SPEEDY! (SORT OF)

Chief Justice acts to lift courtroom restrictions, continue
remote proceedings, and sets dates to resume speedy trial

TALLAHASSEE – Chief Justice Charles Canady today issued an order allowing courts around Florida to lift requirements to wear masks and distance from others while in courtrooms during proceedings. Improved health measurements, increased vaccination rates, and updated official health guidance all prompted the changes.

“At this time, effective vaccines for COVID-19 are adequately available in Florida for persons ages 12 and older; almost half of this state’s population has been partially or fully vaccinated; and government-issued health standards and guidance provide that fully vaccinated persons do not need to wear face masks or physically distance in most indoor and outdoor settings unless required by federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations,” the administrative order states.

The order prioritizes jury trials, with criminal trials taking precedence, by directing most other proceedings be conducted remotely to focus facility and other resources on in-person trials.

“Trial court proceedings shall continue to be remotely conducted, as appropriate, to facilitate the efficient and expeditious processing of cases,” the order states.

Chief judges may drop the mask and distancing requirements in courtrooms during proceedings as soon as June 21, and no later than August 2.

The order further sets a schedule to end the current suspension of speedy trial and extends the emergency authority for remote proceedings.

In March 2020, most in-person court events were suspended because of the dangers posed by COVID-19. Emergency orders issued by Canady allowed for the remote conduct of any court event that could be held that way. Florida’s courts continued to work, using video and phone conferencing to hold court events even through restrictions on in-person proceedings. Judges around the state are expected to dispose of 3 million cases in 2020-2021 by the conclusion of the fiscal year later this month.

Speedy trial provisions will resume October 4 for adult defendants taken into custody before March 14, 2020, and for juveniles. For adult defendants taken into custody after March 14, 2020, speedy trial provisions will resume January 3, 2022.

Chief Justice Canady issued the order under his authority as the chief administrative officer of the State Courts System. In 2020 he created the Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19. Today’s order reflects recommendations made by the Workgroup.

84 thoughts on “SPEEDY! (SORT OF)”

      1. 17

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        Can’t even get a phone call back or a plea offer from the lazy Asa’s pretending to work from home. Discovery taking months to be sent while the line asas laugh at you. Be a man Harold and get your office back to work like the rest of the state and country. Grow a sac and pull the plug.

        1. 16

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          It’s not thier fault. They have zero discretion. Every case needs supervisor approval. In the meantime the culture is the same. The Asa’s have to act like they want the max on everything so they can get promoted. They’re scared of doing anything on their own. The supervisors/judges have to resolve every case. HP hasn’t disrupted the old model at all.

          1. 8

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            Hahahahahahaha! Same old shit from the same old shits won’t do shit because they don’t give a shit unless it’s to shit on someone else. But the Nuremberg argument fits the Satzreich.

          2. 8

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            But why are the Asa’s afraid? The job market is hot. The Sao need them desperately. The Asa’s can stand up to them. They can say “I’m doing the right thing here” because it’s fair. I’m not an idiot. I can make decisions. It’s my license to practice. I’m not a child. I have evaluated the case. I will go make 2 or 3x the money elsewhere if I’m not respected. The Asa’s should force the same change going on everywhere in America. It’s their own fault for letting Satz/Pryor keep ruining everything. If they stood up for decency Satz/Pryor would cave. The Sao is already close to collapse. The Sao can’t afford to lose anybody. The Sao would have to do the right thing.

          1. 13

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            Sean Phillippi, the $150,000.00 man?

            Hey don’t worry Sean will help you with a plea, except he doesn’t know what a plea is…

            Don’t worry you guys are going to get paid as much as this non lawyer employee.

            1. 12

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              These two are the total laughing stock of Broward. The scum of the earth one term Harold see Ya loser.

    1. 1

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      Anyone thinking they’re going to give defendants another weapon on top of the problems the State is already facing is naive. An earlier resumption of speedy demands than the assigned dates would be disastrous for an already overwhelmed system. I’m sure they spoke to people all over the state before choosing the far away dates to see what the system could handle. It’s called realpolitik.

