Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC15-176
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IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT
RELATING TO ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR.
[June 4, 2015]
PER CURIAM.
This matter is before the Court for consideration of an amendment to Rule of
the Supreme Court Relating to Admissions to the Bar 1-21 (Membership) proposed
by The Florida Board of Bar Examiners (Board). See Fla. Bar Admiss. R. 1-12.1
After considering the Board’s proposal, rather than amending rule 1-21 as
proposed, we adopt new rule 1-21.1 (Additional Members).
Rule 1-21 currently provides that the “Florida Board of Bar Examiners
consists of 12 members of The Florida Bar and 3 public members who are not
lawyers.” The Board asks the Court to amend rule 1-21 to allow the Board to
petition the Court for additional members to serve on the Board, as necessitated by
1. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 15, Fla. Const.
the Board’s fluctuating workload. According to the Board, having the option to
request additional members will allow the Board to process applicant files in the
most efficient manner possible. The Board recognizes that its workload may vary
as the number of applicants fluctuates. Therefore, the proposed amendment to rule
1-21 is intended to allow the size of the Board to expand when necessary, while
allowing for a reduction to standard membership when the additional members’
terms end, if no replacement for the additional members proves necessary. In the
petition seeking to amend the rule, the Board also asks the Court to appoint two
additional attorney members and one additional public member.2
The Board’s general proposal to allow for additional Board members is well
justified. However, the Board’s proposed rule amendment fails to include
procedures for requesting additional members and for appointing specific public or
attorney members once the Court approves adding members. The proposed rule
amendment also fails to clarify the duration of the terms of the additional
members. Therefore, rather than amending rule 1-21 as proposed, we adopt new
rule 1-21.1 (Additional Members) to provide the necessary procedures, as follows:
1-21.1 Additional Members. The board may submit to the
court a request for additional members to serve, as necessary. The
request and appointee recommendations must be submitted in the
2. Although the Board’s request for appointment of additional members
suggests terms of service for the additional members, it fails to include specific
appointee recommendations.
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same manner as appointee recommendations under rules 1-22.2 and 1-
23.2. The term of service of a member appointed under this rule will
be as provided in rules 1-22.3 and 1-23.3 or as otherwise approved by
the court.
We also decline to address the Board’s request for appointment of additional
members in this rules case.
Accordingly, we amend the Rules of the Supreme Court Relating to
Admissions to the Bar as set forth in the appendix to this opinion. New language is
indicated by underscoring. The amendment shall become effective immediately
upon the release of this opinion. The Board may submit its request for additional
members and appointee recommendations to the Court in accordance with new rule
1-21.1.
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 Proceeding – Rules of the Supreme Court of Florida Relating to
Admissions to the Florida Bar
Daryl M. Manning, Chair, Michele A. Gavagni, Executive Director, and Robert G.
Blythe, General Counsel, Florida Board of Bar Examiners, Tallahassee, Florida,
for Petitioner
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APPENDIX
1-20 Florida Board of Bar Examiners.
1-21 Membership. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners consists of
12 members of The Florida Bar and 3 public members who are not lawyers.
1-21.1 Additional Members. The board may submit to the court a
request for additional members to serve, as necessary. The request and
appointee recommendations must be submitted in the same manner as
appointee recommendations under rules 1-22.2 and 1-23.2. The term of
service of a member appointed under this rule will be as provided in rules 1-
22.3 and 1-23.3 or as otherwise approved by the court.
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