News and Events
Daily News Summary
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today's edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
June 26, 2009
--The Florida Bar--
ORLANDO LAWYER TO BECOME FLORIDA BAR PRESIDENT-ELECT-- Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, June 26, 2009.
Orlando lawyer Mayanne Downs, who has served as the Orlando city attorney since 2007, will be sworn in as president-elect of The Florida Bar today. Downs will be sworn in at the Bar's annual convention in Orlando. In 2010, she will become the organization's fourth woman president.
CHIEF CIRCUIT JUDGE WILLIAM ROBY TO BE HONORED WITH FLORIDA BAR'S OUTSTANDING JURIST AWARD-- The Stuart News, http://www.tcpalm.com, June 26, 2009.
19th Circuit Chief Judge William Roby today will be honored with The Florida Bar's 2009 Outstanding Jurist Award during the Bar's annual convention in Orlando. The award, for which a judge must be nominated by their peers, is given by the Bar's Young Lawyers Division to recognize "an excellent reputation for sound judicial decisions and an unblemished record of integrity as a lawyer and a judge." Roby is in his fifth years as chief judge of the circuit. In selecting Roby, who was appointed to the bench in 2000, Bar officials noted his six years of service on the Florida Supreme Court's Trial Court Budget Committee, and his dedication to promoting an independent judiciary.
--Legal Profession--
'A BIG NO-NO': RELEASE OF SANSOM TESTIMONY ILLEGAL-- Northwest Florida Daily News, http://www.nwfdailynews.com, June 26, 2009.
Testimony from the grand jury that indicted state Rep. Ray Sansom, Bob Richburg and Jay Odom was released to three media outlets late last week by State Attorney Willie Meggs' office. The St. Petersburg Times published that testimony on its Web site Monday [June 22]. Both actions, according to local attorney Drew Pinkerton, who has 31 years as a criminal prosecutor and defense lawyer, violate the right to privacy granted to witnesses testifying before a grand jury. State Attorney Willie Meggs has taken the blame for what he said was a mistake that allowed the testimony to be released to the Times, the Palm Beach Post and the Bay Beacon in Niceville. The testimony was on the same disc that contained other discovery items, which are public records.
--Judiciary--
OBAMA NOMINATES TAMPA JUDGE TO FEDERAL BENCH-- Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, June 26, 2009.
President Barack Obama has nominated a circuit judge in Tampa to be a federal judge for the Middle District of Florida, which includes the Orlando area. Charlene Honeywell was appointed to the 13th Judicial Circuit bench by then-Gov. Jeb Bush in 2000. She is a former county court judge in Tampa and served in the public defender's offices in Tampa and Tallahassee. The Middle District stretches from Fort Myers to Jacksonville.
RETURN TO NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS-- Sarasota Herald-Tribune, column, http://www.heraldtribune.com, June 26, 2009.
The column is by Patricia D. Crauwels, president of the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and Geoffrey Morris, president of the Bradenton/ Sarasota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. The column states: ". . . . It is our state court and judicial system that most citizens encounter in their daily lives, whether for a small claim, a routine traffic ticket, or dissolution of marriage. When politics intrude on the selection process for judges, it undermines that very independence and tests the foundation of our constitutional form of government. This is why Gov. Charlie Crist should reinstate the 1971 Executive Order implemented by Gov. Reubin Askew providing that Judicial Nominating Commissions (JNCs) consist of nine members, three selected by the governor, three by The Florida Bar, and three non-lawyer members chosen by those six appointees."
--Criminal Justice Issues--
JUDGE BLASTS FLORIDA'S PRISON SYSTEM FOR SECRET NEGOTIATIONS-- St. Petersburg Times, http://www.tampabay.com, June 26, 2009.
An "appalled" state judge said Thursday [June 25] that Florida's prison system "blatantly violated the public trust" by secretly negotiating with a new firm to provide for inmates' mental health. Leon County Circuit Judge Frank Sheffield said the actions by the Department of Corrections were "at best, offensive, and at worst, illegal" in its secret dealings with Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis. However, the judge denied the request by the current contractor, MHM Correctional Services, for a temporary injunction. MHM wanted to block the award of a five-year contract to CMS through a 120-day purchase order that starts July 1.
--Other--
LAWYER BURTON WAS 'ONE OF THE BEST'-- The Tampa Tribune, http://www.tbo.com, June 26, 2009.
Prominent Tampa trial lawyer Glenn M. Burton died Wednesday [June 24], the same day Florida's governor decided to appoint him to the board of the Tampa Sports Authority. Burton, 51, was driving back from the Florida Bar Annual Convention in Orlando when his heart stopped shortly after 6 p.m., said Nancy Burton, his wife of 28 years. Burton was a partner in the Tampa law firm, Burton, Beytin & McLaughlin. He was active in the Florida Bar and was chairman-elect of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Bar. He was to be named chairman this week and to officially take the position next week.
# # #
[Revised:
07-01-2005
]