    1. 19

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      The guy ran on all lies he doesn’t have the knowledge or the wherewithal to run this office nor does he deserve the position and everyone knows it

      1. 15

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        Anyone who thinks someone who willingly worked for Mr. Satz would implement reforms is naive. He may have promised the moon, but that’s what politicians do. Mr. Pryor was willing to work for Mr. Satz for many years. That says something for a minority to be willing to do that. The people in the community who are politically active understand this, and they don’t care. The people in the community who don’t give a rip about politicians never believed him to begin with. This is why he’ll be re-elcted as often as he likes, if he keeps the establishment powers happy. Seeing as how he seems to be doing exactly that, then he’ll be in office for a long time running Mr. Satz’s tried and true (and systemically racist) machine.

  1. 15

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    Pryor still paying Satz and Marcus. What is their invoice looking like. Who is really running the show. Satz has the power. Still.

  2. 17

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    Pryor doesn’t have enough ASAs left to open the courthouse….they are all jumping his sinking ship

  3. 6

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    Gordon Weekes needs to set everything for trial then Pryor will have to step up.

    1. 11

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      They don’t have any lawyers either. Otherwise that’s a good idea.

    2. 0

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      Two ends of the same cigar–as it always has been between the SAO and PD in their little ex parte circle jerk.

  4. 13

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    Rumor has is there is a Black Female ready to take the 2024 race from Pryor. Appears the black community in broward has seen enough of Pryor’s inaction. No change in broward no Pryor in broward. Let’s see Philipi get you out of this one Harold. Black Broward smells the stench on racism oozing out of the SAO.

    1. 13

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      She’s kicking butt at the SAO. Her resume is golden now. Judge would be a shoo-in.

      1. 1

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        Sure, except for Ruby’s lack of experience or intelligence.

        Plus, she has that awful baggage to deal with: never touching her taxpayer subsidized student loans which have mushroomed to over $350k (while still going out and taking a $45k car loan!)

        Nah, she be done

    2. 9

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      Hope Ruby runs for Public Defender after the way she was treated by The FInk. Gordon isn’t capable of doing anything but sitting on his bum and collecting a check like he did as an APD before becoming PD, so a real difference could be made by someone with integrity like Ruby that could and probably would clean up the cesspool of do nothing status quo pretenders.

  5. 18

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    Did you really expect any change after Pryor got in ? His first and only priority is to secure his new position as SA and discourage anyone from running against him. Certainly not pulling thru with what he promised when he was campaigning,
    It sure looks like he’s making plenty of mistakes early on by giving all the top cronies raises and dumping on those that really do the work like the rest of the underlings.
    Keeping old Satz cronies may be what gets him in hot water when he has to run again.
    And paying that political duffis more than the top attorneys in the office is sure to stir the pot of discontent amongst the ranks.
    He’s coming off early as just another political junkie, not unlike his predecessor: all wind and no blow.

  6. 11

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    Pryor stop sticking your head in the sand get rid of Neva and Gina and put someone in there that knows how to run an office not run everyone out of your office!!! You could probably still turn this around before your political future is over.

  7. 11

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    NOW HIRING AT THE BROWARD STATE ATTORNEYS OFFICE
    WILL TAKE ANYBODY GENUINELY INTERESTED

  8. 10

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    Where is Howie? What am I supposed to do? Lorena? Nadine? WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

  9. 9

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    I got mine and if you don like it come beat me in an election….until then you can call me Mr. Philippi or Boss…your call

    1. 12

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      The entire crew is a bunch of know-nothing, arrogant, Satzie fools. Waiting for the last day of the month to go buy more slop. When Gina walks to her office you can see the slop dripping from her lips. Bunch of slop bottom feeders.

    2. 0

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      IM STILL THE BIGGEST BARFBAG
      ATURD REIGNS
      POLITICAL CONSULTING AND LARD PURVEYOR

  10. 9

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    AND WHEN I FINALLY BEAT JIM CROW I WILL NOT KEEP HIS LIEUTENANTS IN POWER LIKE A LESSER MAN WOULD!

  11. 3

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    Hi guys, it’s like Marla here just wanted to let you know this week I’m practicing family law. Hurry up and file because next week I will be practicing med mal. In July, I will be waxing Eric’s boat.
    Sincerely,
    Marla

  12. 6

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    EVERYTHING PRYOR HEARS IS FILTERED THROUGH LAYERS OF SATZ PEOPLE

