The Florida Bar

Daily News Summary

  1. Home
  2. News & Events
  3. Daily News Summary

Daily News Summary

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.

March 18, 2024

  1. The Florida Bar

    BEWARE RECRUITERS OFFERING UNDISCLOSED DISBARRED LAWYERS AS PARALEGALS

    The Florida Bar | Article | March 18, 2024

    Boca Raton attorney Robin Bresky, after 22 years of practice, merged with a New York firm and faced challenges in finding Florida paralegals. Recruiters presented disbarred attorneys without disclosing their status, unaware of ethical concerns. Bresky emphasized the difficulty in finding good paralegals and urged careful vetting of candidates, especially after amendments to Florida Bar Rule 3-6.1 in 2020. These changes prohibit suspended or disbarred lawyers from working for their former supervisors and from any client contact, with quarterly reports required. The rule clarifies trust fund handling and mandates direct supervision by active, in-good-standing attorneys. Bresky’s advice underscores the importance of thorough candidate screening amidst the legal changes.

  2. The Florida Bar

    32ND ANNUAL NUTS & BOLTS OF FAMILY LAW SEMINAR SET FOR MAY 30

    The Florida Bar | Article | March 18, 2024

    Dade Legal Aid/Put Something Back and the Miami Dade Bar Family Law Committee, along with the Miami Dade Bar Young Lawyers, will host the “32nd Annual Nuts & Bolts of Family Law Seminar” on May 30. The event aims to recruit and train attorneys for pro bono cases. Speakers include Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie and others covering topics like AI in family practice and recent statute changes. Brittany Bonner and Amber Kornreich will moderate. The seminar also features the 2024 Put Something Back Pro Bono Family Awards, honoring outstanding attorneys like Jason Bloch and Maria C. Gonzalez. Karen Ladis, Executive Director of Dade Legal Aid, applauds their service. The training is free for attorneys accepting pro bono family law cases. Registration is available on www.dadelegalaid.org or contact [email protected].

  3. Legal Discipline

    HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE CITES THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN HER CAMPAIGN CASE

    News Service of Florida | Article | March 16, 2024

    Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Nancy Jacobs is invoking the First Amendment in defense against a disciplinary case stemming from her 2022 election campaign. She faces allegations from a state Judicial Qualifications Commission panel, accusing her of making inappropriate remarks about opponent Judge Jared Smith and injecting partisan politics. Jacobs argues her speech, including labeling herself as a “conservative Republican,” is protected by the First Amendment, emphasizing judicial candidates’ rights to express views important to the public. However, the special counsel for the Judicial Qualifications Commission argues against Jacobs’ motion, citing the state’s interest in maintaining public trust in the judiciary. The commission makes recommendations to the Florida Supreme Court, which holds ultimate disciplinary authority over judges, and documents related to Jacobs’ case are available on the Supreme Court’s website.

  4. Florida Supreme Court

    SUPREME COURT EXAMINES WHETHER GOVERNMENT CAN COMBAT DISINFORMATION ONLINE

    WFSU | Article | March 18, 2024

    The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review a case concerning the government’s authority to combat misinformation online, raising questions about the First Amendment’s application in the digital era. Last September, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling limiting government officials’ interaction with social media platforms, citing concerns over coercion and content moderation related to COVID-19 and political topics. The plaintiffs, including vaccine opponents and epidemiologists, argue their speech was censored by government pressure on social media companies. However, the Biden administration asserts its right to engage with platforms to promote public interest. The case underscores debates over social media regulation, with divergent views on companies’ First Amendment status and the limits of government influence. Separately, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving the NRA’s claims of free speech infringement by a state agency.

Recent Archives: