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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 proceedings to be held upon a petition for reinstatement
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`pursuant to rule 3-7.10 in the matter of:
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`The Florida Bar Re: Lance John Ruffe ,
`Supreme Court Case No. SC20-187;
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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 Bertila Soto, Chief Judge of the Eleventh 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 matters which shall be presented at the final hearing,
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`and thereafter shall submit findings of fact and recommendations to the Supreme
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`Court of Florida as provided in rule 3-7.10(h). Pursuant to rule 3-7.6(n)(3), bar
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`Case No. SC20-187
`Page Two
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`counsel shall assist the referee in the preparation of the index and record in this
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`cause. The referee shall also act on all motions forwarded to the referee from this
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`Court. Pursuant to rule 3-7.10(h), any order by the referee regarding disposition of
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`the case shall be merely a recommendation to this Court. Such an order shall not
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`dispose of the proceedings. This Court shall review and, if appropriate, approve
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`the referee’s recommended disposition order.
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`The referee's report shall be filed within 180 days of the date 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 February 10, 2020.
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`ATTEST:
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`__________________________________
`CHIEF JUSTICE
`SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
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`Enclosed: Petition for Reinstatement.
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`A previous case involving this respondent was assigned to the Honorable Joseph I.
`Davis.
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