Fla. 
R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(b)(1).  We have jurisdiction.  See 
art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
The Florida Bar’s Criminal Procedure Rules Committee 
(Committee) filed a report proposing amendments to Florida Rule of 
Criminal Procedure 3.030 (Service and Filing of Pleadings and 
Documents).  Having considered the proposed amendments, the 
Court amends rule 3.030 as proposed by the Committee. 
 
First, we amend subdivision (c) (Deposit with the Clerk), to 
provide that documents filed pursuant to rules 3.121, 3.125, 
3.140(g), 3.160, 3.190, 3.240, 3.692, 3.811, 3.840, and 3.984 are 
 
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specifically excluded from the subdivision’s requirement that a 
paper document that is required to be sworn or notarized be filed 
and deposited immediately with the clerk.  Additionally, we add a 
sentence to subdivision (c), which provides that documents filed 
pursuant to rule 3.600, 3.801(c), 3.850(c), or 3.853(b) are 
specifically excluded from subdivision (c)’s requirement if they are 
filed by an attorney. 
 
Next, we move the last sentence of subdivision (c)—requiring 
paper documents to be maintained in accordance with Rule of 
General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.430 (Retention of 
Court Records)—to new subdivision (d) and title it “Maintenance of 
Deposited Documents.” 
 
Finally, we amend references to the “Florida Rules of Judicial 
Administration” to reflect the updated name, the “Florida Rules of 
General Practice and Judicial Administration.”  See In re Amends. to 
Fla. Rules of Jud. Admin.—2020 Regular-Cycle Report, 310 So. 3d 
374, 375-76 (Fla. 2021). 
 
Accordingly, we amend Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 
3.030 as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  New language is 
indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-
 
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through type.  The amendments shall become effective 
January 1, 2022, at 12:01 a.m. 
 
It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LABARGA, LAWSON, MUÑIZ, 
COURIEL, and GROSSHANS, 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 
 
Alan S. Apte, Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Orlando, 
Florida, Angela Cote Dempsey, Past Chair, Criminal Procedure 
Rules Committee, Tallahassee, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive 
Director, and Mikalla Andies Davis, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, 
Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Pam Childers and Codey L. Leigh on behalf of Escambia County 
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Pensacola, Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
RULE 3.030. 
SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND 
DOCUMENTS 
 
(a) 
Service. Every pleading subsequent to the initial 
indictment or information on which a defendant is to be tried 
unless the court otherwise orders, and every order not entered in 
open court, every written motion unless it is one about which a 
hearing ex parte is authorized, and every written notice, demand, 
and similar document shall be served on each party in conformity 
with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 
2.516. Nothing herein shall be construed to require a plea of not 
guilty be in writing. 
 
(b) 
Filing. Filings of all pleadings and documents shall 
comply with Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial 
Administration 2.505, 2.515, and 2.525. 
 
(c) 
Deposit with the Clerk. Any paper document that is a 
judgment and sentence or required by statute or rule to be sworn to 
or notarized shall be filed and deposited with the clerk immediately 
thereafterafter it is filed. This requirement does not apply to the 
documents filed pursuant to rules 3.121, 3.125, 3.140(g), 3.160, 
3.190, 3.240, 3.692, 3.811, 3.840, and 3.984. This requirement 
also does not apply to the documents filed by attorneys pursuant to 
rules 3.600, 3.801(c), 3.850(c), or 3.853(b). 
 
(d) 
Maintenance of Deposited Documents. The clerk shall 
maintain deposited original paper documents in accordance with 
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.430, 
unless otherwise ordered by the court.  
 
Committee Notes 
[No changes]