    IT’S ALL SATZ PEOPLE FROM THE GROUND UP

    FROM SATZ SUPERVISOR TO SATZ SUPERVISOR UNTIL A SATZ TOP SUPERVISOR WHISPERS IN PRYOR’S EAR

    THERE CAN BE NO REFORM WITHOUT OUTSIDE PROSECUTORS BEING BROUGHT IN TO RIGHT THE SHIP

    OLD DOGS CANNOT LEARN NEW TRICKS

    PRYOR HEED THE CALL OF CHANGE AND CHANGE A ROTTEN CULTURE

  13. 0

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    Hello Team,
    It has been my goal to invest in the dedicated public servants in this office since before I was sworn in. Figuring out a way to give people the increases they deserve and make the process as transparent as possible has been one of my top priorities since Day One.
    This new compensation structure is the culmination of a lot of hard work by senior staff. We did everything we could think of to do the most good for the greatest number of people. Everything here is entirely separate from the merit raise structure we are still creating.
    Despite our best efforts to make everything equitable, there may still be some instances where someone who has been here longer is making less than someone else. Our budget constraints limit our available options.  The goal is to make the pay structure fair, transparent, and consistent. All changes will be effective July 1.
    For the support staff, everyone making less than $50,000 per year will receive a compression raise due to the legislative mandate to increase the minimum wage to $13 per hour. This compression raise is the first of three compression raises coming in the next several years.
    Every support staffer who has worked here for at least 5 years, and every ASA who has worked here for 6 years and makes less than $100,000 per year, will receive an additional raise based on their years of service. 
    The new ASA structure bases increases on both years of service and promotions within the office. One noteworthy change is that there will be no pay increases for moves between special units (defined here as every unit except Misdemeanor, Juvenile, Felony Trial, and Homicide). This is to encourage ASAs to move to units where they truly desire to practice that specialty. 
    Support staff will also be receiving years of service raises. Support staff making more than $60,000 a year when they hit a years of service milestone will be ineligible for an increase based on years of service. The salary cap for an ASA years of service raises is $120,000 a year.
    My team and I will schedule meetings with every unit in the coming days to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact Tania Williams or Sean Phillippi after those meetings if you have additional questions, or sooner if those questions are urgent. Below is a link to a Frequently Asked Questions document and ASA Salary Floors document that we hope will answer your questions.
    Thank you to everyone for all that you do. You make me proud to be the State Attorney every day.
     
    Support Staff
    Compression Plan:
    Everyone making less than $12.60 per hour will have their wage increased to $13 per hour.
    Everyone making more than $12.60 per hour ($26,208 per year for a full-time support staffer but less than $30,000 a year) will receive a 40 cent per hour increase ($832.08 per year).
    Everyone making $30,000 but less than $40,000 per year will receive a 30 cent per hour increase ($624.00 per year).
    Everyone making at least $40,000 but less than $50,000 per year will receive a 20 cent per hour increase ($416.04 per year).
     
    Years of Service Increase
    In addition to the compression raises, support staff who completed the following years of service milestones in the first six months of this year will receive the following annual raise, effective July 1:
    $400 for at least 5 but less than 10 years of service
    $600 for at least 10 but less than 15 years of service
    $800 for at least 15 but less than 20 years of service
    $1,000 for at least 20 years of service
     
    After July 1, the support staff annual raises for years of service milestones are:
    $1,250 for 5 years of service
    $2,500 for 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service milestones
    ASA Pay and Raise Structure
    Floor/Raise by Unit:
    The new salary floor for the Felony Trial Unit (FTU) is $55,000 and any ASA earning below that will be increased to that salary, effective July 1. Going forward, the raise for a promotion to FTU will be $3,000 or to have your salary raised to the $55,000 floor (whichever is greater). This will also apply to ASAs assigned to Misdemeanor DVU.
    A promotion to a Felony 2nd will come with a $3,000 raise or an increase to $58,000 (whichever is greater). A promotion to a Felony Lead will come with a $3,000 raise or an increase to $61,500 (whichever is greater).
    The first promotion to a special unit will come with a raise of $5,000 or an increase to $65,000 (whichever is greater). A promotion to the Homicide Unit will come with a raise of $5,000 or an increase to $85,000 (whichever is greater).
    First promotion to supervisor will come with a $3,500 increase. Second promotion to supervisor will come with a $2,500 increase. Third promotion to supervisor will come with a $1,500 increase. Promotion to senior supervisor will come with a raise of $7,500. Promotion to assistant state attorney in charge will come with a raise of $15,000 or an increase to $104,000 (whichever is greater).
    Floor/Raise by Years of Service:
    After an ASA completes his/her 3-year commitment, they will be asked to sign another (optional) 3-year commitment. ASAs who sign a second 3-year commitment will receive a $2,500 raise upon signing and another $2,500 raise when the 3-year term is completed. This is separate from the years of service increases.
    Because current ASAs who have been with the office between 3-6 years were not provided the option to sign a second 3-year commitment, they will automatically receive a $2,500 increase when they reach their 6-year anniversary in the office.
    Because ASAs beyond 6 years in the office didn’t get an opportunity to sign a second 3-year commitment, those who make less than $100,000 (capped at that number due to budgetary constraints) will get an additional raise effective July 1. ASAs making less than $97,500 annually will get a $2,500 increase and those between $97,500-$100,000 will be increased to $100,000.
    Going forward, the salary floors are $65,000 for 10 years of service; $72,500 for 15 years of service; $80,000 for 20 years of service; and $85,000 for 25 years of service. ASAs will receive a $5,000 raise at each of the 10, 15, 20, and 25 years of service milestones if that would be greater than a bump up to the respective salary floors. Anyone who is considered a retiree as defined by the Florida Retirement System, regardless of age, will not be eligible for years of service increases.
     
