Rep. Michele Rayner A bill that would amend Florida’s Stand Your Ground doctrine has been filed in the Florida House. Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg, has introduced HB 73 which reimposes the duty to retreat if possible before a person uses deadly force to defend themselves. She said it was both an attempt to reverse…
Florida lawyers could still use the “Esquire” honorific in their twilight years, but they would have to indicate their retired status under a proposed amendment to Bar Rule 1-3.5 (Retirement). The Board of Governors will weigh the proposed amendment on first reading at an October 1 meeting. A final recommendation is not expected until later…
Rep. Travaris “Tray” McCurdy A Central Florida lawmaker has filed a measure that would make juvenile confessions inadmissible if obtained by “deception.” Rep. Travaris “Tray” McCurdy, D-Orlando, filed HB 109 September 15. The bill faces hearings in the Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee and Judiciary before reaching the House floor. So far, there is no Senate…
Rep. Erin Grall The House Judiciary Committee has given the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until April 30 to complete a criminal justice data transparency project that sponsors touted as a national “gold standard” when it passed three years ago. “It is my expectation, and that of the speaker’s, that…
The Florida Supreme Court is asking the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and Bar members for comments on proposed rule amendments making it easier to reach settlements with multiple parties on one or both sides of civil lawsuits. The court, on its own order, September 10 ordered an official notice published with proposed amendments to Civil…
Rep. Kevin Chambliss Released felons would have an easier time qualifying for an occupational license under a bipartisan criminal reform measure that has been filed in the Florida House. Rep. Kevin Chambliss, D-Miami, filed HB 87 on September 13. Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood and chair of the Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, is a co-sponsor. The measure would allow…
Kacy Donlon The Business Law Section, two legal aid programs, a South Florida bankruptcy judge, and United Way’s Mission United program are combining to offer a financial literacy and legal assistance program for veterans in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The planners hope that the October 30 Veteran’s Financial Literacy Program will be a template for…
Bar members soon will be able to submit their ads for required Bar review via the internet instead of mailing them to the Bar’s Tallahassee headquarters. The Supreme Court on September 9 approved a Bar-recommended change to Bar Rule 4-7.19. The change removes the requirement that lawyer ads requiring Bar review must be sent to…
Judge Nushin Sayfie Expecting a flood of evictions in the coming months, the 11th Circuit is using a voluntary, remote platform to encourage landlords and tenants to resolve their differences. Called “courtHELP,” for Court Housing, Eviction, Landlord/Tenant Portal, the pilot program allows landlords and tenants to communicate, exchange information, and initiate mediation from a smartphone,…
Rep. Spencer Roach A Southwest Florida lawmaker filed a bill to authorizes parents of adult children to recover damages for mental pain and suffering in medical negligence suits. Rep. Spencer Roach, R-North Ft. Myers, filed HB 6011 on August 24. The measure has yet to be referred to a committee ahead of the 60-day session that convenes…
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