RULE 3.220. DISCOVERY
(a) Notice of Discovery. After the filing of the charging
document, a defendant may elect to participate in the discovery process
provided by these rules, including the taking of discovery depositions,
by filing with the court and serving on the prosecuting attorney a
“Notice of Discovery” which shall bind both the prosecution and
defendant to all discovery procedures contained in these rules.
Participation by a defendant in the discovery process, including the
taking of any deposition by a defendant or the filing of a public
records request under chapter
119, Florida Statutes for law enforcement records relating to the
defendant’s pending prosecution, which are nonexempt as a result of a
codefendant’s participation in discovery, shall be an election to
participate in discovery and triggers a reciprocal discovery obligation
for the defendant. If any defendant knowingly or purposely shares in
discovery obtained by a codefendant, the defendant shall be deemed to
have elected to participate in discovery.
(b) Prosecutor’s Discovery Obligation.
(1) Within 15 days after service of the Notice of Discovery, the
prosecutor shall serve a
written Discovery Exhibit which shall disclose to the defendant and
permit the defendant to inspect, copy, test, and photograph the
following information and material within the state’s possession or
control:
(A) a list of the names and addresses of all persons known to the
prosecutor to have
information that may be relevant to any offense charged or any defense
thereto, or to any similar fact evidence to
be presented at trial under section 90.404(2), Florida Statutes. The
names and addresses of persons listed shall be
clearly designated in the following categories:
(i) Category A. These witnesses shall include (1) eye witnesses, (2)
alibi
witnesses and rebuttal to alibi witnesses, (3) witnesses who were
present when a recorded or unrecorded statement
was taken from or made by a defendant or codefendant, which shall be
separately identified within this category,
(4) investigating officers, (5) witnesses known by the prosecutor to
have any material information that tends to
negate the guilt of the defendant as to any offense charged, (6) child
hearsay witnesses, and (7) expert witnesses
who have not provided a written report and a curriculum vitae or who are
going to testify to test results or give
opinions that will have to meet the test set forth in Frye v. United
States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923).
(ii) Category B. All witnesses not listed in either Category A or
Category
C.
(iii) Category C. All witnesses who performed only ministerial functions
or whom the prosecutor does not intend to call at trial and whose
involvement with and knowledge of the case is
fully set out in a police report or other statement furnished to the
defense;
(B) the statement of any person whose name is furnished in compliance
with the
preceding subdivision. The term “statement” as used herein includes a
written statement made by the person and
signed or otherwise adopted or approved by the person and also includes
any statement of any kind or manner made
by the person and written or recorded or summarized in any writing or
recording. The term “statement” is
specifically intended to include all police and investigative reports of
any kind prepared for or in connection with
the case, but shall not include the notes from which those reports are
compiled;
(C) any written or recorded statements and the substance of any oral
statements
made by the defendant, including a copy of any statements contained in
police reports or report summaries, together
with the name and address of each witness to the statements;
(D) any written or recorded statements and the substance of any oral
statements
made by a codefendant if the trial is to be a joint one;
(E) those portions of recorded grand jury minutes that contain testimony
of the defendant;
(F) any tangible papers or objects that were obtained from or belonged
to the defendant;
(G) whether the state has any material or information that has been
provided by a
confidential informant;
(H) whether there has been any electronic surveillance, including
wiretapping, of
the premises of the defendant or of conversations to which the defendant
was a party and any documents relating
thereto;
(I) whether there has been any search or seizure and any documents
relating thereto;
(J) reports or statements of experts made in connection with the
particular
case, including results of physical or mental examinations and of
scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons; and
(K) any tangible papers or objects that the prosecuting attorney intends
to use in
the hearing or trial and that were not obtained from or that did not
belong to the defendant.
(2) If the court determines, in camera, that any police or investigative
report contains
irrelevant, sensitive information or information interrelated with other
crimes or criminal activities and the
disclosure of the contents of the police report may seriously impair law
enforcement or jeopardize the investigation
of those other crimes or activities, the court may prohibit or partially
restrict the disclosure.
(3) The court may prohibit the state from introducing into evidence any
of the foregoing
material not disclosed, so as to secure and maintain fairness in the
just determination of the cause.
(4) As soon as practicable after the filing of the charging document the
prosecutor shall
disclose to the defendant any material information within the state’s
possession or control that tends to negate the guilt of the defendant as
to any offense charged, regardless of whether the defendant has incurred
reciprocal discovery obligations.
(c) Disclosure to Prosecution.
