From the fee lawyers pay to become members of the court's bar or to be specially admitted, the court has established a fund called the Bench Bar Fund. As the name suggests, the fund is used to benefit the bench and bar. Examples of common uses of funds are expenses for lawyer admission proceedings, lawyer discipline proceedings, furnishings for lawyer conference rooms, fund-related matters, anatomical charts for courtrooms, portraits, and legal education programs. Requests for funding may be made by anyone.
A request for funding from the Bench Bar Fund must:
- be in writing on this form;
- include a budget, receipts, or invoices; and
- be made far enough in advance of the event or purchase to allow enough time for the Bench Bar Fund committee to consider the request.
For guidance on requesting and using funds, see the Bench Bar Fund Plan (PDF), Parameters for Use of Bench Bar Funds (PDF), and Tips for Requesting Bench Bar Funds for CLE Events (PDF).
In addition to completing and submitting this form, the budget, receipts, or invoices must be emailed to the clerk at FLMD_Bench_Bar_Fund_Request@flmd.uscourts.gov
Note that the court's Consumer's Certificate of Exemption for Florida sales and use tax does not apply to expenses paid for with money from the Bench Bar Fund.