In re Amendment to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure-Rule 3.112 Minimum Standards for Attorneys in Capital Cases

This matter originally came before the Court for consideration of a proposed rule concerning the competency and qualifications of lawyers appointed to represent indigent defendants in capital cases where the services of the public defender are not available. In 1998 we deferred consideration of this issue pending legislative study. See In re Amendment to Fla. Rules of Judicial Admin., 711 So.2d 1148, 1149-50 (Fla.1998). We now address the issue after receipt of a unanimous recommendation by a legislative study commission that this Court, rather than the legislature, adopt standards for…