Who We Are
FCPIO is a statewide professional association made up of court professionals from Florida’s 20 judicial circuits, five District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, and the Office of the State Courts Administrator. Members meet annually and hold monthly conference calls to work collaboratively on improving court communication in Florida.
In most Florida courts, the person designated as PIO serves a different role in the court as well; often as the trial court administrator or deputy, court operations manager, or marshal. As of 2019, only six court PIOs are full-time, dedicated staff. Other court staff with a variety of essential responsibilities apart from communication are responsible for managing the myriad demands of “public information officer.”
FCPIO meets regularly to discuss emerging developments in court and media relations with a special focus on Florida’s uniquely broad public records and public meetings laws and court rules, and its continuous history of allowing broadcast coverage of court proceedings starting in 1979.
FCPIO Purpose & History
Consistent with its status as a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation, FCPIO works on its own and with other nonprofit organizations and governmental bodies to advance the ongoing dialogue among courts, media, and the public.
FCPIO is the direct outgrowth of a state court PIO educational conference held in 2005 at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee and funded by a grant from the Florida Bar Foundation. The 2005 conference was held in cooperation with the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media at the National Judicial College.
In 2007, FCPIO became a federally recognized tax-exempt educational nonprofit corporation to promote discussion among Florida’s court public information officers (PIOs). All Florida state court divisions were directed to appoint PIOs by then-Chief Justice Charles T. Wells following a 2002 report on emergency preparedness issued by an advisory committee created after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
From the report, recommendations, as approved:
- The chief justice should designate a court staff member to serve as the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the judicial branch.
- This officer should work with the ECO of the judicial branch during emergencies and should be present in the State Emergency Operations Center during major emergencies.
- The state courts administrator, in cooperation with the Public Information Officer of the Supreme Court of Florida and the Public Information Officer of the judicial branch, should develop a guide for use by the Public Information Officers of each court during emergencies.
- Upon appointment, the court Public Information Officer should coordinate with officials responsible for providing court security and should jointly develop a plan for dealing with emergencies, including crisis communications with the media.
- The designated PIO of each court should develop a brochure that can be handed out to media, members of the public, and court personnel explaining basic procedures that will be followed during emergencies.
- A means for providing current and accurate information to judges and court personnel should be developed by the PIO and continuing information should be provided to them throughout the emergency. An Internet site should be prepared in advance for use during emergencies.
- The designated PIO should be made responsible for ensuring that the release of public information is coordinated between all response entities.