Full Opinion

Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida Opinion filed January 15, 2020. Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing. ________________ No. 3D19-1834 Lower Tribunal No. 01-12950A ________________ Charles Edward Stallworth, Petitioner, vs. The State of Florida, Respondent. A Case of Original Jurisdiction—Mandamus. Charles Edward Stallworth, in proper person. Ashley Moody, Attorney General, and Michael W. Mervine, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent. Before SCALES, LINDSEY and HENDON, JJ. PER CURIAM. On October 23, 2019, this Court issued an opinion denying Charles Edward Stallworth’s mandamus petition. Our opinion contained an order to show cause why Stallworth should not be prohibited from filing with this Court any further pro se appeals, petitions, motions or proceedings related to his criminal conviction and sentence in lower tribunal case number F01-12950A. Stallworth did not file a response to our show cause order. We must balance Stallworth’s pro se right of access to courts with this Court’s need to devote its finite resources to legitimate appeals and petitions, recognizing the seriousness of the sanction when the litigant is a criminal defendant. See State v. Spencer, 751 So. 2d 47, 48 (Fla. 1999). After issuing an order to show cause and giving the defendant an opportunity to respond, this Court may prevent further such filings in the absence of a showing of good cause. Id. Because Stallworth did not file a response to our show cause order introducing new argument or information for our consideration, we conclude that Stallworth has not demonstrated good cause to justify further pro se filings of appeals, petitions, motions, and other proceedings with this Court. We direct the Clerk of the Third District Court of Appeal to refuse to accept from Stallworth any further pro se filings related to lower tribunal case number F01-12950A; provided, however, that the Clerk of the Third District Court of Appeal may accept filings related to case number 2 F01-12950A if such filings have been reviewed and signed by an attorney who is a licensed member of the Florida Bar in good standing. Any further and unauthorized pro se filings by Stallworth will subject him to sanctions, including the issuance of written findings forwarded to the Florida Department of Corrections for consideration by it for disciplinary action, pursuant to section 944.279(1) of the Florida Statutes. Order issued. 3