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`WHEREAS, it officially has been made known to me that it is necessary
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`to appoint a referee for the Court pursuant to rule 3-7.6(a), Rules Regulating the
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`Florida Bar, to preside in a disciplinary action brought by The Florida Bar pursuant
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`to Chapter 3 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar in the matter of:
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`The Florida Bar vs. Brett Allen Mearkle,
`Supreme Court Case No. SC19-110;
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`NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles T. Canady, under authority vested in me
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`as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, do hereby designate the
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`Honorable Raul A. Zambrano, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of
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`Florida, to appoint a referee for the Court in the above matter and, within fourteen
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`days of this order, to notify the Clerk of the Florida Supreme Court and the parties
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`as to the judge appointed as referee. The referee shall conduct a case management
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`conference, to be held no later than sixty days from the date of appointment, at
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`which the schedule for the proceedings, including the final hearing date, shall be
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`set. The referee shall have the option of holding the required case management
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`conference either in person or telephonically. The referee shall thereafter hear,
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`conduct, try, and determine the matters presented at the final hearing, and submit
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`findings of fact and recommendations to the Supreme Court of Florida as provided
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`Case No. SC19-110
`Page Two
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`in rule 3-7.6(m). Pursuant to rule 3-7.6(n)(3), bar counsel shall assist the referee in
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`the preparation of the index and record in this cause. Pursuant to rule 3-7.6(m)(1),
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`any order by the referee regarding disposition of the case shall be merely a
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`recommendation to this Court. Such an order shall not dispose of the proceedings.
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`This Court shall review and, if appropriate, approve the referee’s recommended
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`disposition order.
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`Except in cases where the ninety (90) day time limit provided by rule
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`3-5.2(l) applies, the referee's report shall be filed within 180 days of his or her
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`appointment, unless there are substantial reasons requiring delay.
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`DONE AND ORDERED at Tallahassee, Florida, on January 25, 2019.
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`__________________________________
`CHIEF JUSTICE
`SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
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`ATTEST:
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`Enclosed: Complaint and Possible Venue.
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`A previous case involving this respondent was assigned to the Honorable David A.
`Cromartie.
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