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Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2016

State Rep. Matt Gaetz has introduced his own amendment to a judicial term-limits bill that will be before the House Tuesday, inspired by the debate over naming a successor to the late U.S. Supreme Court Antonin Scalia. That amendment reads in part: “… if a justice of the (state) supreme court dies within one year […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2016

Former Florida Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham on Monday filed his friend-of-the-court brief with the state Supreme Court, arguing against the expansion of slot machines. Graham’s brief is for a Gadsden County case in which the operators of a racetrack in Gretna say they should be allowed to also offer slot machines because voters […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2016

State Rep. Jared Moskowitz on Monday began filing last-minute amendments to the House’s judicial term-limits bill. The measure (HB 197) likely will be dead on arrival when it gets to the Senate. Indeed, the Senate version of the (SB 322) has yet to be heard with three weeks left in the 2016 Legislative Session. Under the legislation, pushed […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 14, 2016

About a quarter-century ago, a pack of Marlboro cigarettes sealed a friendship between the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Florida legal legend Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte. It was December 1991, during D’Alemberte’s tenure as American Bar Association president. Scalia had been on the bench about five years by then. He died Saturday at the age of 79. The two men […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 12, 2016

Florida’s top elections official intends to appeal a federal judge’s decision to keep him in U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown‘s lawsuit concerning the recent congressional redistricting plan. Secretary of State Ken Detzner filed a notice of appeal on Thursday, court records show. Detzner wants the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overrule a decision to deny his motion […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 12, 2016

A former co-worker of retired Judge Jackie Fulford is taking her place on the bench of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes the state capital. Gov. Rick Scott this week announced the appointment of Frank Allman Jr. to replace Fulford. Allman and Fulford were both assistant prosecutors under longtime State Attorney Willie Meggs. The 55-year-old Allman, […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2016

Legislation requiring a unanimous verdict from the jury to recommend the death penalty will head to the state Senate floor after passing a committee vote Monday. The Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee passed its version of a bill (SB 7068) that would revise Florida’s sentencing process for the death penalty. The Legislature is tasked with rewriting […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

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Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga has been re-elected by his colleagues to serve a second two-year term, the first justice to serve two consecutive terms as chief since the end of the Civil War, according to a Friday news release. “It is a privilege to serve the people of Florida,” Labarga said. “My second term will […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as unconstitutional a state law requiring write-in candidates to live in the districts they’re running for when they qualify. The court ruled unanimously in Brinkmann v. Francois (Case No. SC14-1899), though Justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston “concur(red) in result” only. The case involved a 2014 Broward County […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

A measure that would impose term limits on Florida’s appellate judges has cleared its last House committee, despite critics’ warnings that it will cause a brain drain on the bench. The bill (HB 197) cleared the Judiciary Committee Thursday by a vote of 11-6, sending it to the full Florida House of Representatives. To take effect, it must […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court

Matt Gaetz and the “Scalia amendment”

Bob Graham weighs in against expanding slot machines

Jared Moskowitz still trying to amend judicial term limits bill

Jim Rosica: Sandy D’Alemberte has fond memories of Antonin Scalia

Ken Detzner files notice of appeal in Corrine Brown lawsuit

Veteran prosecutor tapped for Tallahassee-area judgeship

Bill requiring unanimous verdict for death penalty in Florida advances

Jorge Labarga to repeat as state’s chief justice

State Supreme Court strikes down write-in residency law

Judicial term limits OK’d by final House committee