Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2017

The state’s new abortion law sparked a contentious dialogue between a federal judge and a lawyer for the state on Friday. Part of that law requires those engaged in abortion referral or counseling services to pay a fee to register with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and provides for criminal penalties for not registering. The American […]

William PatrickJanuary 23, 2017

It’s a vicious circle: Poor people who can’t afford their court-related costs and penalties incur escalating costs for not paying, further indebting them to the state. “It’s a circle that some people get stuck in and they can’t get out,” Christopher Torres, a Tallahassee defense attorney and former Florida assistant attorney general, told Watchdog.org. Compounding the problem is […]

Associated PressNovember 4, 2016

A coalition of groups monitoring voting across the country says it’s getting more calls from voters in Florida than any other state. Members of the Election Protection Coalition said Thursday they’ve received more than 1,700 calls to their election hotline since Florida kicked off early voting late last month. Nearly 5 million voters have already […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 1, 2016

A lawyer representing an abortion clinic told the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday that the state’s 24-hour waiting period would significantly restrict a woman’s right to abortion and asked justices to continue blocking the law until a lower court can decide whether it’s constitutional. The delays could lead to victims of domestic abuse being forced […]

Scott PowersMay 12, 2016

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a challenge Thursday to block Marion County School District’s rule forbidding transgender students from using the restroom for the gender to which they identify. The complaint, filed Thursday with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, contends that Marion schools’ rule violates the civil rights of students who are transgender. […]

Gary FineoutMarch 4, 2016

With executions halted and the prosecution of some murder cases in limbo, the Florida Legislature overhauled the state’s death penalty law Thursday in response to a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that the current sentencing law is unconstitutional. Legislators sent to Gov. Rick Scott a bill that would require that at least 10 out […]

Associated PressFebruary 28, 2016

As a pediatrician, Dr. Judith Schaechter can ask parents of her patients all sorts of questions regarding their safety and well-being: what the child eats, whether there’s a backyard pool and whether the child gets enough sleep. Yet the question of whether there is a gun in the home is generally off limits. A Florida […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2016

Florida’s First District Court of Appeal is deciding whether they should lift an order that blocked a state law requiring a 24-hour waiting period for abortions. The three-judge panel heard arguments Tuesday from the attorney general’s office and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. The state filed the complaint after two judges blocked the […]

Associated PressJanuary 13, 2016

Convicted killer Michael Lambrix is scheduled to be executed Feb. 11, one of 390 Florida death row inmates whose fate is now in question after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the state’s method of imposing death sentences. Attorney William Hennis said Wednesday he will seek a new sentencing hearing for Lambrix, who was condemned […]

William MarchJanuary 7, 2016

A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a case that could affect whether prisoners are counted in drawing voting districts in Florida, an issue that affects voting power particularly in rural areas of the state. The American Civil Liberties Union and several Jefferson County residents charge the county used “prison-based gerrymandering” in drawing its five […]

Tag: American Civil Liberties Union

Federal judge sounds dubious on abortion counseling registration

Proposed legislation could break the cycle of debt for many caught in Florida’s legal system

Florida voters sounding off about election problems

ACLU asks court to continue to block abortion waiting period

ACLU challenges Marion County schools’ transgender bathroom rule

Florida overhauls death penalty in bid to resume executions

Battle rages over Florida law limiting doctors’ gun speech

Florida court hears case challenging abortion law

Ruling puts fate of Florida death row inmates in question

Group challenges inclusion of prisoners in voting districts