An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 17, 2012
–Judiciary–
WRONG FIGHT, WRONG JUDGE– The Palm Beach Post, editorial, http://www.palmbeachpost.com, May 17, 2012.
The editorial states: “Palm Beach County residents must hope that the attempt to disqualify a judge isn’t typical of the work under interim State Attorney Peter Antonacci. . . . In August, County Judge Barry Cohen is set to preside over the trial of Richard Daniels. . .[who] faces first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and attempted robbery charges, all with a firearm . . . . Antonacci filed a motion asking Judge Cohen to recuse himself. Indeed, the intent may be to force Judge Cohen off all criminal cases. To support his unprecedented request, Mr. Antonacci cites public criticism Judge Cohen has made of Florida’s criminal justice system . . . . Judge Cohen’s reputation for fairness exceeds his reputation for outspokenness. A former prosecutor and public defender, he has been on the bench
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/C707FBB879B040A785257A01004B586C
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 16, 2012
–The Florida Bar–
FLORIDA BAR REPORT: LAWYERS SHOULD REPORT MISBEHAVIOR, PROBLEMS QUICKLY– Daily Business Review, http://www.dailybusinessreview.com, May 16, 2012.
A commission empaneled to review The Florida Bar’s disciplinary system in the wake of Scott Rothstein, Hank Adorno, the robo-signing scandal and other highly publicized cases of misbehaving lawyers in recent years is recommending that the Bar communicate better with the public and news media about what it labels “extraordinarily complex or widespread violations.” In a report issued Monday [May 14] by the Commission on Review of Discipline System, the 36-member commission is recommending The Bar inform its leaders quickly of problems and that the president serve as the spokesperson on such matters. Additionally, The Bar needs to educate lawyers on their responsibility to report misbehaving lawyers, the commission recommended. The Bar is set to discuss the 44-page report at a meeting of its Board of Governors Friday [May 18] in Naples.
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/090C66701B0CFDAB85257A00004C7C3F
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 15, 2012
–The Florida Bar–
FLORIDA BAR REPORT PROPOSES NEW ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE STANDARDS– South Florida Business Journal, http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida, May 15, 2012.
The article discusses specific recommendations from a report by the Hawkins Commission on Review of the Discipline System. The commission was formed in the wake of two major scandals that rocked the legal profession in Florida – the Scott Rothstein Ponzi scheme and the robo-signing controversy over forged foreclosure documents. The report recognizes that the Florida Supreme Court is moving toward “stronger sanctions” for attorneys who commit wrongdoing on the job. The Florida Bar Board of Governors will take up the recommendations at its meeting on Friday [May 18].
COXE AWARDED FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION MEDAL OF HONOR– Jacksonville Daily Record, http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com, May 14, 2012. [Also: PROMINENT JACKSONVILLE ATTORNEY TO RECEIVE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION'S HIGHEST HONOR-- The Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com, May 15,
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/4D4285E807976BEE852579FF004DF416
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 11, 2012
–Legal Profession–
FLORIDA GETS F FOR LEGAL RIGHTS OF ABUSED KIDS, STATE DISPUTES– News Service of Florida, http://www.newsserviceflorida.com, May 10, 2012. [Also: FLORIDA GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM HONORED FOR THRIFT, PRODUCTIVITY-- The Ledger, letter-to-editor, http://www.theledger.com, May 11, 2012].
A report released Thursday [May 10] gives Florida a failing grade for the legal rights it affords abused and neglected children. The study, “A Child’s Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children,” was conducted by two national child advocacy organizations and graded each state and the District of Columbia on how well they protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children in dependency court. Florida earned the study’s low ranking because its law makes the appointment of an attorney for children in dependency cases discretionary, not mandatory. However, Alan Abramowitz, executive director of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem program,
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/A42C15D51DEEF4EE852579FB004CBFF4
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 10, 2012
–Legal Profession–
PRO BONO SERVICES SUMMIT TODAY IN MIAMI– Daily Business Review, http://www.dailybusinessreview.com, May 10, 2012.
Attorneys, judges and law firms will gather today at the Miami office of Akerman Senterfitt for a summit on pro bono services to encourage everyone from young associates to seasoned partners to fulfill their Bar oath by providing free legal services to the poor. The local summit is led by co-chairs Mark Neuberger and Larry Perlman from the Miami office of Foley Lardner. Angela Vigil of Baker McKenzie led the first summit in 2009. She said the goals include finding a solution to the current crisis caused by declining public funding for pro bono services and encouraging young associates to familiarize themselves with the pro bono process. The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Pro Bono and the Dade County Bar Association’s Put Something Back are co-sponsors of the event. [Subscription required.]
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/CFC5440B836C874D852579FA00500FF7
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 9, 2012
–Judiciary–
DRIVE TO BOUNCE JUSTICES THREATENS INDEPENDENCE– Orlando Sentinel, editorial, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, May 5, 2012.
