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.
May 22, 2018
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Judiciary
FORUMS WORK TO KEEP JUDICIAL CANDIDATES ON THE RIGHT PATH
The Florida Bar News | Article | June 01, 2018
This week, FloridaBarNews.TV highlights Judicial Campaign Conduct Forums. Sponsored by the Supreme Court and The Florida Bar Board of Governors, the forums are held every election year across the state with support of the state’s trial court chief judges and the court’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee. Candidates are handed an outline of “The Aid to Understanding Cannon 7: Guidelines to Assist Judicial Candidates in Campaign and Political Activities.”
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Judiciary
GOV. RICK SCOTT NAMES FOUR TO CIRCUIT, COUNTY BENCHES
Florida Politics | Article | May 21, 2018
Gov. Rick Scott announced several judicial appointments on Monday [May 21]. Stephen Pitre was appointed to the First Judicial Circuit. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Edward P. Nickinson III. Angela Mason, appointed to the Okaloosa County Court, fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge T. Patterson Maney. Ramiro Christen Areces and Elijah A. Levitt were appointed to the Miami-Dade County Court. Areces fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Shelley J. Kravitz, and Levitt fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Spencer J. Multack to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court.
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Judiciary
MIAMI JUDGE FACES SUSPENSION FOR USING SLURS
Miami Herald | Article | May 21, 2018
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Stephen Millan faces suspension for using the word “moolie” to describe an African-American defendant and referring to another man’s supporters in court as “thugs.” An investigative panel for Florida’s Judicial Qualifications Commission recommended that Millan be suspended for 30 days, fined $5,000 and be issued a public reprimand. Millan agreed to the punishment, which must be approved by the Florida Supreme Court.
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Legal Discipline
FLA. SUPREME COURT ORDERS BROWARD LAWYER JEREMY ALTERS INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED
Daily Business Review | Article | May 21, 2018
The Florida Supreme Court Monday [May 21] issued a sua sponte suspension of litigator Jeremy Alters, until further order. Alters admitted he failed to report that his firm moved more than $1 million from its trust accounts to cover operating costs and his personal expenses. At that time of oral arguments, Justice Barbara J. Pariente made it clear the high court was considering only the degree of Alters’ punishment — not whether to discipline him. The referee in Alters’ case recommended no sanctions after a trial on claims Alters misappropriated trust account funds. The high court has the final word on attorney discipline and can accept or reject a referee’s recommendation.
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Legal Profession
‘THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME’ GALA RAISES $130,000 FOR GUARDIAN AD LITEM
Jacksonville Daily Record | Article | May 21, 2018
The second edition of “There’s No Place Like Home,” the gala presented by Coker Law on April 13 to benefit the Fourth Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, raised about $130,000 that will be used to help abandoned, abused and neglected children that have entered the dependency court system in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. The gala proceeds more than triple the foundation’s ability to help children compared to last year.
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Civil Justice Issues
DELTONA, STATE ORGS JOIN COURT FIGHT FOR HALIFAX HEALTH HOSPITAL
Daytona Beach News-Journal | Article | May 22, 2018
Halifax Health will fight for the right to complete its multimillion-dollar hospital in Deltona using bond money with the support of Florida’s League of Cities and Association of Counties. The Deltona City Commission, without discussion, unanimously approved a resolution in support of the amicus brief being filed by the two organizations before the Florida Supreme Court. Halifax Health opened a freestanding emergency room in Deltona last year and has begun construction on a new hospital. Nancy Epps, former mayor of Ponce Inlet, sued the Halifax Hospital District, arguing the board overstepped its bounds by expanding outside of the taxing district it was created to serve.
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Civil Justice Issues
NRA APPEALS FEDERAL COURT RULING ON ‘JANE DOE’ IN GUN CASE
Daily Business Review | Article | May 21, 2018
The National Rifle Association is appealing U.S. District Judge Mark Walker’s refusal to keep the identity of a 19-year-old Alachua County woman secret in a challenge to a state law that raised the age to purchase rifles and other long guns. The case was placed on hold Friday [May 18] pending a decision regarding “Jane Doe” from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, according to court documents. The debate over the pseudonyms came in a lawsuit filed March 9 by the NRA, just hours after Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a sweeping school-safety measure that included new gun-related restrictions.
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Other
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET INAPPROPRIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE IOS AUTOCORRECT FEATURE.
The Florida Bar | Article | May 22, 2018
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