If I lose on appeal to a District Court of Appeal, can I appeal to the Florida Supreme Court?
Most decisions of our five Florida District Courts of Appeal (DCA) will be the final appellate court decision in a civil, i.e. non-criminal matter. It is extremely difficult for a civil case to reach the Florida Supreme Court. A right to Supreme Court review in a civil case is limited to a DCA decision that declares a state statute or provision of the state constitution invalid.
Otherwise the Florida Supreme Court has discretion whether to accept any case for review. The requirements for discretionary review are a written decision of a Florida District Court of Appeal that expressly: 1) declares valid a state statute; 2) construes a provision of the state constitution; 3) affects a class of constitutional or state officers; 4) conflicts with another Florida appellate decision; 5) certifies conflict with another Florida appellate decision; or 6) passes upon a question certified to be of great public importance. Even if your case is one of the very few to meet these requirements, the Florida Supreme Court may still refuse to review your case.