The Florida Bar News Updates http://www.flabar.org 11/15/2008 www.floridabar.org Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Court system cutbacks: Let’s hear from you A new bulletin board on The Florida Bar Web site allows attorneys to post accounts of how the state budget crisis is affecting their ability to get cases heard and disputes resolved in Florida’s courts. “We are 84,000 members strong and we can make a difference,” said Bar President Jay White, as he encouraged members to log on and tell their stories. “Let your voices be heard before legislators meet again. This crisis is too important to leave to others.” Eugene . . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/9AED44DBB2AB2A3D852574F60064D221Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Could compelled appointments be coming to your circuit? In an order compelling a private attorney to represent a criminal defendant, 12th Circuit Chief Judge Lee Haworth wrote that he hoped such orders will be rare in Florida. “The situation in the 12th Circuit appears to be an anomaly, and not likely to be repeated in any large scale elsewhere,” he wrote, going on to call the conditions a “perfect storm.” Those factors include a reduced number of private attorneys willing to handle conflict cases because o. . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/B15A5041AFBE507F852574FA00593C01Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Building support for court fundingCHIEF JUSTICE PEGGY QUINCE, left, attended the third Criminal Law Section organized budget summit meeting in Tallahassee, saying it’s important for public safety agencies, including police, corrections, and others, not to fight over the same dollars but convince legislators that they all need more funds to cope with increasing demands. Hank Coxe from Jacksonville, right, chaired the event.‘Our main goal . . . is to find a way to stabilize the funding situation’By Gary Blank. . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/82C3810B54C4130D852574FA00572469Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Lawyers being forced to take criminal casesOne attorney pressed into service fears financial ruinBy Gary BlankenshipSenior Editor To 12th Circuit Chief Judge Lee Haworth, it’s a “perfect storm.” The legal gale led to Haworth appointing a Manatee County attorney, against his will, to represent a defendant in a gang-related RICO case. The attorney, Gregory Hagopian, said taking the case is unfair to his other clients, could bankrupt him, and close his law practice. Judge Haworth, in his order, declared the st. . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/247E82A4A24E694F852574FA00576583Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Handbook provides the know-how to assist lawyers in representing the deafBy Jan PudlowSenior Editor On billboards and in the Yellow Pages, an attorney advertises a free consultation. But when a deaf person comes knocking, all of a sudden that attorney is not willing to meet. “We are hearing from the deaf and hard of hearing that they are having a hard time securing representation. Attorneys don’t know their obligation,” said Sharon Caserta, a lawyer at the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Legal Advocacy Program at Jack. . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/809685BA4D0572C3852574FA0057C656Sat, 15 Nov 2008 -0400Justice Wells to step down in MarchAt a meeting November 17, Justice Charles T. Wells notified Gov. Charlie Crist that he will retire from the Florida Supreme Court effective at the close of business on March 3, 2009. “It has been my great privilege to serve the people of our State since June 1994 as a Justice on the Florida Supreme Court,” Wells said. “The work has been challenging as well as fascinating. I have reviewed and found reason to have great respect for the diligent work of the Judges of Florida. . . ...http://www.flabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/JNNews01.nsf/RSSFeed/3E93F6EFFF6D9ADF852575040069D09D