Florida Statute 454.18 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

Chapter 454
ATTORNEYS AT LAW

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F.S. 454.18

454.18 Officers not allowed to practice.—No sheriff or clerk of any court, or full-time deputy thereof, shall practice in this state, nor shall any person not of good moral character, or who has been convicted of an infamous crime be entitled to practice. A person may not be denied the right to practice on account of sex, race, or color. And any person, whether an attorney or not, or whether within the exceptions mentioned above or not, may conduct his or her own cause in any court of this state, or before any public board, committee, or officer, subject to the lawful rules and discipline of such court, board, committee, or officer. The provisions of this section restricting the practice of law by a sheriff or clerk, or full-time deputy thereof, do not apply in a case where such person is representing the office or agency in the course of his or her duties as an attorney.

History.—s. 18, ch. 10175, 1925; CGL 4196; s. 54, ch. 91-137; s. 182, ch. 97-103; s. 1, ch. 2007-166.

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Amendments to 454.18

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 454.18

Total Results: 23

Traylor v. State

596 So. 2d 957, 1992 WL 4873

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 16, 1992 | Docket: 396385

Cited 368 times | Published

1347, Gen.Stats. 1906, F.C.L. (1914). [19] See § 454.18, Fla. Stat. (1989). [20] See Fla.R.Crim.P. 3

Kohn v. City of Miami Beach

611 So. 2d 538, 1992 Fla. App. LEXIS 12346, 1992 WL 360847

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 1992 | Docket: 1757409

Cited 39 times | Published

standard than a reasonably competent attorney. Section 454.18, Florida Statutes (1991) clearly provides "any

State Ex Rel. Florida Bar v. Evans

94 So. 2d 730

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 6, 1957 | Docket: 1412448

Cited 17 times | Published

of an infamous crime within the meaning of Section 454.18, Florida Statutes 1953, F.S.A., and that pursuant

Harich v. State

573 So. 2d 303, 1990 WL 205139

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 13, 1990 | Docket: 1518732

Cited 13 times | Published

conflict. The Court finds no violation of Florida Statute 454.18, 27, 51, and 27.53; Article II, Section

Shotkin v. Cohen

163 So. 2d 330

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 7, 1964 | Docket: 1353735

Cited 10 times | Published

Florida, F.S.A., and the statutory provisions of § 454.18 Fla. Stat., F.S.A. However, when one person by

Carr v. Grace

321 So. 2d 618

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 1975 | Docket: 1256057

Cited 5 times | Published

In support of appellant's contention, she cites § 454.18, Fla. Stat., F.S.A., which provides that, inter

Martinez v. Fraxedas

678 So. 2d 489, 1996 WL 470876

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 21, 1996 | Docket: 1470812

Cited 4 times | Published

cert. denied, 348 So.2d 945 (Fla.1977); see also § 454.18, Fla. Stat. *492 (1993)("[A]ny person ... may

In Re Estate of Jeffress

301 So. 2d 25

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 4, 1974 | Docket: 1338805

Cited 3 times | Published

I, § 21, of the Florida Constitution and F.S. § 454.18, which guarantee the right to represent oneself

Yunger v. Oliver

803 So. 2d 884, 2002 WL 10157

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 4, 2002 | Docket: 1784769

Cited 2 times | Published

the party must adhere to the rules of court. See § 454.18, Fla. Stat. (2000) (providing that parties have

Kahn v. Milon

332 So. 2d 149

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 18, 1976 | Docket: 1314175

Cited 2 times | Published

party to a cause may act as his own attorney. See § 454.18, Fla. Stat., F.S.A. and Carr v. Grace, Fla.App

Herskowitz v. Herskowitz

466 So. 2d 8, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 705, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 12882

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 12, 1985 | Docket: 64610876

Cited 1 times | Published

counsel or be subject to dismissal of her cause); § 454.18, Fla.Stat. (1983). This matter was not cognizable

Isaaih X Ash v. State of Florida

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 4, 2025 | Docket: 69673940

Published

or her own cause in any court of this state[.]” § 454.18, Fla. Stat. See also Kahn v. Milon, 332 So. 2d

JAMES M. MILLER v. HENDERSON MACHINE, INC.

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 4, 2020 | Docket: 18604178

Published

professionalism during litigation. As noted in section 454.18, Florida Statutes (2019), “any person, whether

Roth v. Cortina

59 So. 3d 163, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 2670, 2011 WL 710145

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 2, 2011 | Docket: 2364899

Published

denying Cortina's counsel's motion to withdraw. Section 454.18 of the Florida Statutes provides that "any

Pearson v. Pefkarou

734 So. 2d 551, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 7268, 1999 WL 346587

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 1999 | Docket: 64788605

Published

obligation to comply with the rules of court. See § 454.18, Fla. Stat. (1997); Carr v. Grace, 321 So.2d 618

Carson v. Global Medical Management

705 So. 2d 142, 1998 Fla. App. LEXIS 1152, 1998 WL 52287

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 11, 1998 | Docket: 64778659

Published

representing himself. We grant the petition. See § 454.18, Fla. Stat. (1997). Petitioner has been sued as

Smith v. State

546 So. 2d 61, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 1571, 1989 Fla. App. LEXIS 3707, 1989 WL 72738

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 28, 1989 | Docket: 64643580

Published

but I — no ma’am, but I have filed under Florida Statute 454.18 to represent myself in this pretrial. THE

Hauser v. Coates

478 So. 2d 518, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2617, 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 5912

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 20, 1985 | Docket: 64615547

Published

Kahn v. Milon, 332 So.2d 149 (Fla.3d DCA 1976); § 454.18, Fla.Stat. (1983).

Florida Bar Re Amendment to Florida Rules of Civil Procedure

450 So. 2d 810

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 1983 | Docket: 64605088

Published

Fla.R.P. & G.P. 5.420, 5.520, and 5.530. . Section 454.18, Florida Statutes (1981), reads as follows:

Munne v. Garcia

414 So. 2d 1099, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 20120

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 18, 1982 | Docket: 64590409

Published

error to disqualify him from representing himself. § 454.18, Fla.Stat. (1977); Carr v. Grace, 321 So.2d 618

Chieng v. Salazar

410 So. 2d 606, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 19359

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 2, 1982 | Docket: 64588268

Published

order of dismissal. Therefore we reverse. See Section 454.18, Florida Statutes; Kahn v. Milon, 332 So.2d

Jeffress v. Parham

301 So. 2d 25, 1974 Fla. App. LEXIS 8506

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 4, 1974 | Docket: 64541542

Published

I, § 21, of the Florida Constitution and F.S. § 454.18, which guarantee the right to represent oneself

State ex rel. Florida Bar v. Sears

89 So. 2d 494

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 12, 1956 | Docket: 64488412

Published

said respondent had violated the provisions of Section 454.18, F.S.A., which provides, among other things