The editorial states: “Three Florida Supreme Court justices already had been targeted for defeat by conservative activists before they recently handed their opponents some ammunition. Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince, up for retention in November’s election, got help from court staff in a last-minute scramble to beat the deadline for filing the necessary paperwork. . . . But the flap over the justices’ paperwork shouldn’t overshadow a broader principle at stake in the challenge they face this year to keep their jobs: judicial independence.”
JUDGE BELVIN PERRY OPPOSED BY EX-JUDGE HE COMPLAINED ABOUT TO BAR– Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com, May 9, 2012.
Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry faces an unusual challenge in his bid for re-election and a fifth term— a former judge with the same last name
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/D83ABCA6311BFAFB852579F9004E5754
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 8, 2012
–Judiciary–
CURSORY REVIEW OF THREE JUSTICES’ ACTS WILL DO– Tampa Bay Times, editorial, http://www.tampabay.com, May 8, 2012.
The editorial states: “The dust-up over using state employees to finalize election ballot paperwork for the merit retention of three Florida Supreme Court justices is more political jockeying than a legitimate concern over lawbreaking. . . . In fact, public employees commonly notarize election documents, and a cursory review should suffice. Gov. Rick Scott should not inappropriately politicize the merit retention election in November by overreacting.”
ON THEIR MERIT– The Gainesville Sun, editorial, http://www.gainesville.com, May 8, 2012.
The editorial states: “. . . The Florida Bar and its member lawyers recently launched an effort to inform prospective voters about two processes: the appointment of justices and judges, and merit retention. (See http://www.floridabar.org/TheVotesInYourCourt.) . . . The merit-retention system has provided a degree of political accountability —
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/8D5B55BB054E8814852579F8004FCE39
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 7, 2012
–The Florida Bar–
JUDGING ON MERIT– Sarasota Herald-Tribune,editorial, http://www.herald-tribune.com, May 7, 2012.
The editorial states: “. . . The Florida Bar. . . recently launched an effort to inform prospective voters about two processes: the appointment of justices and judges, and merit retention. (See http://www.floridabar.org/TheVotesInYourCourt.) . . . . Three justices will be up for merit retention in the November general election; two of them face some organized opposition. The opponents also criticized The Florida Bar for its public-awareness campaign, accusing lawyers of pandering to the court. We don’t question the motives of the Bar and its efforts. In fact, we applaud the organization’s leaders for this endeavor to inform Floridians about this important process — and remind them of its benefits.”
LAKELAND BAR ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES LAW DAY, HONORS OFFICER– The Ledger, http://www.theledger.com, May 6, 2012.
The Lakeland Bar Association hosted its annual
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/2842CC609E5787D4852579F7004F016B
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 4, 2012
–The Florida Bar–
STATE BAR PROGRAM SEEKS TO EDUCATE VOTERS ABOUT MERIT RETENTION FOR JUDGES– Daily Business Review, http://www.dailybusinessreview.com, May 4, 2012.
The Florida Bar has launched a voter education program designed on the judicial merit retention process in the wake of a political action committee campaign to unseat three Florida Supreme Court justices. Called “The Vote’s In Your Court,” the initiative was unveiled in Miami at a news conference Thursday [May 3] with a high-powered cadre of speakers, including former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, Florida Bar president Scott Hawkins, former American Bar Association president Steve Zack and Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president Lazaro Muir. “The Florida Bar is aware that our state will be on the radar screen nationally. We want to ensure we have a balanced and informed electorate,” Hawkins said. The nonpartisan program was launched after Restore Justice 2012 was founded by a Tea Party organizer
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/E4573CADCE2F0A66852579F4004B117F
An electronic digest of media coverage of interest to members of The Florida Bar compiled each workday by the Public Information and Bar Services Department. Electronic links are only active in today’s edition. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
May 3, 2012
–Legislature–
STATE CLERK’S OFFICES WARN OF BACKLOG FROM BUDGET CUTS– The Gainesville Sun, http://www.gaineville.com, May 3, 2012.
Court clerks statewide are preparing for budget reductions as they try to work with legislators to prevent an approximately $30 million budget cut to clerks’ offices throughout Florida. Clerks have been meeting with the leadership of the court system to speak about court priorities and the consequences of a budget cut, said Karen Rushing, the Sarasota County clerk of the court and legislative chair of the statewide clerks association. The cut comes to an approximately 7 percent loss for each of the court clerks’ budgets. At the same time, efforts are continuing to get legislators to halt a budget reduction that clerks say could cause a backlog with cases involving foreclosures, wills and divorces and force some clerks’ offices to institute a hiring freeze and cut their existing staff. Gov. Rick Scott
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Article source: http://www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/PI/PINewsSummary.nsf/FV/54D76255C3B055C1852579F300505DE8
