Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady just updated two new administrative orders and the "best practices" memorandum. The release, recommended by Canady's COVID-19 work group, adopted changes to guidelines for state court pandemic operations.

Craig Waters, the director of the public information office for the Florida Supreme Court, said these actions are allowing Canady to gradually reopen state courts pending public health conditions.

"This is a subject that is changing rapidly as the pandemic progresses and new things are learned about its continuing impact on Florida's courts," Waters said.

Now individual state courts will have increasingly more power when applying the new administrative orders and the memorandum set out by the Florida Supreme Court as conditions are improving.

The first administrative order, AOSC20-23, updated one issued April 6 to provide comprehensive guidelines for state court operations in the coronavirus pandemic. The order replaced a statewide suspension of jury trials, and it now is allowing local variations when jury proceedings return.

The revised order empowered local chief judges to remove the suspension of jury trials 30 days following a transition to Phase 2 operations by the trial court circuit or a county within the circuit.

The second administrative order, AOSC20-32, updated a May 21 order that is now providing guidelines for state courts to transition to Phase 2. Phased 2 is characterized as limited in-person contact for selective purposes in state court and the usage of protective measures.

Phase 3 will broadly authorize a broader application of in-person contact, along with relaxed protective measures. While Phase 4 is when the coronavirus no longer posed a significant public health threat in state courts.

The third update by Canady is on the "best practices" memorandum, which was originally issued May 11 where the work group made recommendations for state court operations.

Included in the update are new guidelines on jury management amid the coronavirus pandemic, along with a recommendation that resuming civil and criminal jury trials have priority once they are authorized. It also described best practices in remote criminal cases on the management of trial evidence.

The work group has been essential in providing insight so Canady can update the state courts as the coronavirus brings uncertainty and required drastic steps to have state courts to partially remain open. The work group is chaired by Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Lisa Taylor Munyon.

"The COVID-19 work group is making new recommendations to the chief justice whenever needed," Waters said. "Barely a week goes past without something new being issued. So stay tuned."