Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 918.12 — Tampering with or harassing a court official

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 918: Conduct of Trial, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Tampering with or harassing a court official

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 918.12

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 918.12Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes

(1) TAMPERING WITH A COURT OFFICIAL.—(a) A person who knowingly commits any of the following acts with the intent to cause or induce any court official to obstruct the administration of justice or affect the outcome of an official investigation or official proceeding commits the crime of tampering with a court official:1. Uses intimidation or physical force;2. Threatens any person or attempts to do so;3. Engages in misleading conduct toward any person; or4. Offers pecuniary benefit or gain to any person.(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits:1. A felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the offense level of the affected official investigation or official proceeding is indeterminable.2. A felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a misdemeanor or noncriminal matter pending in county court.3. A felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the third degree or noncriminal matter pending in circuit court.4. A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the second degree.5. A felony of the first degree, punishable by a term of years not exceeding life or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the first degree or a felony of the first degree punishable by a term of years not exceeding life.6. A life felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a life or capital felony. (2) HARASSING A COURT OFFICIAL.—(a) A person who intentionally harasses a court official and thereby hinders, delays, prevents, or dissuades, or attempts to hinder, delay, prevent, or dissuade, a court official from performing any of the following acts commits the crime of harassing a court official:1. Attending an official proceeding;2. Rendering a fair verdict based solely upon the evidence produced at an official proceeding and upon the law; or3. Following the rules of juror behavior and deliberation as set forth by the judge.(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits:1. A misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a misdemeanor or noncriminal matter pending in county court.2. A felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the offense level of the affected official investigation or official proceeding is indeterminable.3. A felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the third degree or any noncriminal matter pending in circuit court.4. A felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the second degree.5. A felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the first degree.6. A felony of the first degree, punishable by a term of years not exceeding life or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the official investigation or official proceeding affected involves the investigation or prosecution of a felony of the first degree punishable by a term of years not exceeding life or a prosecution of a life or capital felony. (3) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to the actions of an attorney acting in the performance of his or her duties.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is tampering with or harassing a court official a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: tampering with or harassing a court official ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Life Felony in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 918.12.

Tampering with a court official — indeterminable offense level: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)1.) · Tampering with a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)2.) · Tampering with a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)3.) · Tampering with a court official — second-degree felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)4.) · Tampering with a court official — first-degree felony (including life-term): Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)5.) · Tampering with a court official — life or capital felony: Life Felony (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(1)(b)6.) · Harassing a court official — misdemeanor/noncriminal county court matter: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)1.) · Harassing a court official — indeterminable offense level: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)2.) · Harassing a court official — third-degree felony or circuit court noncriminal matter: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)3.) · Harassing a court official — second-degree felony: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)4.) · Harassing a court official — first-degree felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)5.) · Harassing a court official — first-degree felony punishable by life or life/capital felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 918.12(2)(b)6.)

Which Florida statute covers tampering with or harassing a court official?

Tampering with or harassing a court official is governed by Fla. Stat. § 918.12 (Tampering with or harassing a court official).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.