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.
September 30, 2022
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The Florida Bar
E-FILING PORTAL IS ACCEPTING FILING IN ALL FLORIDA COURTS
The Florida Bar | Article | September 29, 2022
Florida’s clerks are continuing to process court files and perform other vital services in the wake of Hurricane Ian, says Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers. Hart credits a robust disaster recovery and business continuity plan. “The E-Filing Portal can still accept filings in all courts, 24/7,” he said. “Even if the clerk’s office is closed, those filings are going to be time stamped when they’re filed, and they going to be held in an electronic queue for the clerk.” Clerks were still assessing damage to facilities late Thursday [Sept. 29], Hart said. The CCIS, or Comprehensive Case Information System, continues to serve “our government partners,” Hart said, “so, if the state attorney, or the public defender, or the sheriff, need information about court cases, they can still do that through CCIS.” Clerks also maintain the ability to process fines, fees, and child support.
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Criminal Justice
CROSLEY GREEN’S FREEDOM UNCERTAIN AFTER 11TH CIRCUIT AFFIRMS PROSECUTORS CAN WITHHOLD INADMISSIBLE, EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE
Daily Business Review | Article | September 29, 2022
In the next few months, attorneys for Crosley Green will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to re-examine a decision last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit that affirmed the ability of Florida, Georgia and Alabama prosecutors to withhold exculpatory information that is inadmissible as evidence in the murder case against Green. The forthcoming writ of certiorari is the end of the road for Green, who has been on house arrest for 15 months following 32 years in prison—including 19 years on death row—for the 1989 murder of Charles “Chip” Flynn in Brevard County, which Green has always maintained he did not commit. In 2018, U.S. District Judge Roy Dalton ordered the state to retry or release Green on the basis that prosecutor Christopher White violated Green’s constitutional rights by withholding materially exculpatory evidence at trial.
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Criminal Justice
APPEAL REJECTED FOR DEATH ROW INMATE IN MURDER OF FSU STUDENT
Tampa Free Press | Article | September 29, 2022
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday [Sept. 29] rejected an appeal by Death Row inmate Quentin Marcus Truehill, who was convicted in the 2010 murder of a Florida State University graduate student. Justices unanimously ruled against Truehill, one of three men accused of going on a crime spree after escaping from a Louisiana prison. That spree included kidnapping FSU graduate student Vincent Binder as he walked home from a study session in Tallahassee. Binder’s body was later found in St. Johns County. A St. Johns County jury convicted Truehill of first-degree murder and kidnapping, and a judge sentenced him to death. Truehill raised a series of issues in the appeal, including that he had received “ineffective assistance of counsel” during his trial.
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Civil Justice
PATRICK REED REFILES DEFAMATION LAWSUIT IN JACKSONVILLE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, ADDS GOLFWEEK, GANNETT
Florida Times-Union | Article | September 29, 2022
Patrick Reed has refiled a $750 million defamation lawsuit against Golf Channel with the Middle District U.S. Court in Jacksonville, which also covers Ponte Vedra Beach, the location of Tour headquarters. Reed, a nine-time PGA Tour winner and the 2018 Masters champion, had originally filed his suit, which had named Golf Channel and commentator Brandel Chamblee, in Texas on Aug. 16. In addition to re-filing in Jacksonville, the suit has been expanded to add Golf Channel commentators Damon Hack, Shane Bacon and Eamon Lynch. The suit accuses Chamblee, Hack, Bacon and Lynch, along with the PGA Tour, for “conspiracy, defamation, injurious falsehood and tortious interference” because of their on-air comments and columns about Reed, accusations that he has cheated in golf tournaments and his jump to LIV Golf.
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Legal Profession
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION
Jacksonville Daily Record | Article | September 28, 2022
The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate three lawyers for appointment to the 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. The appointee will serve a four-year term starting July 1. Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of Clay, Duval or Nassau county. Applications must be submitted by 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Visit floridabar.org/directories/jnc/applications/ for more details and to download the application.