In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
Date FiledOctober 1, 2026
DocketSC2024-0839
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
Supreme Court of Florida
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No. SC2024-0839
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IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE OF CRIMINAL
PROCEDURE 3.190.
October 1, 2026
PER CURIAM.
The Criminal Court Steering Committee (CCSC) filed a report
proposing amendments to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.190
(Pretrial Motions). 1 The amendments were in response to a decision
of the Fourth District Court of Appeal related to the time for filing of
a motion to dismiss based on a claim of โstand your groundโ
immunity under section 776.032, Florida Statutes. See
Acostafigueroa v. State, 373 So. 3d 908, 910 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023)
(stating that โa motion to dismiss claiming self-defense immunity
from prosecution may be entertained at any time before trial
pursuant to rule 3.190(c)(3)โ).
1. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, ยง 2(a), Fla. Const.; see
also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140.
On October 30, 2025, we adopted amendments, to be effective
July 13, 2026, but with several modifications. Most relevant now,
the Court removed the requirement of sworn facts for motions to
dismiss. Because the Court adopted amendments to rule 3.190(d)
(Traverse or Demurrer; Rendition of Order) that differed from those
that were previously published for comment, a comment period was
provided. The Court received seven comments.
After considering the comments, we further amend rule
3.190(d) to keep the swearing requirement. The subdivision is
amended to provide that โ[t]he facts on which the motion is based
must be alleged specifically and the motion must be sworn.โ
The Court hereby amends the Florida Rules of Criminal
Procedure as reflected in the appendix to this opinion. New
language is indicated by underscoring. The amendments shall
become effective immediately.
It is so ordered.
COURIEL, C.J., and LABARGA, MUรIZ, GROSSHANS, FRANCIS,
BARRIOS, and TANENBAUM, JJ., concur.
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT.
Original Proceeding โ Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure
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Judge Fleur J. Lobree, Chair, Criminal Court Steering Committee,
Miami, Florida, Judge Joseph A. Bulone, Past Chair, Criminal Court
Steering Committee, Clearwater, Florida, and Bart Schneider, Staff
Liaison, Office of the State Courts Administrator, Tallahassee,
Florida,
for Petitioner
Jude Faccidomo of Ratzan & Faccidomo, on behalf of the Criminal
Law Section of The Florida Bar, and as Chair, Criminal Procedure
Rules Committee, Miami, Florida, Katelyn Knaak Johnston, Past
Chair, Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, Jacksonville, Florida,
Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee,
Florida, and Kelly Noel Smith, Attorney Liaison, The Florida Bar,
Tallahassee, Florida; Douglas A. Wyler of Wyler Law Firm, on behalf
of The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Inc., Fernandina
Beach, Florida; Jason Cromey of Jason Cromey, B.C.S., on behalf of
the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Pensacola,
Florida; James Uthmeier, Attorney General, David Dewhirst,
Solicitor General, Jeffrey Paul DeSousa, Former Acting Solicitor
General, and Nathan A. Forrester, Chief Deputy Solicitor General,
Office of the Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida; and Clifton
Wilson, Jr. Public Defender, Third Judicial Circuit of Florida, Lake
City, Florida, and John Eddy Morrison, Assistant Public Defender,
Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, Florida, on behalf of
Florida Public Defender Association, Inc., Tallahassee, Florida,
Responding with comments
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APPENDIX
RULE 3.190. PRETRIAL MOTIONS
(a) โ (c) [No Change]
(d) Traverse or Demurrer; Rendition of Order.
(1) [No Change]
(2) Claim of Undisputed Material Facts; Traverse or
Demurrer. The defendant may file a motion to dismiss on the basis
that there are no material disputed facts and the undisputed facts
do not establish a prima facie case of guilt. The facts on which the
motion is based must be alleged specifically and the motion must
be sworn. At least two days before any hearing on the motion, the
state may file a traverse or a demurrer. In considering the motion,
the court must presume that factual matters alleged in it are true
unless the state specifically denies them in the traverse. A traverse
must be sworn and may allege additional material facts. The court
must deny the motion to dismiss if, in its traverse, the state
presents sworn evidence establishing with specificity the existence
of a material disputed fact.
(3) [No Change]
(e) โ (i) [No Change]
Repeal
[No Change]
Committee Notes
[No Change]
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