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 05, 2026
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The Florida Bar
“A SEAT FOR EVERYONE”
The Florida Bar | Column | March 05, 2026
Florida Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker Barnes writes: “This issue of our Journal centers on a simple but powerful idea: A Seat for Everyone. It reflects my vision of a Florida Bar where every member feels seen, valued, and supported, regardless of practice area, career stage, or professional path. I am deeply grateful to our guest editor, G.C. Murray II, whose leadership and thoughtful curation helped bring this theme to life, and to our guest authors, Judge Gordon Murray, and Florida Bar Board of Governors members Michel Morgan and Brandon Sapp, all of whom offer compelling perspectives on what it means to build a more connected profession. Through their work, I hope you see how the Special Committee on the Sustainability Initiative for Attorneys, the Corporate Counsel Committee, and the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., Leadership Academy are advancing this vision through meaningful initiatives, measurable impact, and a shared commitment to strengthen our Bar from within.”
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Florida Supreme Court
FLORIDA'S HIGH COURT WEIGHS RICO CHARGE AGAINST AN EX- JACKSON DEPUTY WHO PLANTED DRUGS ON INNOCENTS
WFSU | Article | March 04, 2026
The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday [March 4] in the case of disgraced sheriff’s deputy Zachary Wester, who planted drugs on innocent people. The central issue justices are considering is whether a 1970s Florida law aimed at breaking up organized crime should apply to Wester’s crime. Wester of Jackson County was working as a sheriff's deputy when he planted drugs on people during traffic stops. In 2021, he was convicted on several charges, including the most serious ones: racketeering, also known as RICO. His lawyers appealed the conviction, and a court tossed the racketeering charge on the grounds that it required at least two people participating in the scheme. The state asked the justices to keep the RICO charges in place, saying in Wester's case, the “other” party is the Sheriff’s Department, despite it not being a willing participant in Wester's crimes.
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Legislature
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSES 'MISSY'S LAW' AFTER FIVE-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH
USA Today Network - Florida | Article | March 04, 2026
The Florida Legislature has passed legislation called “Missy’s Law,” named in honor of a Tallahassee girl whose abuse-related death happened in 2025 while one of her alleged murderers was released on bail. The Florida Senate on March 4 took up the House version of the bill (HB 445), passing it unanimously. It next heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The legislation would require judges to remand defendants to custody immediately after their conviction of certain dangerous crimes rather than allow them to remain free pending sentencing, which happened in the case of Melissa “Missy” Mogle. Her death raised mounting questions about how the state’s child welfare system, the courts, police and others might have failed to protect her. Her stepfather, Daniel Spencer, and her mother, Chloe Spencer, have been indicted on a number of charges, including first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. They face the death penalty.
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Civil Justice
LAWSUIT CALLS FLORIDA’S LICENSE PLATE LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL AMID CITATIONS
CBS 12 | Article | March 04, 2026
Florida drivers are raising alarms over a new license plate law, as a recent lawsuit claims its vague language has led to a wave of confusing and unconstitutional citations across the state. A recent lawsuit filed by Ticket Toro claims that the law, which bans anything that blocks or covers a license plate—even dealership frames—is unconstitutional and lacks clear definitions of what constitutes a violation. Ticket Toro said that the law, Florida Statute 320.061, prohibits "altering" or "mutilating" a license plate tag, but it doesn’t specify what qualifies as “alteration.” The lawsuit says that this vagueness has led to various interpretations by law enforcement agencies, resulting in inconsistent enforcement across the state. Ticket Toro filed the federal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, along with a motion in Miami-Dade County Court that argues the law is unconstitutionally vague under the Due Process Clause.
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Judiciary
FLORIDA CIRCUIT JUDGE ROBERT STONE JR.'S FAMILY HAS DEEP ROOTS IN LEGAL COMMUNITY
TC Palm | Article | March 02, 2026
In a Feb. 27 investiture ceremony replete with humorous anecdotes, local legal history and praise, Circuit Judge Robert E. Stone Jr. took the oath of office while saying the event was “about all the people who helped get me here.” Stone Jr.’s older sister, County Judge Robyn E. Stone, swore him in during the event as Stone Jr.’s father, Bob Stone — the 19th Judicial Circuit’s first elected state attorney for more than a decade beginning in the early 1970s — stood by. Stone Jr., a former prosecutor, referenced Alexander Hamilton and The Federalist Papers as part of remarks on the judiciary. “We are called to exercise judgment with humility, integrity, and fidelity to the law, not to personal preference or popular opinion,” he said.
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Obituary
FRANK A. RUBINO, VETERAN MIAMI DEFENSE ATTORNEY, DIES AT 80
Daily Business Review | Article | March 04, 2026
Frank A. Rubino, a prominent Miami criminal defense attorney whose career placed him at the center of some of the most consequential international cases of the late 20th century, died Tuesday [March 3] after a battle with cancer. Rubino began his professional life in law enforcement, including service as a U.S. Secret Service agent, before turning to criminal defense work. In Miami, he built a reputation as a meticulous, unflinching advocate in high‑stakes federal and international legal matters. The Philadelphia native gained international attention as lead trial counsel for former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega in the landmark 1991 federal prosecution in Miami, a case Rubino said took a year and a half to prepare. The trial lasted more than 11 months. The case tested legal boundaries involving sovereignty, prisoner‑of‑war status and the reach of American courts. It remains one of the era’s most significant international criminal proceedings.