Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressApril 14, 2016

Florida government agencies that lose lawsuits filed by people seeking access to public records will have to pay plaintiffs’ attorney fees, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a Jacksonville-based case. And it doesn’t matter if the agency didn’t know it was breaking Florida’s public records laws when it denied or limited access to records, […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2016

Should satellite-television service be taxed at a higher rate than cable? The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides Wednesday. Satellite TV companies, including DirecTV, want the court to uphold the 1st District Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision last year, which said that taxing the two services differently is unconstitutional. The state’s Revenue Department and Florida’s […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court has set June 7 as the date it will hear oral argument in a case on expanding slot machines in the state. The announcement was in a docket filing added Thursday. “A maximum of 20 minutes to the side is allowed for the argument,” the entry says. Gretna Racing, the Gadsden County track seeking to add […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

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The plaintiffs who won a congressional redistricting case won’t be getting paid by the state for appellate attorney costs, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday in a 4-3 decision. The denial of a request for attorney fees – two lines in the 8-page order – was the second blow in a one-two punch: A three-judge panel of the 1st District […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday barely approved a proposed state constitutional amendment on solar power for the 2016 ballot. In a 4-3 decision, the court OK’d the amendment in question, called “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” It’s backed by Consumers For Smart Solar, supported by the state’s biggest private utilities, including Duke Energy Florida, Florida […]

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

A lawyer for U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on Friday told a panel of federal judges that Florida’s new congressional map flies in the face of 100 years of history and would do violence to the voting rights of her black constituency. William Sheppard argued that the former district, which meanders from Jacksonville through Gainesville to Sanford, follows […]

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

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With the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. standing behind her, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown held a master class in political theater at a Tallahassee buffet restaurant Friday. It came after a court hearing on her legal challenge of the state’s new congressional district map. In the morning, a panel of federal judges heard […]

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

A trio of federal judges on Friday will hear arguments from an attorney for U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on her move to temporarily stop a congressional redistricting scheme ordered by the Florida Supreme Court. The one-hour hearing is set for 9 a.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee. U.S. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum and U.S. District Judges Mark Walker […]

Jim RosicaMarch 24, 2016

An appeal court in Tallahassee has upheld a trial judge’s denial of attorney fees to the plaintiffs who won a congressional redistricting case. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal agreed with Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that the League of Women Voters of Florida, Common Cause and others “waived their right” to get their […]

Jim RosicaMarch 23, 2016

With a proposed $3 billion gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida having died this past legislative session, the tribe’s lawyer on Tuesday said its fight to keep blackjack in tribal casinos now moves to a federal court. Barry Richard, a Greenberg Traurig shareholder based in Tallahassee, is representing the tribe in a case against […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court: Board must pay in public records case

State’s highest court talks TV tax

Florida Supreme Court orders oral argument in slots case

Supreme Court denies request for attorney fees in redistricting case

“Smart Solar” amendment narrowly passes Supreme Court review

Corrine Brown’s lawyer argues that old district lines follow historical precedent

Corrine Brown, fired up and ready to go – to lunch

Judges to consider Corrine Brown challenge to congressional redistricting

Court strikes down fee request in redistricting case

Seminole Tribe’s lawyer now watching court cases after Compact’s demise