Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 7, 2017

A bill requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for a death sentence was OK’d by a Senate panel Monday. The legislation (SB 280) was cleared unanimously by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. It’s sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Randolph Bracy of Ocoee, the panel’s chair. Monday’s vote comes as a staff analysis said death penalty cases in Florida […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 6, 2017

A Tallahassee woman is suing a Mexican restaurant after she fell off its donkey statue and broke her back, according to a lawsuit. Kimberly Bonn‘s complaint, filed last week in Leon County Circuit Civil court, said she was having dinner at El Jalisco Southwood restaurant on Aug. 31, 2015. Afterward, she got up on a “life-size statue […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 6, 2017

Former Florida Bar president Hank Coxe, former state Sen. Arthenia Joyner and former federal prosecutor Roberto Martinez are Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga‘s three picks to the Constitution Revision Commission. Labarga announced his choices Monday during a press conference in the courthouse’s rotunda in Tallahassee. They now are the first names known to be on […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 6, 2017

The Florida Bar wants lawyer-spouses of military members stationed in Florida to be able to practice law here without having to take the state bar exam. The Bar, which regulates the state’s 100,000-plus licensed attorneys, filed its request with the Florida Supreme Court last week. The change would require court approval. Twenty-three other states, including […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 3, 2017

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga is open to the idea of law schools converting at least part of their third year from being classroom-based to more experiential learning. He also wondered whether the amount of subjects tested on the bar exam can be pared down, so third-year students can pursue more hands-on experience. […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 3, 2017

Florida’s chief justice Friday publicly defended his decision to allow Justice James E.C. Perry to continue working on cases after his retirement. On Dec. 1, Jorge Labarga assigned Perry “senior” status for a period after his mandatory Dec. 30 retirement. News since surfaced that the Florida House of Representatives, led by Republican Speaker Richard Corcoran, was preparing a legal challenge […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 2, 2017

Orlando trial lawyer and possible gubernatorial candidate John Morgan was a study in highs and lows Thursday as he spoke to Tallahassee’s Capital Tiger Bay Club. In wide-ranging remarks, Morgan – who said he still hasn’t decided on a 2018 run – pinballed between self-deprecating fat jokes and curse-word spiked anecdotes, and more serious musings about […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 2, 2017

State Sen. Dorothy Hukill will be absent from the upcoming committee week as she continues her battle against cervical cancer, a Senate spokeswoman said Thursday. “We expect her to return within a few weeks,” Katie Betta told FloridaPolitics.com. “Until then, she will remain engaged in the legislative process by working remotely as she continues her treatment and recovery.” […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 1, 2017

A Florida appellate court has ruled that a former Uber driver isn’t entitled to unemployment benefits because he was an independent contractor, not an employee. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami ruled Wednesday for the Department of Economic Opportunity, the state’s jobs agency, against Darrin E. McGillis. The […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 1, 2017

Three Florida lobbying concerns are being reported to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet for incorrectly tallying their income, the Florida Commission on Ethics said Wednesday. In at least two of the cases, however, the errors were basic accounting mistakes. Lobbyists’ compensation is subject to random audits, some of which are reviewed by the commission. In […]

Jim Rosica

Bill on unanimous jury for death sentence clears first panel

Donkey statue leads to alleged injury, lawsuit in Tallahassee

Jorge Labarga names three to Constitution Revision Commission

Lawyers married to military could bypass bar exam in Florida

Three years of law school? Maybe not, Jorge Labarga says

Jorge Labarga answers critics about James E.C. Perry’s ‘senior’ service

John Morgan had a different kind of stump speech for Tallahassee

Dorothy Hukill extends legislative absence as she fights cancer

Fla. court says Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees

Lobbying firms misreported income, ethics panel finds