Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2017

In yet another rejection of a policy backed by conservative lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Supreme Court Thursday “declined” to change the state’s expert evidence rule to one used by federal courts and most states. “We decline to adopt the Daubert Amendment to the extent that it is procedural, due to the constitutional concerns raised, which must […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 1, 2016

The Florida Bar squared off Thursday against a coalition of corporate and criminal defense lawyers over a change to the state’s expert witness standard. The Florida Supreme Court heard more than an hour of argument on whether to adopt a change to evidence law that lawmakers passed in 2013. The Bar is against it; defense […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2016

A state appeals court has upheld the retroactive use of a contentious evidence standard approved by lawmakers in 2013. The 4th District Court of Appeal this week affirmed a trial court ruling against plaintiff Simona Bunin. She’s one of the inventors behind a line of spray-bottle flavored olive oils. Bunin, based in South Florida, also holds a patent […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2016

They don’t get as much attention as policy debates that gum up and even fracture legislative sessions (think Medicaid expansion), but a slew of proposed legal-related changes will be before legislators this year – some new, some old standbys. For instance, the Legislature will try to overhaul Florida’s alimony law for at least the third time in recent […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors has voted to recommend against the state adopting a contentious change in evidence law that’s favored by Republican Gov. Rick Scott and conservative lawmakers. The board, which met in Naples Friday, voted 33-9 to recommend that the state Supreme Court “not adopt the Daubert standard,” according to a Bar spokeswoman on Monday. The move […]

Jim RosicaOctober 16, 2015

The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors on Friday postponed consideration of taking a formal stand on an evidence law change favored by Gov. Rick Scott and conservative lawmakers. The change was actually passed into law two years ago but the courts have yet to follow it. Bar spokeswoman Francine Walker said the board, meeting in Atlantic Beach, “tabled” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 13, 2015

A fight over an important but otherwise obscure evidentiary standard used in court cases looms later this week. The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors will consider whether to recommend rejecting a change in evidence law that’s favored by conservative lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott. It promises to revive, at least temporarily, the debate over “tort reform,” […]

Tag: Daubert
Image via Florida A&M University.

Supreme Court rejects evidence standard supported by Rick Scott, lawmakers

Expert witness standard takes center stage at Florida Supreme Court

Appellate court approves of controversial evidence standard

2016 Legislative Food Fights: Legal, judicial reforms again on lawmakers’ to-do list

Florida Bar votes against controversial evidence standard

Florida Bar punts on controversial evidence standard

Will Legislature and Florida Bar get into tug of war over obscure court rule?