The Florida Supreme Court has cleared the way for more senior judges to preside over criminal cases as the courts prepare to address the backlog of cases wrought by the pandemic.

Acting on its own motion May 21, the unanimous court amended a number of rules to allow senior judges to preside over criminal cases in circuits where senior judges provide mediation, arbitration, or voluntary trial resolution services.

“Adding this authorization to the Code of Judicial Conduct and the rules governing the practice will assist in maintaining judicial workflow and in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic upon the judicial branch and its participants,” the court said in Case No. SC21-737.