Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsSeptember 12, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott moved Tuesday to defuse litigation over his authority to replace the Florida Supreme Court’s liberal wing by offering to confer with his successor on candidates to fill the seats of Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Barbara Pariente. Scott had said he planned to announce their replacements on Jan. 7, his last day in office, which […]

Scott PowersSeptember 8, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday deep-sixed a contentious proposed constitutional amendment dealing with schools from the November ballot, agreeing with a lower court that the proposal’s intentions toward charter schools were poorly worded. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision Friday, Amendment 8, which covers several education matters, will not be presented […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 7, 2018

The state’s Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a lower court ruling approving Amendment 10, which would overhaul state and local governments by requiring certain offices now appointed to be elected. That means the constitutional change remains on the Nov. 6 ballot, though it still must be approved by no less than 60 percent of […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 7, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday ordered a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban betting on live greyhound racing back on the ballot, reversing a lower-court judge. Now, if approved by at least 60 percent of voters in November, the measure could sound the death knell of the state’s 87-year-old greyhound industry. In Florida, live dog racing is still conducted […]

Michael MolineSeptember 7, 2018

Justice Jorge Labraga joined the Florida Supreme Court’s conservative wing in ruling that the Constitution Revision Commission’s Amendment 6 including a crime victims ‘bill of rights’ may appear on the November ballot. “We hereby reverse the circuit court’s judgment and vacate the injunction prohibiting the Secretary of State from action to place the Constitutional Revision Commission’s Revision […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 7, 2018

The face of the Florida Greyhound Association is asking the head of the state agency regulating gambling to let his people go. Go behind the scenes at dog tracks, that is. Tallahassee lobbying legend Jack Cory, who’s advocated for the greyhound industry for decades, sent a request Friday for an “emergency rule” to Jonathan Zachem, […]

Michael MolineSeptember 6, 2018

A state appeals court has upheld insurance policy language barring policyholders from signing assignment of benefits agreements without the approval of co-insureds, including financial institutions holding mortgages on the property. The ruling Wednesday, written by Judge Alan Forst for a unanimous three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal, contradicts a finding by the 5th District reached […]

Michael MolineSeptember 5, 2018

A critic of Florida’s proposed victims’ right amendment suggested Wednesday that the Florida Supreme Court should block the Constitution Revision Commission from combining multiple proposals into single revisions to place before the voters. Such “bundling” gives voters a choice to swallow provisions they don’t like to enact those that they do, litigator Harvey Sepler said during […]

Michael MolineSeptember 5, 2018

An appeal before the Florida Supreme Court, testing the leeway county supervisors of elections afford candidates in meeting filing deadlines, was in jeopardy Wednesday for failure to pay a filing fee. In a notice to aspiring Clay County Court candidate Lucy Ann Hoover, high court clerk John Tomasino warned of the impending consequences. “Failure to file the […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 4, 2018

Gambling regulators on Tuesday warned racing greyhound owners and others that public tours of kennels at Florida greyhound tracks may violate state regulations. A representative of the industry soon shot back that the prohibition was “outrageous!” Last month, the National Greyhound Association said it would offer tours of “three Florida greyhound tracks and their on-site kennels.” The two-hour guided […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court
Image via Florida Sheriffs Association.

Rick Scott says he’ll consult his successor on Supreme Court vacancies

Charter schools amendment stricken from November ballot

Amendment 10 OK’d for ballot by Supreme Court

Off to the races: Supreme Court clears dog racing-ban for ballot

Victims’ rights amendment will appear on ballot, justices rule

Jack Cory to state gambling regulators: Let the kennel tours go on

Sign on dotted line: Appeals court upholds assignment of benefits ruling

Florida Supreme Court hears arguments over Amendments 6, 8

Unpaid fee endangers Supreme Court appeal in candidate disqualification

Whoa, dog: State says greyhound kennel tours aren’t allowed