Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canaday issued an Administrative Order cre­at­ing a Florida Innocence Commission ​“to con­duct a com­pre­hen­sive study of the caus­es of wrong­ful con­vic­tion and of mea­sures to pre­vent such con­vic­tions.” The Administrative Order cre­at­ing the com­mis­sion stat­ed the basis for the inves­ti­ga­tion: ​“WHEREAS, the occur­rence of cas­es in which the inno­cent are con­vict­ed and pun­ished con­sti­tutes a grave injus­tice; and WHEREAS, the imper­a­tive of avoid­ing such injus­tice requires a com­pre­hen­sive exam­i­na­tion of the caus­es of wrong­ful con­vic­tions and an in-depth con­sid­er­a­tion of mea­sures to pre­vent the con­vic­tion of the inno­cent.” The com­mis­sion will only review cas­es that have already been deter­mined to be wrong­ful con­vic­tions. The 23-mem­ber Innocence Commission is sched­uled to sub­mit an inter­im report to the Court no lat­er than June 30, 2011 and a final report and rec­om­men­da­tions to the Court no lat­er than June 30, 2012. 

The Order fur­ther states: ​“The Commission may hold pub­lic meet­ings, review exist­ing research, con­tract for new research, and solic­it com­ment from schol­ars, judges, state attor­neys, law enforce­ment, pri­vate defense attor­neys, pub­lic defend­ers, elect­ed offi­cials, vic­tims’ orga­ni­za­tions, and mem­bers of the public.”

(“Justice Canady Signs Order Creating Fla. Innocence Commission,” The Ledger, July 2, 2010). Read the Administrative Order. See Innocence.

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