Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonMarch 5, 2017

Florida’s “stand your ground” law, a source of contention for years, could soon provide even more protection to people who invoke it. Some lawmakers want to make prosecutors prove a defendant wasn’t acting in self-defense before proceeding to trial. Florida has been a leader in giving citizens immunity in cases of self-defense, with its “stand […]

Les NeuhausFebruary 22, 2017

Members of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice passed a highly-contested bill Tuesday, potentially changing the state’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws. If passed, it would place the burden of proof on the prosecution (or state) in cases of those who claim self-defense immunity in acts of violence when brought before judiciary proceedings. HB 245 […]

Scott PowersFebruary 9, 2017

A Florida Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the latest attempt to expand the state’s Stand Your Ground self-defense law. On Thursday, the Senate Rules Committee passed the measure after advocates said it would stop unnecessary prosecutions. Opponents alleged it would stop a lot of necessary prosecutions, as well. Senate Bill 128 would allow gun defendants to […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 24, 2017

At a Senate Judiciary Committee, a controversial bill that would shift the burden of proof to the prosecutors in Stand Your Ground cases got a pass and continued to move forward. Stand Your Ground is the oft-controversial law which justifies a case where a defendant used force to defend themselves. The bill, SB 128, was […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 5, 2017

A pair of controversial gun bills in the Florida Senate will not be discussed during committee meetings next week According to the Senate calendar, a Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday has been cancelled. The committee, which is chaired by Sen. Greg Steube, was set to take up two gun bills during the […]

Michael MolineDecember 8, 2016

Sen. Rob Bradley reintroduced legislation Thursday clarifying that prosecutors have the burden of proving that shootings are unjustified under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. The Republican from Fleming Island said the measure would overturn the Florida Supreme Court ruling in Bretherick v. Florida. In that 2015 opinion, a 5-2 court said people charged in shootings must […]

Jim RosicaAugust 2, 2016

In a Stand Your Ground-related case, an appeals court has affirmed a Jacksonville man’s conviction and life sentence — after previously reversing it. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal on Tuesday unanimously upheld the punishment for John Swearingden, 48. Swearingden was convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing of another man during a fight in […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2016

Fourth Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey debated fellow Republican challengers Wes White and Melissa Nelson Friday at the First Coast Tiger Bay meeting. Among the topics addressed: administration of the death penalty; the backlog of appeals in the public defender’s office; Nelson’s diverse base of donors; Stand Your Ground defenses; Corey’s alleged penchant for “overcharging” defendants; and the right approach […]

Peter SchorschJune 29, 2016

At a press conference yesterday, Darren Soto called for a special legislative session to close the “terror loophole” in the aftermath of the Orlando Shooting. Soto refused to take questions from the public at the event — which is a shame, because voters deserve to know the truth about Soto’s record on guns. But the only time Soto […]

Peter SchorschJune 14, 2016

Scoring political points in the immediate aftermath of tragedy is nothing new. The response to the Orlando shooting will surely provide numerous examples in the days ahead, but thanks to Sen. Darren Soto, we already have one of our most egregious examples. Soto, who is currently running for Congress, announced he will hold a press […]

Tag: Stand Your Ground

State could flip burden of proving ‘Stand Your Ground’

House committee passes controversial change to ‘Stand Your Ground’

Senate Rules Committee stands its ground on Stand Your Ground

Controversial Stand Your Ground bill moves forward in Senate Judiciary committee

Hearing on gun bills postponed after Senate cancels Judiciary Committee meeting

Rob Bradley revives bill shifting Stand Your Ground burden to prosecutors

Court affirms Jax ‘Stand Your Ground’ conviction

State Attorney candidates tangle at Jacksonville Tiger Bay

Three questions for Darren Soto

Darren Soto stands with the NRA