(1) After the filing of the charging document and subject to
constitutional limitations, the
court may require a defendant to:
(A) appear in a lineup;
(B) speak for identification by witnesses to an offense;
(C) be fingerprinted;
(D) pose for photographs not involving re-enactment of a scene;
(E) try on articles of clothing;
(F) permit the taking of specimens of material under the defendant’s
fingernails;
(G) permit the taking of samples of the defendant’s blood, hair, and
other materials
of the defendant’s body that involves no unreasonable intrusion thereof;
(H) provide specimens of the defendant’s handwriting; and
(I) submit to a reasonable physical or medical inspection of the
defendant’s body.
(2) If the personal appearance of a defendant is required for the
foregoing purposes,
reasonable notice of the time and location of the appearance shall be
given by the prosecuting attorney to the defendant and his or her
counsel. Provisions may be made for appearances for such purposes in an
order admitting a defendant to bail or providing for pretrial release.
(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) Within 15 days after receipt by the defendant of the Discovery
Exhibit furnished
by the prosecutor pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this rule, the
defendant shall furnish to the prosecutor a written list of the names
and addresses of all witnesses whom the defendant expects to call as
witnesses at the trial or hearing. When the prosecutor subpoenas a
witness whose name has been furnished by the defendant, except for trial
subpoenas, the rules applicable to the taking of depositions shall
apply.
(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 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) The prosecutor and the defendant shall perform their obligations
under this rule in a
manner mutually agreeable or as ordered by the court.
(3) The filing of a motion for protective order by the prosecutor will
automatically stay the
times provided for in this subdivision. If a protective order is
granted, the defendant may, within 2 days thereafter, or at any time
before the prosecutor furnishes the information or material that is the
subject of the motion for protective order, withdraw the defendant’s
notice of discovery and not be required to furnish reciprocal discovery.
(e) Restricting Disclosure. The court on its own initiative or on motion
of counsel shall deny or
partially restrict disclosures authorized by this rule if it finds there
is a substantial risk to any person of physical harm, intimidation,
bribery, economic reprisals, or unnecessary annoyance or embarrassment
resulting from the disclosure, that outweighs any usefulness of the
disclosure to either party.
(f) Additional Discovery. On a showing of materiality, the court may
require such other discovery to the parties as justice may require.
(g) Matters Not Subject to Disclosure.
(1) Work Product. Disclosure shall not be required of legal research or
of records,
correspondence, reports, or memoranda to the extent that they contain
the opinions, theories, or conclusions of the prosecuting or defense
attorney or members of their legal staffs.
(2) Informants. Disclosure of a confidential informant shall not be
required unless the confidential informant is to be produced at a
hearing or trial or a failure to disclose the informant’s identity will
infringe
the constitutional rights of the defendant.
(h) Discovery Depositions.
(1) Generally. At any time after the filing of the charging document any
party may take the
deposition upon oral examination of any person authorized by this rule.
A party taking a deposition shall give reasonable written notice to each
other party and shall make a good faith effort to coordinate the date,
time, and location of the deposition to accommodate the schedules of
other parties and the witness to be deposed. The notice shall state the
time and the location where the deposition is to be taken, the name of
each person to be examined, and a certificate of counsel that a good
faith effort was made to coordinate the deposition schedule. After
notice
to the parties the court may, for good cause shown, extend or shorten
the time and may change the location of the deposition. Except as
provided herein, the procedure for taking the deposition, including the
scope of the examination, and the issuance of a subpoena (except a
subpoena duces tecum) for deposition by an attorney of record in the
action, shall be the same as that provided in the Florida Rules of Civil
Procedure. Any deposition taken pursuant to this rule may be used by any
party for the purpose of contradicting or impeaching the testimony
of the deponent as a witness. The trial court or the clerk of the court
may, upon application, issue subpoenas for the persons whose depositions
are to be taken. In any case, including multiple defendants or
consolidated cases, no person shall be deposed more than once except by
consent of the parties or by order of the court issued on good cause
shown. A witness who refuses to obey a duly served subpoena may be
adjudged in contempt of the court from
which the subpoena issued. (A) The defendant may, without leave of
court, take the deposition of any witness listed by the prosecutor as a
Category A witness or listed by a co-defendant as a witness to be called
at a joint trial or hearing. After receipt by the defendant of the
Discovery Exhibit, the defendant may, without leave of court, take the
deposition of any unlisted witness who may have information relevant to
the offense charged. The prosecutor may, without leave of court, take
the deposition of any witness listed by the defendant to be called at a
trial or
hearing.