    Adjustment to 2019 Compression Plan
    We learned that the 2019 compression plan had some unintended consequences as it financially penalized ASAs for quickly making it to a special unit when such an accomplishment should be rewarded. We have made a one-time salary adjustment for 15 ASAs who were:
    1 In a special unit when the 2019 compression plan was implemented (this does not include a MTU, JVU, or FTU supervisor position);
    2 Making $61,500 or less at that time; and
    3 Received a raise of less than $6,000 at the time of the compression raises.
    The adjustment is the difference between what they received and $6,000. For example, if an eligible ASA received a raise of $4,000 in 2019 they get $2,000 now to bring the total to $6,000. The 15 ASAs who are impacted have already been notified of this adjustment.
    Finally, here are the links to the Frequently Asked Questions document and ASA Salary Floors document.

     
    Sincerely,
     

      1. 6

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        ASAs making less than $92,081.57 after 22.658 and a day with no options to sign a sixth consecutive three year past death committment will receive a bump up equivalent to either Jeff Marcus’ contract hourly rate with a 12% multiplier matched to number of years of service in the ASAs current unit or a 18% multiplier matched to the number of years spent as a CLI and two full completed three year commitments providing there are at least twelve years separating the three year commitments or a one time adjustment to match the incoming annual salary for a new incoming ASA at the starting rate for those graduating in the current year times the average number of commitments an average ASA signs on for and doesn’t break early to make a living wage in the insurance industry.

        1. 2

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          I make more than double that ($150k)and I don’t know a limine from a danger hearing…but hey/just call me Boss Sean

          1. 4

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            How can he justify paying someone that isn’t a lawyer this much? What does this guy do? I’m not trying to be mean- I’m seriously asking- does anyone know what his job description is?

    1. 3

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      I can’t wait for the unveiling of the DUI diversion program after reading this Satzian Knot messed up policy.

    2. 2

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      This is so much BS because Mr. Pryor promoted people that they don’t to nothing and the people that work he don’t care. The is WHY people are leaving the office.

  14. 5

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    Now that he’s paying them better they’ll lock up as many Blacks as he wants without argument.

  15. 6

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    What about when there is a ton of movement and some people get out of county court, and thru FTU rapidly just because there are openings? Someone could be in a special unit within three years with all the raises and end up making more than someone who has seniority and is already in a special unit but missed some of these raises. Why not just do a system based on TIME IN THE OFFICE, and then have a public structured system for merit raises that has criteria? Our office is too fluid in movement and “promotion” has nothing to do with work product or trial skills or number of trials. Many times people are “promoted” to FILL AN OPENING and that’s it. Also why would anyone stay past 25 years if there is no guarantee raise and the floor is 85,000. The assumption is everyone enters DROP, so this system seems to punish someone who would not enter drop. Some people carry health insurance which is more valuable than drop but no more service increase, even if you stay for 40 years? Why not make it no more service year bump if you choose drop but it still exits for 30, 35, 40 ad nauseum. Making assumptions about why people and how people retire leads to inequity.

    1. 0

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      This’s a very thoughtful posting so obviously you’re one of the bright people working there that they wouldn’t have the time of day to say hello to because they’re so wrapped up chasing their tails.

      1. 0

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        Thank you, I hope someone who can make a difference reads it as well. This can be discouraging for some younger attorneys who feel movement /promotion is alot more random than the office acknowledges.

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