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 18, 2023
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The Florida Bar
FLORIDA BAR MEMBER TRAVIS TRUEBLOOD TAKES A SEAT ON THE NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI SUPREME COURT
The Florida Bar | Article | September 18, 2023
Florida Bar member Travis Trueblood of Ft. Lauderdale has been appointed as an associate justice pro tempore of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Supreme Court. Trueblood, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, will fill a vacancy due to an expired term of office. With expertise in federal Indian law and experience representing tribes, corporations, and individuals, Trueblood is well-qualified for the role. He also serves as a Major in the West Virginia Air National Guard and has a background in the United States Navy and United States Air Force. Trueblood’s mission is to uphold the tribe’s constitutional judicial authority and principles of self-determination, fairness, and justice in this new position. To learn more about the NHBP Tribal Court, visit the website.
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Legal Discipline
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY JUDGE NANCY JACOBS ACCUSED OF MAKING ‘INAPPROPRIATE AND DISPARAGING’ REMARKS TOWARDS OPPONENT
News Service of Florida | Article | September 15, 2023
An investigative panel has accused Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Nancy Jacobs of making “inappropriate and disparaging” remarks about her opponent during the 2022 election and injecting partisan politics into the campaign. The Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission filed formal charges against Jacobs, who defeated Circuit Judge Jared Smith in the election. The allegations include using inappropriate statements about Smith’s stance on abortion on her campaign’s social media sites and making disparaging remarks about his religious beliefs, implying he couldn’t be impartial. Additionally, Jacobs was accused of improperly promoting support from a Planned Parenthood PAC and advertising an endorsement from the expressly partisan group Indivisible Action Tampa Bay. Jacobs has acknowledged violating the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct and can respond in writing to the charges at the Florida Supreme Court, which oversees judicial discipline.
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Florida Supreme Court
SUPREME COURT KEEPS ‘FAIRNESS AND DIVERSITY’ CHANGE
News Service of Florida | Article | September 15, 2023
The Florida Supreme Court upheld a decision to remove a portion of a rule allowing judges to fulfill continuing-education requirements with courses in “fairness and diversity.” Despite earlier criticism from Justice Jorge Labarga, who emphasized the value of such education, the court maintained the change in a 5-1 decision. The revised rule specifies that courses related to judicial professionalism, Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee opinions, and the Code of Judicial Conduct can fulfill the judicial ethics requirement. The majority argued that the previous rule’s language about “fairness and diversity” was overly broad and that course content addressing procedural fairness and nondiscrimination would still qualify for ethics credit. The decision comes amid broader debates on diversity-related programs and education in the state.
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Criminal Justice
FIVE PEOPLE SWEPT UP IN MASSIVE SOUTH FLORIDA NURSING-SCHOOL RACKET PLEAD GUILTY TO FRAUD
Miami Herald | Article | September 15, 2023
Five individuals tied to a Fort Lauderdale nursing school involved in a diploma mill scheme pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in federal court. The case revolves around Charles Etienne, the former president of Sacred Heart International Institute, who previously admitted to collaborating with these associates to distribute fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. The defendants, including Simon and Ana Itaman, Ludnie Jean, Serge Jean, and Rhomy Louis, face potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. The crackdown on this fraudulent network continues, with more arrests expected. These schools charged students high fees for fake nursing degrees, with about 7,600 students paying a total of $114 million between 2016 and 2021. The investigation, known as Operation Nightingale, started in 2019 and has not found harm to patients caused by suspect nurses so far.
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Criminal Justice
FEDERAL JUDGE REFUSES TO BLOCK FLORIDA KILLER’S OCT. 3 EXECUTION
News Service of Florida | Article | September 15, 2023
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected a request to block the October 3 execution of Florida inmate Michael Duane Zack, who was convicted of murder in 1996. Zack’s attorneys argued that his due-process rights were violated due to a flawed clemency process, as he couldn’t present new evidence related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and intellectual disability. However, the judge denied the stay, stating that Zack had the opportunity to present the information and that changes in the clemency board’s makeup did not require restarting the process. Zack’s appeal at the Florida Supreme Court centers on the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome argument, with no ruling issued as of the latest update.