Florida Statute 918.12 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS

Chapter 918
CONDUCT OF TRIAL

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918.12 Tampering with or harassing a court official.—

(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; or

4. 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; or

3. 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.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-315; s. 1540, ch. 97-102; s. 3, ch. 2025-126.

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Amendments to 918.12

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 918.12

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S918.12 - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER WITH JUROR - F: T

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL UNK OFFENSE LEVEL - F: T

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL MISD/NONCRIM OFFENSE - F: T

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL F3 OFFENSE - F: S

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL F2 OFFENSE - F: F

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL F1 OFFENSE - F: F

S918.12 1a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - TAMPER W/ COURT OFFICIAL LIFE/CAPITAL OFFENSE - F: L

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL UNK OFFENSE LEVEL - M: F

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL MISD/NONCRIM OFF - F: T

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL F3 OFFENSE - F: T

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL F2 OFFENSE - F: S

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL F1 OFFENSE - F: F

S918.12 2a - OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - HARASS/HINDER COURT OFFICIAL LIFE/CAPITAL OFF - F: F

Cases Citing Statute 918.12

Total Results: 5

PATRICK GAMMAGE v. STATE OF FLORIDA

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 2, 2019 | Docket: 16006950

Published

for tampering with jurors in violation of section 918.12, Florida Statutes (2013). At

Gammage v. State

210 So. 3d 97, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 13264

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 2, 2016 | Docket: 4418855

Published

third-degree felony of tampering with jurors under section 918.12, Florida Statutes, as a level 4 offense).

Gammage v. State

181 So. 3d 1256, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 19425, 2015 WL 9487582

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 30, 2015 | Docket: 3024828

Published

counts of tampering with jurors in violation of section 918.12, Florida' Statutes (2013). The offenses occurred

Schmidter v. State

103 So. 3d 263, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21955, 2012 WL 6629772

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 21, 2012 | Docket: 60227067

Published

enter the courthouse may be in violation of section 918.12, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, pursuant to

Nobles v. State

769 So. 2d 1063, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 10990, 2000 WL 1224776

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 30, 2000 | Docket: 64801196

Published

insufficient to support a conviction under section 918.12, Florida Statutes, because the juror he allegedly

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