By one estimate, the average attorney files, faxes and photocopies about 17 trees worth of paper per year. And Florida has nearly 50,000 lawyers, which means some 800,000 trees become legal paper each year.
To save some trees, Miami lawyer Anthony C. Musto has written a report recommending that recycled paper be required for all pleadings and documents filed with Florida state courts."There's not much we can do to reduce the number of pleadings. There is something we can do to increase the number of trees," he said.
The proposal has the support of Gov. Lawton Chiles, among others.
The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, made up of state attorneys and judges, recommended the measure to the Florida Supreme Court in April. The court, which adopts all rules of court procedure for the state, is to hold a hearing on the proposal Wednesday.
"Poet Joyce Kilmer said, `Only God can make a tree,' " said Musto, chairman of the committee. "While it may be true that it takes a supreme being to make a tree, it is also true that a Supreme Court can save many of them."
The board of governors of the Florida Bar association twice has voted against the proposal. The board favors the use of recycled paper but says it shouldn't be mandatory.
"In some areas it's difficult to readily obtain recycled paper," said John DeVault, a Jacksonville lawyer and member of the board of governors.
He cited other objections. "Our investigation shows it's about 20 percent more costly than other paper. And because of the absorbency of the paper, it makes laser printers and other reproducing equipment break down," he said.
The Rules of Judicial Administration Committee contends there's no discernible difference in quality between recycled and regular paper, and that prices are comparable.
Along with Chiles, supporters of the committee's recommendation include the state secretary of environmental regulation and chairmen of a state Senate committee and House subcommittee that deal with environmental issues.
Environmental groups also endorse the proposal.
"Given the massive amount of paper involved, a switch to recycled paper would have a major environmental impact," the committee's report said.
The report filled 13 pages - of recycled paper.