From left: Justice Charles T. Canady and Judge Lisa Taylor Munyon.

Nearing the deadline, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new administrative order extending the timeline for a group tasked with recommending a strategy for state courts to return to full operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

The chief judge moved the end date to Dec. 31, so the Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and After COVID-19 can continue its mission first designated by Canady.

The extension shows Canady does not presume that court operations will return to pre-COVID-19 operations within the next couple of weeks. The new deadline will give the chief justice insight to strategize the reopening of Florida courts while social distancing restrictions remain in effect.

The group is chaired by an Orlando area Circuit Judge Lisa Taylor and seeks to improve Florida courts' efficiency amid the coronavirus pandemic. Taylor said lawyers should be reassured by the new administrative order because the work group has accomplished the majority of changes in the time designated.

"Reviewing and recommending changes to the branch's pandemic and emergency operations materials, as well as considering recommendations for rule and statutory changes, are matters that should be well-vetted," Taylor said. "The extension of time will permit that process to proceed."

The order on June 15 allowed the work group to continue four main functions instead of expiring June 30, due to the "meaningful and significant contributions to the judicial branch's response to the pandemic," the administrative order stated.

The first extended function allows the group to pinpoint issues Canady should address in pandemic guidance material, along with other protocols and emergency procedures to strengthen governance and preparedness for future events.

The second goal is centered on the rules of the court. The group should propose temporary or long term amendments and petition the Florida Supreme Court to implement those changes.

The third mission is to recommend statutory changes that Canady could propose to the legislature in accordance with applicable state court system protocols.

The fourth is to respond to all other matters referred by to it by Canady.

Read the Supreme Court of Florida administrative order:

Florida courts have been operating under emergency orders since March 13. On that date, Canady suspended jury trials and took other actions restricting disease spreading activities in the state courts.

Just one month later, Canady established the 17-member work group in an administrative order to "recommend ways for a staged return to full-court operations as the course of the coronavirus pandemic changes in the months ahead."

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