Florida court system

The state leads the nation with more than 481,000 immigration court cases, as a record number of people cross into the United States. A Tampa immigration lawyer talks about the backlog.

Critics of consolidation have said such a move would diminish access to the courts for lower-income people and rural residents, pose logistical problems and be costly.

Members of the public will be able to enter and move through courthouses across the state, while in-person court proceedings will continue to have mask requirements and social distancing.

Every six years the Florida court system assesses everything from public access to court independence and looks for suggestions on ways to improve. That…