Criminal Law Update to tackle case law, ethics, and justice reform
Justice John Couriel
The Criminal Law Section will present its annual Criminal Law Update on Thursday, June 26, during the 2025 Annual Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton. The full-day, in-person program will cover significant developments in Florida and federal criminal law and procedure, including DUI, "crimmigration," and case law updates, while also addressing broader ethical and societal issues facing the legal profession.
The one-day program is designed for criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and appellate lawyers. Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4:55 p.m., Criminal Law Update will offer 8 CLE credits, including 2 Ethics, and is approved in multiple certification areas, including Criminal Trial, Criminal Appellate, and Appellate Practice. Registration is available through the Annual Florida Bar Convention, and pricing varies based on convention pass selection.
“We practice in a time of rapid legal change and heightened social complexity,” said Patricia Dawson, chair of the Criminal Law Section, and a Tampa-based criminal defense attorney. “This program equips practitioners not only to stay legally current, but to engage with the larger questions shaping criminal justice in Florida and beyond.”
Justice Peggy A. Quince
Speakers include Justice John D. Couriel of the Florida Supreme Court, retired Supreme Court Justice Peggy A. Quince, and retired Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey S. Haughwout. In addition to legal updates, the program includes a panel discussion, “The Great Conversation,” exploring the role of lawyers in contemporary America — moderated by Jacksonville attorney Hank Coxe, a former Florida Bar president, and featuring Quince, Haughwout, and board-certified criminal trial lawyers Warren Lindsey and Donnie Murrell.
Program Chair H. Scott Fingerhut of Miami said the goal is to offer more than just case summaries and rule changes.
“We want to challenge, inspire, and renew,” Fingerhut said. “That means teaching the law, yes — but also creating space for thoughtful reflection about justice, fairness, and the lawyer’s duty in a democratic society.”
In addition to the panel discussion, the agenda includes:
- A DUI and traffic law update by Flem K. Whited III, Ormond Beach
- A two-part "crimmigration" update (Florida and federal law) by Linda Osberg-Braun, board certified in Immigration and Nationality Law CITY
- A case law update from Michael Ufferman, board certified in criminal appellate law, Tallahassee
- A feature presentation on Florida Supreme Court criminal decisions by Justice John Couriel, Tallahassee
- A keynote from retired Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince, “Do We Still Believe in Democracy?”
- A spotlight presentation by retired Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey S. Haughwout on changes in criminal law in his more than four decades of practice
Dawson emphasized that staying informed about the evolving landscape of criminal law is not optional, but essential to ensuring fair trials, avoiding wrongful convictions, and maintaining ethical practice.
“Criminal law professionals have a responsibility to keep pace with change,” she said. “That’s how we serve justice, preserve rights, and earn the trust of the communities we serve.”
The Criminal Law Section’s update will be presented live only, with no virtual option. Lunch is included. Registrants are invited to attend the Criminal Law Section’s reception and law student scholarship presentation immediately following the CLE.
For more information or to register, visit the Annual Convention page on The Florida Bar website.
