Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

Christian D. Searcy doesn’t consider himself “the most political person” but suggests you don’t need a weatherman to see which way the wind is blowing on Florida’s judicial nominating panels. Searcy, president of the Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley personal-injury law firm, reacted to Tuesday’s news about the state’s Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs). Gov. Rick Scott had […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 3, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has rejected all suggestions from The Florida Bar to fill vacancies in several of the state’s Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNC), the panels that recommend lawyers for judgeships. The latest rejections now add up to at least 90 of the Bar’s recommendations for JNC openings that Scott has turned down since taking office in 2011, according […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 19, 2016

Florida law school students’ downward spiral continues, with only 68.2 percent passing the latest state bar exam. The state’s Board of Bar Examiners on Monday released the figures for the July 26-27 examination. The results are for first-time test takers only. This July’s overall pass rate was 0.7 percent lower than last year’s, of 68.9 percent. In 2014, it was 71.8 […]

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 […]

Staff ReportsAugust 25, 2016

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Two Florida lawyers accused of orchestrating the arrest of a rival attorney have been permanently disbarred by the state’s Supreme Court. The court on Thursday, in its first release of opinions after the 2016 summer recess, unanimously agreed with a referee’s earlier recommendation on Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut of Tampa. A third attorney involved, Stephen […]

Jim RosicaJuly 28, 2016

The state’s lawyers are being targeted by yet another online scam. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent out a warning Wednesday night about a new “imposter scam.” This time, her office is the one being spoofed. “Bar members are receiving emails purported to be from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, erroneously informing (them) that their business is being sued by […]

Jim RosicaJuly 20, 2016

A Jacksonville judge facing misconduct proceedings is fighting back, saying the allegations against him are false and “dirty political tactics.” Among other violations, Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III was charged Wednesday with reportedly making racially biased and other derogatory comments off the bench. (Previous story here.) One accusation had him referring to a woman attorney by using a vulgar term […]

Jim RosicaJuly 20, 2016

A Jacksonville judge now faces judicial misconduct proceedings for reportedly making racially biased and other derogatory comments off the bench, among other charges. They include referring to a woman attorney by using a vulgar term for female genitalia. The state’s Judicial Qualifications Commission filed its notice of formal charges against Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey III on Wednesday. The commission investigates […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2016

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Jennifer Krell Davis is leaving the Florida Ports Council to rejoin The Florida Bar as deputy public information director. The Bar announced the hire Monday. Davis had been special projects coordinator at the Bar, which regulates the state’s attorneys, in 2001-04. She later was communications director for the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Department of State, […]

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2016

Two Florida lawyers accused of orchestrating the arrest of a rival attorney are asking the state’s Supreme Court not to disbar them for good. Robert Adams and Adam Filthaut of Tampa are requesting disbarment with an opportunity for reinstatement in five years. Their attorneys gave oral argument in the matter Thursday. Pinellas County Judge W. […]

Tag: The Florida Bar
Denise Grimsley, Kelli Stargel, Lisa Carlton and Peter Schorsch at Florida TaxWatch. Photo via Florida TaxWatch.

Is Rick Scott co-opting Florida’s judicial nominating process?

Rick Scott rejects Bar’s nominees for state’s judicial panels

Florida bar exam passage rate drops to lowest point in 5 years

Expert witness standard takes center stage at Florida Supreme Court

‘Love Sponge’ lawyers permanently stripped of law licenses

Email scammers targeting Florida lawyers again

Mark Hulsey fires back, says ‘dirty political tactics’ at play

Jax judge accused of calling female attorney “c-word”

Personnel note: Jennifer Krell Davis rejoins The Florida Bar

‘Love Sponge’ lawyers plead to keep law licenses