Plans to add a sixth appeals court district in Florida, as well as seven new appellate judgeships, won’t be sidelined after Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of $65 million in funding for Tampa Bay-area courthouse facilities last week.
DeSantis vetoed $50 million earmarked in legislation for the construction of a courthouse in Lakeland for the new Sixth District Court of Appeal, which will be created as a result of the passage of House Bill 7027. The governor also blue-penciled $15 million that had been earmarked to help complete the Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeal courthouse for the reconfigured Second DCA.
Last year, the state Supreme Court certified a need to expand the number of appeals court districts from five to six. The high court also called for seven additional judgeships and district boundary realignments in order to expand access to oral hearings, increase public trust in the judicial system and attract well-qualified and diverse judicial applicants within each district.
The new Sixth DCA will have its headquarters in Polk County, while the headquarters for the Second DCA will be relocated to Pinellas County.
The court expansion plans, however, will continue despite the June 2 veto of the courthouse funding, according to Paul Flemming, the state Supreme Court’s spokesman. Leased space for the current Second DCA exists in Lakeland in Polk County, Flemming said, though it’s insufficient to meet the new Sixth DCA’s needs.
“It was anticipated that the Sixth DCA would need to explore leased space or other space options pending completion of a courthouse, and the budget provided funding in support of leased space,” Flemming told the Florida Record in an email. “The governor’s funding veto does not change the actions state courts will take to carry out the direction of the signed legislation creating the Sixth DCA.”
HB 7027 also contains language encouraging innovation, advanced technology and flexible workplace options within appeals court districts.
“Although each district must have a headquarters as set forth in this subsection (creating the Sixth DCA), the Legislature intends for policies and practices to be implemented to encourage top applicants for judicial vacancies from throughout each entire district and to provide opportunities for remote workplaces for judges and staff who may not live near the headquarters of the district,” the bill says.
House Speaker Chris Sprowls has been a supporter of funding new courthouses for the Second and Sixth DCAs. His office did not respond to requests for comment on the vetoes.
The creation of the Sixth DCA and the reconfiguration of other appeals court districts will take effect on Jan. 1 of next year.