(1) A county court may certify a question to the district court of appeal in a final judgment that is appealable to the circuit court if the question may have statewide application, and:
(a) Is of great public importance; or
(b) Will affect the uniform administration of justice.
(2) In the final judgment, the trial court shall:
(a) Make findings of fact and conclusions of law; and
(b) State concisely the question to be certified.
(3) The decision to certify the question to the district court of appeal is within the sole discretion of the county court.
(4) The district court of appeal has absolute discretion as to whether to answer a question certified by the county court.
(a) If the district court agrees to answer the certified question, it shall decide all appealable issues that have been raised from the final judgment.
(b) If the district court declines to answer the certified question, the case shall be transferred to the circuit court which has appellate jurisdiction.
History.—s. 3, ch. 84-303; s. 6, ch. 2020-61.
Structure Florida Statutes
34.01 - Jurisdiction of County Court.
34.011 - Jurisdiction in Landlord and Tenant Cases.
34.017 - Certification of Questions to District Court of Appeal.
34.021 - Qualifications of County Court Judges.
34.022 - Number of County Court Judges for Each County.
34.032 - Power of Clerk to Appoint Deputies.
34.045 - Cost Recovery; Use of the County Court for Ordinance or Special Law Violations.
34.07 - Sheriff to Be Executive Officer.
34.08 - Compensation of Sheriff.
34.13 - Method of Prosecution.
34.131 - To Be Open for Voluntary Pleas of Guilty.
34.161 - Persons Convicted in County Court Allowed 48 Hours to Pay Fine Before Being Worked.