FL S1736

Exempts business e-mail addresses of current justices of the Supreme Court, district court of appeal judges, circuit court judges, and county court judges from public records disclosure requirements.

Exemption applies only to current justices and judges, not former ones, distinguishing it from existing protections for home addresses and telephone numbers that apply to both current and former judicial officers.

Exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and will automatically repeal on October 2, 2022, unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts it.

Legislature finds that disclosing business e-mail addresses could result in ex parte communications from litigants or the public that might necessitate judicial recusal or other actions negatively affecting judicial efficiency.

Public can still contact justices and judges through their judicial assistants via e-mail; only the direct business e-mail addresses themselves are protected, while content of e-mails sent by judges remains public.

Effective date: July 1, 2017.