(B) No party may take the deposition of a witness listed by the
prosecutor as a
Category B witness except upon leave of court with good cause shown. In
determining whether to allow a deposition, the court should consider the
consequences to the defendant, the complexities of the issues involved,
the complexity of the testimony of the witness (e.g., experts), and the
other opportunities available to the defendant to discover the
information sought by deposition.
(C) A witness listed by the prosecutor as a Category C witness shall not
be subject
to deposition unless the court determines that the witness should be
listed in another category.
(D) No deposition shall be taken in a case in which the defendant is
charged only
with a misdemeanor or a criminal traffic offense when all other
discovery provided by this rule has been complied with unless good cause
can be shown to the trial court. In determining whether to allow a
deposition, the court should consider the consequences to the defendant,
the complexity of the issues involved, the complexity of the witness’
testimony (e.g., experts), and the other opportunities available to the
defendant to discover the information sought by deposition. However,
this prohibition against the taking of depositions shall not be
applicable if following the furnishing of discovery by the defendant the
state then takes the statement of a listed defense witness pursuant to
section 27.04, Florida Statutes.
(2) Transcripts. No transcript of a deposition for which a county may be
obligated to
expend funds shall be ordered by a party unless it is:
(A) agreed between the state and any defendant that the deposition
should be
transcribed and a written agreement certifying that the deposed witness
is material or specifying other good cause is filed with the court or
(B) ordered by the court on a showing that the deposed witness is
material or on
showing of good cause. This rule shall not apply to applications for
reimbursement of costs pursuant to section 939.06, Florida Statutes, and
article I, section 9, of the Florida Constitution.
(3) Location of Deposition. Depositions of witnesses residing in the
county in which the
trial is to take place shall be taken in the building in which the trial
shall be held, such other location as is agreed on by the parties, or a
location designated by the court. Depositions of witnesses residing
outside the county in which the trial is to take place shall be taken in
a court reporter’s office in the county or state in which the witness
resides, such other location as is agreed on by the parties, or a
location designated by the court.
(4) Depositions of Sensitive Witnesses. Depositions of children under
the age of 16 shall
be videotaped unless otherwise ordered by the court. The court may order
the videotaping of a deposition or the taking of a deposition of a
witness with fragile emotional strength to be in the presence of the
trial judge or a special magistrate.
(5) Depositions of Law Enforcement Officers. Subject to the general
provisions of
subdivision (h)(1), law enforcement officers shall appear for
deposition, without subpoena, upon written notice of taking deposition
delivered at the address of the law enforcement agency or department, or
an address designated by the law enforcement agency or department, five
days prior to the date of the deposition. Law enforcement officers who
fail to appear for deposition after being served notice are subject to
contempt proceedings.
(6) Witness Coordinating Office/Notice of Taking Deposition. If a
witness coordinating
office has been established in the jurisdiction pursuant to applicable
Florida Statutes, the deposition of any witness should be coordinated
through that office. The witness coordinating office should attempt to
schedule the depositions of a witness at a time and location convenient
for the witness and acceptable to the parties.
(7) Defendant’s Physical Presence. A defendant shall not be
physically present at a deposition except on stipulation of the parties
or as provided by this rule. The court may order the physical presence
of the defendant on a showing of good cause. The court may consider (A)
the need for the physical presence of the defendant to obtain effective
discovery, (B) the intimidating effect of the defendant’s presence on
the witness, if any, (C) any cost or inconvenience which may result, and
(D) any alternative electronic or audio/visual means
available.
(8) Telephonic Statements. On stipulation of the parties and the consent
of the witness,
the statement of a law enforcement officer may be taken by telephone in
lieu of the deposition of the officer. In such case, the officer need
not be under oath. The statement, however, shall be recorded and may be
used for impeachment at trial as a prior inconsistent statement pursuant
to the Florida Evidence Code.
(i) Investigations Not to Be Impeded. Except as is otherwise provided as
to matters not subject to disclosure or restricted by protective orders,
neither the counsel for the parties nor other prosecution or defense
personnel shall advise persons having relevant material or information
(except the defendant) to refrain from discussing the case with opposing
counsel or showing opposing counsel any relevant material, nor shall
they otherwise impede opposing counsel’s investigation of the case.
(j) Continuing Duty to Disclose. If, subsequent to compliance with the
rules, a party discovers
additional witnesses or material that the party would have been under a
duty to disclose or produce at the time of the previous compliance, the
party shall promptly disclose or produce the witnesses or material in
the same manner as required under these rules for initial discovery.
