In re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220
The Florida Supreme Court amended Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 to implement 2023 statutory changes (section 92.55(6), Fla. Stat.) governing depositions of sexual offense victims under 16 and 12. The amendments create new procedures requiring written motions, timely hearings, specific statutory factors for the court to weigh, a rebuttable presumption against deposing victims under 12 absent a death-penalty notice or unavailable forensic interview, and mandatory written orders specifying any limitations on the deposition. The amendments take effect October 1, 2025.
Key facts
- The Florida Supreme Court amended Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220 to implement 2023 statutory changes governing depositions of sexual offense victims under ages 16 and 12.
- The amendments establish new procedures requiring written motions, hearings within 30 days, consideration of statutory factors including victim maturity and availability of forensic interviews, and mandatory written orders specifying deposition limitations.
- +2 more key facts with a free trial
Why it matters
This rule amendment directly governs how and whether defense counsel may depose child sexual-offense victims, a frequently litigated discovery issue in sex-crime prosecutions. Practitioners on both sides must now follow… — full analysis with a trial
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