Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 4, 2015

In a dual appellate-court smackdown Friday, Pinellas and Broward counties lost separate appeals against the Department of Juvenile Justice related to the state collectively overbilling counties as much as $140 million for juvenile detention costs. In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal acknowledged that the money due to counties […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

An organization that bills itself as “Florida’s largest statewide small business lender” is asking an appeals court to reconsider an opinion against it. The Black Business Investment Fund of Central Florida last week filed a request for a full rehearing by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in a case involving a low-interest loan program for the state’s small businesses. On […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2015

A Florida appeals court has largely upheld a ruling for the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in a case involving a low-interest loan program for the state’s small businesses. A three-judge panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal on Monday sided with DEO on a summary judgment in a suit brought by the Black Business […]

Jim RosicaOctober 20, 2015

The operators of a North Florida race track are asking the state Supreme Court to review a lower-court decision that said several Florida dog and horse tracks can’t also have slot machines. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which runs the track in Gretna, filed its request Tuesday. Gretna is about 25 miles west of […]

Gary FineoutOctober 2, 2015

A far-reaching court ruling that could have opened the door to slot machines at dog and horse tracks across Florida has been reversed. The 1st District Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that slot machines could not be installed at a facility 25 miles west of Tallahassee. The decision was unusual because the same court […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 9, 2015

An appellate court on Wednesday granted a Walton County man’s request for a new trial on sex-crime charges because an alternate juror accidentally sat in on deliberations. Riordan Boblitt, 25, had been charged with lewd or lascivious battery on a teen and attempted sexual battery, according to the decision. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court […]

Associated PressJune 16, 2015

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is saying a recent court decision on slot machines could cause “grave financial harm” to the tribe. Lawyers for the tribe filed court papers on Tuesday. They want the 1st District Court of Appeal to let the Seminoles weigh in on a far-reaching ruling that could lead to slot machines […]

Ryan RayJune 11, 2015

Thursday morning the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee ruled that the state’s “communications services tax” — currently undergoing revision in the Legislature’s budget talks — is unconstitutional. Judge L. Clayton Roberts, writing for the majority in a 20-page opinion, ruled that the CST contravenes state law because it unfairly favors cable providers in […]

Ryan RayMay 30, 2015

In the wake of Friday afternoon’s surprise 1st District Court of Appeal ruling to allow Entertainment Creek in the Gadsden County city of Gretna to move forward in implementing new slot machines, the Orlando-based anti-gambling advocacy group No Casinos issued a stern rebuke of the decision. “Today’s court ruling has far-reaching implications for the people of Florida. When voters […]

Ryan RayMay 29, 2015

On Friday afternoon, Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal issued a sweeping 50-page ruling overturning a decision by Attorney General Pam Bondi that stood between Creek Entertainment and new slot machines licenses for their parimutuel facility in Gretna, approved by Gadsden County voters in a 2012 referendum. The ruling repudiated the basis of the state’s opposition to […]

Tag: 1st District Court of Appeal

Court won’t order DJJ to repay counties for juvenile detention overbilling

Losing side in DEO appeal wants yet another chance

Appeals court sides with DEO in contract case

Gretna race track wants Supreme Court to decide slots question

Florida court reverses itself on slots

Sex-crime convictions reversed because of juror mix-up

Seminole Tribe wants to join legal fight over slot machines

Appellate court rules state communications tax unconstitutional

No Casinos decries 1st District Court of decision

1st DCA rules in favor of Gretna slots, Gadsden voters, against Pam Bondi