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.
August 06, 2025
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The Florida Bar
Justice Couriel praises Florida’s criminal bar, defends textualist approach
The Florida Bar | Article | August 06, 2025
Florida’s criminal trial bar is among the best in the nation, its highly skilled assistant attorney generals and capital collateral review counsel are a taxpayer bargain, and some lawyers continue to resist the Supreme Court’s textualist mandate, says Justice John Couriel. Delivering a “Supreme Court Update” to the Criminal Law Section at the recent Annual Florida Bar Convention, the Miami native and former Southern District assistant U.S. attorney Couriel defended the court’s decision, on its own motion, to amend the speedy trial rule, and in “a quick spin through the criminal court docket,” discussed a handful of high-profile rulings regarding circumstantial evidence, criminal malice, search and seizure, and the death penalty.
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Legal Discipline
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT DISCIPLINES 8 ATTORNEYS, REVOKES 2 LICENSES
Orlando Business Journal | Article | August 05, 2025
The Florida Supreme Court in recent court orders disciplined eight attorneys — including one from metro Orlando — revoking the license of two, suspending five and reprimanding one. According to a Florida Supreme Court news release, the local attorney disciplined was A. Marie Delapena, suspended due to a felony conviction effective 30 days following a July 9 court order. On or about June 20, a jury in a federal criminal proceeding found Delapena guilty of 15 felony counts of wire fraud and 22 felony counts of bank fraud. Delapena’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2025.
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Criminal Justice
‘DORKY LAWYER' OR RAPIST? JURORS TO DECIDE IF MIAMI ATTORNEY ASSAULTED LAW STUDENT
NBC South Florida 6 | Article | August 05, 2025
A Miami attorney once known for defending sexual assault victims is now on trial, facing allegations of committing a sexual assault himself. Adam Bair, 42, was arrested in 2022 for allegedly raping a 24-year-old law student who initially believed she was meeting him for professional reasons, according to police. During opening statements on Tuesday [Aug. 5], prosecutors said the victim reported the incident to police within days of the alleged assault. As part of the investigation, detectives coordinated a controlled phone call between the woman and Bair — an audio recording that was played for jurors in court. Bair is heard making numerous sexually explicit and inappropriate comments, including graphic descriptions of the woman’s body. Some jurors appeared visibly uncomfortable and disturbed by the remarks. Bair's attorneys do not deny the sex, but claim it was consensual. Bair has pleaded not guilty, but if convicted, faces up to 15 years in prison.
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Civil Justice
AG JAMES UTHMEIER TAKES AIM AT PORN COMPANIES FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING AGE VERIFICATION LAW
Florida Phoenix | Article | August 05, 2025
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is suing companies that operate porn websites for noncompliance with the state’s new age verification law, which kicked in at the start of the year. While some well-known sites pulled down their content to users inside Florida, others have continued to operate without requiring users to verify their age, including XVideos.com that reportedly has millions of visitors from Florida. Uthmeier on Tuesday [Aug. 5] filed a civil lawsuit against Webgroup Czech Republic, NKL Associates, Sonesta Technologies Inc., GGW Group, and Traffic F for allegedly breaking state law and endangering minors. Many of the companies are based in the Czech Republic but several maintain Florida offices. Uthmeier is asking the court to temporarily and permanently enjoin the companies to prevent future violations of the law and is seeking civil penalties, attorney’s fees and costs, and punitive damages.
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Civil Justice
BUILDERS, SEPTIC INDUSTRY TARGET MANATEES RULING
News Service of Florida | Article | August 05, 2025
Saying the case has “significant implications for home construction and the economy,” the Florida Home Builders Association, the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association this week backed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in its appeal of a federal judge’s decision that required additional steps to protect manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon. The industry groups on Monday [Aug. 4] urged the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a decision by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza that included placing a moratorium on constructing and installing septic tanks around the northern Indian River Lagoon, which is primarily in Brevard County. Mendoza sided with the environmental group Bear Warriors United, which argued that sewage discharges into the lagoon led to the demise of seagrass, a key food source for manatees, and resulted in starvation deaths and other harm to the threatened species. The judge concluded that the Florida DEP, which since 2021 has regulated septic tanks, violated the federal Endangered Species Act. But attorneys for the industry groups Monday requested approval to file a brief at the Atlanta-based appeals court and disputed the judge’s conclusion that the department had violated the Endangered Species Act.