Opinion
No. SC17–2004
05-10-2018
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 3.220.
Judge Jon Berkley Morgan, Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Kissimmee, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, and Heather Savage Telfer, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, for Petitioner
Judge Jon Berkley Morgan, Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Kissimmee, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, and Heather Savage Telfer, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, for Petitioner
This matter is before the Court for consideration of the out-of-cycle report of The Florida Bar's Criminal Procedure Rules Committee (Committee), proposing an amendment to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 (Discovery). See Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(e). We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.
Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 pertains to discovery in criminal cases. Subdivision (d) addresses a defendant's obligation upon electing to participate in reciprocal discovery. The Committee proposes amending subdivision (d)(1)(B)(ii) of rule 3.220 to require that only reports or statements of experts that the defendant intends to use at a hearing or at trial must be disclosed to the prosecutor. The Committee explains that the amendment is necessary based on the decision in Kidder v. State , 117 So.3d 1166 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013), which held that the plain language of the rule "requires a defendant to disclose and permit the inspection and copying of 'reports or statements of experts made in connection with the particular case, including results of ... scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons.' " 117 So.3d at 1169–70. Thus, Kidder was required to disclose the results of a blood alcohol test, irrespective of the fact that she did not intend to use the report at trial.
After considering the Committee's proposal, we amend Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220(d) as reflected in the appendix to this opinion. New language is indicated by underscoring. The amendment shall become effective immediately upon the release of this opinion.
It is so ordered.
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur. APPENDIX
RULE 3.220. DISCOVERY
(a)-(c) [No Change]
(d) Defendant's Obligation.
(1) If a defendant elects to participate in discovery, either through filing the appropriate notice or by participating in any discovery process, including the taking of a discovery deposition, the following disclosures shall be made:
(A) [No change]
(B) Within 15 days after receipt of the prosecutor's Discovery Exhibit the defendant shall serve a written Discovery Exhibit which shall disclose to and permit the prosecutor to inspect, copy, test, and photograph the following information and material that is in the defendant's possession or control:
(i) the statement of any person listed in subdivision (d)(1)(A), other than that of the defendant;
(ii) reports or statements of experts , that the defendant intends to use as a witness at a trial or hearing, made in connection with the particular case, including results of physical or mental examinations and of scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons; and
(iii) any tangible papers or objects that the defendant intends to use in the hearing or trial.
(2)-(3) [No changes]
(e)-(o) [No changes]
Committee Notes
[No changes]
Court Commentary
[No changes]