FL S1420

Chief judges of judicial circuits may establish a program for retired justices or judges to preside over civil cases and trials, subject to approval by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Parties may request retired justices or judges for nondispositive motions (single party request) or dispositive motions and trials (joint request by all parties), with the chief judge deciding requests within 5 days.

Parties requesting a retired justice or judge must prepay the per diem rate before the hearing or trial, with a minimum charge of one day's per diem and additional time charged in full-day increments.

Per diem payments from parties are deposited into the Administrative Trust Fund, with refunds authorized only if the assigned retired justice or judge becomes unavailable for reasons unrelated to the parties' conduct.

Voluntary trial resolution may include a jury trial if a right to jury trial exists and at least one party requests it, with the trial resolution judge presiding according to applicable civil jury trial laws.