The purpose of this summary provided by the Communications Department of The Florida Bar is to present media coverage that may be of interest to members. Opinions expressed in the articles are attributable solely to the authors. The Florida Bar does not adopt or endorse any opinions expressed below. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
October 07, 2024
-
The Florida Bar
FLORIDA BAR YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION LAUNCHES DISASTER RELIEF HOTLINE IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HELENE
The Florida Bar | Article | October 04, 2024
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, in partnership with the ABA Young Lawyers Section and FEMA, has opened its Disaster Relief Hotline to provide essential legal assistance to Floridians affected by the storm. The hotline aims to connect volunteer attorneys with those who cannot afford legal representation for non-fee generating cases, particularly in the wake of such devastating events. All Florida Bar members eligible to practice are invited to participate and lend their support during this critical time. Interested volunteers can sign up via a dedicated form and are encouraged to review the “Disaster Assistance Manual for Legal Services Advocates,” which outlines essential information for assisting victims and navigating recovery options through FEMA and other organizations. Volunteers can help by answering calls directed to the YLD’s 1-800 hotline (1-866-550-2929) or by providing support at FEMA centers.
-
Legal Discipline
A FLORIDA ATTORNEY DENIED HIS SEXUAL TEXTS TO A JUVENILE COURT CLIENT. SHE HAD RECEIPTS
Miami Herald | Article | October 06, 2024
The Florida Supreme Court recently disbarred attorney Andrew Russ after he sent inappropriate text messages to a Juvenile Division client in Ohio and then accused the client of lying about the messages. Russ, who was licensed to practice in Florida and Ohio, was representing a teen mother who was facing the possibility of losing custody of her child. The client reported Russ’s inappropriate texts and comments to her child’s guardian ad litem, who filed a grievance with Ohio’s Disciplinary Counsel. Russ initially denied sending inappropriate messages until the Disciplinary Counsel confronted him with the messages, which Client 1 had saved. Judge Jonathan Eric Sjostrom, the referee in the Florida discipline case, wrote in his referee’s report, “In the Ohio allegations and orders, they described the client as vulnerable, which is an understatement in my view,” and he recommended the same punishment Russ received in Ohio, a two-year suspension. The Florida Supreme Court disbarred Russ instead.
-
Legal Aid
LAWYERS CAN HELP AFTER HURRICANE—BUT THERE ARE RISKS
Daily Business Review | Article | October 04, 2024
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued an administrative order that permits attorneys licensed in other states, including Florida, to temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar to provide pro bono legal services to those impacted by the storm. But one Florida attorney wants colleagues to be aware of the risks associated with this type of pro bono work. The Florida Bar announced Thursday that it fully supports the “Katrina Order,” a rule amendment that allows out-of-state attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to residents in need after a hurricane such as Hurricane Helene. Wildwood, Florida, attorney Jessica White of Betwixt & Between Law offers a word of caution when volunteering. “I would still be a little concerned about doing anything without having another North Carolina licensed attorney supervising or checking my work,” White said. In the meantime, The Florida Bar has faith in its attorneys. “Florida attorneys are well versed in the challenges of natural disasters, and we encourage them to use their unique experience to assist North Carolina citizens,” said Florida Bar President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr.
-
Judiciary
‘THE INSTINCTS OF A SOCIAL WORKER’: MEET JUDGE ARI ABRAHAM PORTH, CHIEF JUSTICE AWARD WINNER
Daily Business Review | Article | October 04, 2024
Florida Circuit Court Judge Ari Abraham Porth, who is assigned to the felony mental health division in Broward County, has received the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence from the Florida Courts. Only two judges statewide receive this annual award—one circuit court judge and one county court judge. Porth’s division is unique. When somebody has a felony offense and is not competent to proceed, or it is suspected that they are not competent to proceed, his colleagues from various trial divisions send the cases over to him. His courtroom, 7810, to an untrained eye, might seem like one big party due to the high level of collaboration among the various entities. He said their goal is to treat each person individually, something that can only be achieved with the help of everyone in the room and new resources, such as the peer support program, where defendants can speak with someone who has experienced a similar situation and to whom they can better relate.
-
Legal Aid
FREED TO RUN 2024 IS NOV. 23-24
Jacksonville Daily Record | Article | October 07, 2024
With about $70,000 pledged so far and nine weeks until Freed to Run 2024 on Nov. 23-24, the annual event to support civil legal aid is almost 40% to its $180,000 fundraising goal for this year. To hit the mark for the Shelter for Elders Endowment supporting housing-related legal services for older adults in Northeast Florida, individual participants and relay teams are pledging donations and will complete half-mile laps around the Duval County Courthouse within either a 12- or 24-hour time frame. New this year is a children’s area, which will include a bounce house. Gunster shareholder Mike Freed founded the event in 2016. In its first seven years, it raised a $2.25 million endowment for the North Florida Medical Legal Partnership. Visit jaxlegalaid.org/freedtorun to donate or register to participate.