If the court finds that discharge is not appropriate for reasons under subdivisions (j)(2), (j)(3), or (j)(4), the pending motion for discharge shall be denied, provided, however, that trial shall be scheduled and commence within 90 days of a written or recorded order of denial.
FL. R. Crim. P. 3.191
Committee Notes.
1972 Amendment. Same as prior rule. The schedule is omitted as being unnecessary.
1977 Amendment. An appeal by the state from an order dismissing the case constitutes an interlocutory appeal and should be treated as such. The additional phrase removes any ambiguities in the existing rule.
1980 Amendment..
(a)(1). Speedy Trial without Demand.
1. Prisoners in Florida institutions are now treated like any other defendant [formerly (b)(1)].
2. Federal prisoners and prisoners outside Florida may claim the benefit of this subdivision once special prerequisites are satisfied under (b)(1).
3. Before a court can discharge a defendant, the court must make complete inquiry to ensure that discharge is appropriate.
(a)(2). Speedy Trial upon Demand.
1. Trial cannot be scheduled within 5 days of the filing of the demand without the consent of both the state and the defendant.
2. Before a court can discharge a defendant, the court must make complete inquiry to ensure that discharge is appropriate.
3. Prisoners in Florida are now treated like any other defendant [formerly (b)(2)].
4. Federal prisoners and prisoners outside Florida may claim the benefit of this subdivision once special prerequisites are satisfied under (b)(1).
(a)(3). Commencement of Trial.
1. Minor change in language to reflect case law.
(a)(4). Custody. [NEW].
1. Custody is defined in terms tantamount to arrest. This definition was formerly contained in (a)(1).
2. Where a notice to appear is served in lieu of arrest, custody results on the date the notice is served.
(b)(1). Prisoners outside Jurisdiction. [NEW].
1. Prisoners outside the jurisdiction of Florida may claim benefit under (a)(1) and (a)(2) after the prisoner returns to the jurisdiction of the court where the charge is pending and after the prisoner files and serves a notice of this fact.
2. As an alternative, certain prisoners may claim the benefit of sections 941.45-941.50, Florida Statutes (1979).
3. Former (b)(1) is repealed.
(b)(2). [NEW].
1. Where a misdemeanor and felony are consolidated for purposes of trial in circuit court, the misdemeanor is governed by the same time period applicable to the felony. To claim benefit under this provision, the crimes must be consolidated before the normal time period applicable to misdemeanors has expired.
2. Former (b)(2) is repealed.
(b)(3). Repealed and superseded by (b)(1).
(c). Demand for Speedy Trial.
1. The subdivision recognizes that an invalid (spurious) demand must be stricken.
2. The subdivision now puts a 5-day limit on the time when a defendant must be prepared.
(d)(1). Motion for Discharge.
1. Under the amended provision, a prematurely filed motion is invalid and may be stricken.
(d)(2). When Time May Be Extended.
1. The terms “waiver,” “tolling,” or “suspension” have no meaning within the context of the subdivision as amended. The subdivision addresses extensions for a specified period of time.
2. Except for stipulations, all extensions require an order of the court.
3. The term “recorded order” refers to stenographic recording and not recording of a written order by the clerk.
(d)(3). Delay and Continuances.
1. Even though the normal time limit has expired under (a)(1) or (a)(2), a trial court may not properly discharge a defendant without making a complete inquiry of possible reasons to deny discharge. If the court finds that the time period has been properly extended and the extension has not expired, the court must simply deny the motion. If the court finds that the delay is attributable to the accused, that the accused was unavailable for trial, or that the demand was invalid, the court must deny the motion and schedule trial within 90 days. If the court has before it a valid motion for discharge and none of the above circumstances are present, the court must grant the motion.
(e). Availability for Trial.
1. Availability for trial is now defined solely in terms of required attendance and readiness for trial.
(f). Exceptional Circumstances.
1. The 2 extension limit for unavailable evidence has been discarded.
2. The new trial date paragraph was eliminated because it simply was unnecessary.
(g). Effect of Mistrial; Appeal; Order of New Trial.
1. Makes uniform a 90-day period within which a defendant must be brought to trial after a mistrial, order of new trial, or appeal by the state or defendant.
(h)(1). Discharge from Crime.
1. No change.
(h)(2). Nolle Prosequi.
1. No change.
1984 Amendment..
(a)(1). Repeals the remedy of automatic discharge from the crime and refers instead to the new subdivision on remedies.
(a)(2). Establishes the calendar call for the demand for speedy trial when filed. This provision, especially sought by prosecutors, brings the matter to the attention of both the court and the prosecution. The subdivision again repeals the automatic discharge for failure to meet the mandated time limit, referring to the new subdivision on remedies for the appropriate remedy.
(I). The intent of (I)(4) is to provide the state attorney with 15 days within which to bring a defendant to trial from the date of the filing of the motion for discharge. This time begins with the filing of the motion and continues regardless of whether the judge hears the motion.
This subdivision provides that, upon failure of the prosecution to meet the mandated time periods, the defendant shall file a motion for discharge, which will then be heard by the court within 5 days. The court sets trial of the defendant within 10 additional days. The total 15-day period was chosen carefully by the committee, the consensus being that the period was long enough that the system could, in fact, bring to trial a defendant not yet tried, but short enough that the pressure to try defendants within the prescribed time period would remain. In other words, it gives the system a chance to remedy a mistake; it does not permit the system to forget about the time constraints. It was felt that a period of 10 days was too short, giving the system insufficient time in which to bring a defendant to trial; the period of 30 days was too long, removing incentive to maintain strict docket control in order to remain within the prescribed time periods.
The committee further felt that it was not appropriate to extend the new remedy provisions to misdemeanors, but only to more serious offenses.
1992 Amendment. The purpose of the amendments is to gender neutralize the wording of the rule. In addition, the committee recommends the rule be amended to differentiate between 2 separate and distinct pleadings now referred to as “motion for discharge.” The initial “motion for discharge” has been renamed “notice of expiration of speedy trial time.”.
2018 Amendment. In light of the ruling in Smart v. State, 179 So. 3d 477 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015 ), as well as the precedent cited therein, the committee notes that the reference to the swearing in of trial jury panel for voir dire examination contained in the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.191(c) relates to the giving of the oath contained in Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.300(a). The oath is not required to be given in any particular location or by any particular official.