Florida Supreme Court Decisions

In addition to hearing appeals from the Florida District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court has jurisdiction over several other types of cases. Under Article V, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, it has mandatory jurisdiction over appeals in cases involving the death penalty or public utilities, as well as discretionary jurisdiction over appeals in cases involving the state constitution. The Court also has the authority to issue certain writs, such as writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and prohibition.

The Florida Supreme Court consists of seven justices, who serve six-year terms. To serve on the Court, a candidate must be no older than 74 years old, a resident of Florida, registered to vote in Florida, and a member of the Florida State Bar for at least the last 10 years. Florida uses the assisted appointment method to select new justices. First, the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission selects three to six candidates. The Governor of Florida appoints the nine members of the Commission, and each of them serves a four-year term. The Governor chooses four of the members from lists of nominees created by the leadership of the Florida Bar Association.

The Governor then selects the new justice from the list provided by the Commission. However, the justice will face a retention vote in the first general election that occurs at least one year after their appointment. There are only two ways in which a justice may be removed before the end of their term. They may be removed if they are impeached by the Florida House of Representatives in a two-thirds vote and convicted by the Florida State Senate, also in a two-thirds vote. Alternatively, a justice may be removed by the Florida Supreme Court upon the recommendation of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. A justice may face more moderate discipline or retirement upon the recommendation of the Commission as well.

Browse Opinions From the Florida Supreme Court

Recent Decisions From the Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Bar re: Norwood Sherman Wilner
Date: March 14, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-1055
Faircloth v. Main Street Entertainment, Inc., etc.  
Date: March 7, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-0910

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Florida was tasked with reviewing a case involving the interpretation of the state's comparative fault statute and its application to tort actions involving the "dram-shop exception." The case…

Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office v. C.C.  
Date: March 7, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2023-0604, SC2023-0605

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of Florida reviewed a decision from the Fifth District Court of Appeal related to the termination of a father's parental rights. The father, identified as C.C., had been convicted 18 times…

Miller v. State of Florida  
Date: February 29, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-0745

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the convictions and death sentences of Everett Glenn Miller for the first-degree premeditated murders of Kissimmee Police Officers Matthew Baxter and Richard “Sam” Howard.…

Steele v. Commissioner of Social Security  
Date: February 15, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-1342

Justia Opinion Summary: This case focuses on a Florida statute that concerns the inheritance rights of a child conceived from the eggs or sperm of a deceased person. Kathleen Steele, the appellant, had a child named P.S.S conceived through in…

In Re: Amendments to Rule Regulating The Florida Bar 11-1.8
Date: February 15, 2024
Docket Number: SC2024-0053
Trappman v. State  
Date: February 8, 2024
Docket Number: SC2021-1479

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Florida held that multiple punishments can be imposed for distinct acts springing from successive impulses to violate a single criminal prohibition in the course of a single criminal episode. In this…

American Coastal Insurance Company v. San Marco Villas Condominium Association, Inc.  
Date: February 1, 2024
Docket Number: SC2021-0883

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves American Coastal Insurance Company ("American Coastal") and San Marco Villas Condominium Association, Inc. ("San Marco"). American Coastal issued San Marco a policy covering the condominium complex…

Davis v. State  
Date: February 1, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2021-1778, SC2022-0882

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case at hand, a Florida prisoner, Leon Davis Jr., under sentences of death, appealed the denial of his initial motion for postconviction relief and also petitioned the Court for a writ of habeas corpus. The crimes…

Davis v. State  
Date: February 1, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2021-1779, SC2022-0883

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case under consideration, the appellant, Leon Davis Jr., a man sentenced to death, appealed the circuit court's denial of his initial motion for postconviction relief and also petitioned for a writ of habeas…

In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.670
Date: January 25, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1093
The Florida Bar v. Jonathan Stephen Schwartz & The Florida Bar v. Jonathan Stephen Schwartz
Date: January 18, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2019-0983, SC2021-0484
The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.