Supreme Court amends rule to allow for service and emotional support animals inside the courtroom
The Florida Supreme Court has adopted amendments to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration Rule 2.540 to address the use of service and emotional support animals in courts.
The unanimous court acted on March 23 in Case No. SC22-1277.
In November 2022, The Florida Bar’s Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration Committee filed a report that proposed amending Rule 2.540 (requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities) to provide guidelines for the use of “service animals,” and “emotional support animals.” The Board of Governors unanimously recommended acceptance of the report, which was developed with input from the Animal Law Section.