(k) Court May Alter Times. The court may alter the times for compliance
with any discovery under these rules on good cause shown.
(l) Protective Orders.
(1) Motion to Restrict Disclosure of Matters. On a showing of good
cause, the
court shall at any time order that specified disclosures be restricted,
deferred, or exempted from discovery, that certain matters not be
inquired into, that the scope of the deposition be limited to certain
matters, that a deposition be sealed and after being sealed be opened
only by order of the court, or make such other order as is appropriate
to protect a witness from harassment, unnecessary inconvenience, or
invasion of privacy, including prohibiting the taking of a deposition.
All material and information to which a party is entitled, however, must
be disclosed in time to permit the party to make beneficial use of it.
(2) Motion to Terminate or Limit Examination. At any time during the
taking
of a deposition, on motion of a party or of the deponent, and upon a
showing that the examination is being conducted in bad faith or in such
manner as to unreasonably annoy, embarrass, or oppress the deponent or
party, the court in which the action is pending or the circuit court
where the deposition is being taken may (1) terminate the deposition,
(2) limit the scope and manner of the taking of the deposition, (3)
limit the time of the deposition,
(4) continue the deposition to a later time, (5) order the deposition to
be taken in open court, and, in addition, may
(6) impose any sanction authorized by this rule. If the order terminates
the deposition, it shall be resumed thereafter only upon the order of
the court in which the action is pending. Upon demand of any party or
deponent, the taking of the deposition shall be suspended for the time
necessary to make a motion for an order.
(m) In Camera and Ex Parte Proceedings.
(1) Any person may move for an order denying or regulating disclosure of
sensitive matters.
The court may consider the matters contained in the motion in camera.
(2) Upon request, the court shall allow the defendant to make an ex
parte showing of good
cause for taking the deposition of a Category B witness.
(3) A record shall be made of proceedings authorized under this
subdivision. If the court
enters an order granting relief after an in camera inspection or ex
parte showing, the entire record of the proceeding shall be sealed and
preserved and be made available to the appellate court in the event of
an appeal.
(n) Sanctions.
(1) If, at any time during the course of the proceedings, it is brought
to the attention of the
court that a party has failed to comply with an applicable discovery
rule or with an order issued pursuant to an applicable discovery rule,
the court may order the party to comply with the discovery or inspection
of materials not previously disclosed or produced, grant a continuance,
grant a mistrial, prohibit the party from calling a witness not
disclosed or introducing in evidence the material not disclosed, or
enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.
(2) Willful violation by counsel or a party not represented by counsel
of an applicable discovery
rule, or an order issued pursuant thereto, shall subject counsel or the
unrepresented party to appropriate sanctions by the court. The sanctions
may include, but are not limited to, contempt proceedings against the
attorney or unrepresented party, as well as the assessment of costs
incurred by the opposing party, when appropriate.
(3) Every request for discovery or response or objection, including a
notice of deposition
made by a party represented by an attorney, shall be signed by at least
1 attorney of record in the attorney’s individual name, whose address
shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall
sign the request, response, or objection and list his or her address.
The signature of the attorney or party constitutes a certification that
the signer has read the request, response, or objection and that to the
best of the signer’s knowledge, information, or belief formed after a
reasonable inquiry it is:
(A) consistent with these rules and warranted by existing law or a good
faith
argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law;
(B) not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to
cause
unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation; and
(C) not unreasonable or unduly burdensome or expensive, given the needs
of the
case and the importance of the issues at stake in the litigation. If a
request, response, or objection is not signed, it shall be stricken
unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the
attention of the party making the request, response, or objection, and a
party shall not be
obligated to take any action with respect to it until it is signed. If a
certification is made in violation of this rule, the court, on motion or
on its own initiative, shall impose on the person who made the
certification, the firm or agency with which the person is affiliated,
the party
on whose behalf the request, response, or objection is made, or any or
all of the above an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to
pay the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the
violation, including a reasonable attorney’s fee.
(o) Costs of Indigents. After a defendant is adjudged insolvent, the
reasonable costs incurred in the operation of these rules shall be taxed
as costs against the county.
(p) Pretrial Conference.
(1) The trial court may hold 1 or more pretrial conferences, with trial
counsel
present, to consider such matters as will promote a fair and expeditious
trial. The defendant shall be present unless the defendant waives this
in writing.
(2) The court may set, and upon the request of any party shall set, a
discovery
schedule, including a discovery cut-off date, at the pretrial
conference.
This section of Florida law is provided for informational purposes
only. This section does not include case law construction and is not
intended to constitute legal interpretation nor advice.
