State's jobless may miss out on extended benefits - July 23, 2010 - The federal government on Thursday finalized an extension of unemployment benefits that will bring welcome relief to millions of the struggling jobless. But not, at least for now, if they live in the Sunshine State.
Feds dismiss post-Enron tips of fraud - July 22, 2010 - Whistleblower protections passed after the Enron accounting scandal have been largely gutted by the federal bureaucracy responsible for protecting employees who try to expose corporate fraud, according to worker advocates and a senior lawmaker who helped write the provisions.
By the People - July 11, 2010 - A video by Carl Malamud making change to our Justice System. This is a 22 minute video that I think you should watch and support for change in our Justice System.
State commission to explore wrongful convictions - July 4, 2010 - Wasting no time since his designation as chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, Charles T. Canady on Friday issued an administrative order establishing an Innocence Commission that will study cases of wrongful convictions around the state.
Florida jails linked to immigration databases - June 30, 2010 -
A Homeland Security computer system now links to all Florida county jails to quickly identify foreign nationals who could be deported because of crimes
Put banks to work creating jobs - April 5, 2010 - President Barack Obama has introduced a ``financial crisis responsibility fee'' on the 50 largest banks. Thefee, assessed based on the bank's assets, could be as large as $90 billion in the next 10 years. Wouldn't it be better to assign banks to a community service to repay
We won case, but defendant won't pay - April 5, 2010 - Q: Our business is computer research and development. We were hired by a Florida investment group tocreate buy/sell timing software for exchange traded mutual funds. After we completed the job, they failed toto pay the agreed price. We sued them and won, acting as our own attorney. We have a certified court judgment against them, but they ignore our demands for payment. This may be a silly question, but how do we get our money? Can we put them in jail?
17 Ridiculous Laws Still On The Books In The U.S. - March 5, 2010 - Laws are generally good for society. You know, the ones that prevent looting and killing sprees and general anarchy? But in many states there are laws still in effect that either ban something no sane person would ever do, or show their age with regards to women, controlled substances, or the separation of Church and State. While no one is really enforcing these unnecessary laws, the fact that they are still on the books just goes to show how far stupidity can rise in our legal system.
Four Ways to Fix a Broken Legal System
Illinois Supreme Court: Malpractice Law Unconstitutional - February 22, 2010 - The Illinois Supreme Court struck down a law Thursday that capped the amount of damages that could be awarded in malpractice lawsuits, saying that it interfered with juries' constitutional powers to award settlements in civil cases.
Republican strategy: Filibuster everything, win in November - February 14, 2010 - WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans are using the filibuster to limit and often derail Democrats' initiatives, paralyzing the Senate and making it nearly impossible to accomplish even the most routine matters.
Court upholds death sentence for Tamiami Strangler - February 12, 2010 - The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday again upheld the murder conviction and death sentence of Rory Enrique Conde, the so-called Tamiami Strangler who killed six prostitutes during the 1990s.
Judge tosses out charges against legendary drug agent in Allen Stanford case - February 12, 2010 - In a stunning move, a federal judge on Friday acquitted former Miami drug agent Tom Raffanello of shredding documents to protect now disgraced banker Allen Stanford, saying prosecutors failed to prove their case against the ex-lawman.
Florida voting machine dispute resolved - February 12, 2010 - TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court ruled the state’s election code does not pre-empt local laws Thursday in a voting machine dispute that traces its origins to the Florida recount that decided the 2000 presidential race.
Judge to be reprimanded by Fla. Supreme Court - February 12, 2010 - ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A Seminole County judge will be publicly reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court for judicial misconduct.
Florida bill protects against lawsuits - February 5, 2010 - Legislation would shield theme parks and other businesses from lawsuits that can be filed even if parents sign a liability waiver for their children.
Is ticket for not wearing selt belt legal? - February 1, 2010 - Q: Our company runs refrigerated trucks for business deliveries of perishable cargo in Florida and Georgia. We give our drivers atraffic law manual. The seat belt section warns them to be very careful in Georgia because if they don't buckle up, they can be
37 Years After Roe, Abortion Access Attacked in Kansas Courtroom - January 23, 2010 - It's been thirty-seven years since the Supreme Court recognized a woman's constitutional right to abortion in Roe v. Wade, and in that time, without fail, a woman's ability to obtain an abortion has been under attack. Between stringent state laws, a lack of funding, and a severe shortage of abortion providers, abortion is virtually unattainable for significant numbers of women.
Miami-Dade OK's new sex offender law - January 22, 2010 - A new Miami-Dade sex offender ordinance will supersede some of the stricter city ordinances passed by local municipalities, including Miami's.
U.S. Supreme Court accepts Ref. 71 case - January 17, 2010 - Friday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case involving the release of names of Referendum 71 petition signers was greeted warmly by traditional-marriage supporters but with wariness by some gay-rights leaders, who contend it plays into a broader strategy by gay-rights opponents to operate without scrutiny.
Buddy Johnson loses Plant City property as foreclosure, fraud suit loom - January 17, 2010 -TAMPA — Former Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson, facing foreclosure and a fraud lawsuit, has abandoned any claim to 20 acres of land he bought three years ago for $800,000, and still faces the prospect of having to defend his actions in court.
6 Hollywood Police Department employees fired - January 13, 2010 - The city of Hollywood confirmed Wednesday that six employees in its police department had been fired. Most of the six were accused of being involved in doctoring a police report that made national news.
Some fear Kan. ruling may spur abortion violence - January 11, 2010 - WICHITA, Kan. -- A Kansas judge's decision to allow a confessed killer to argue that he believes the slaying of one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers was a justified act aimed at saving unborn children has upended what most expected to be an open-and-shut first-degree murder case.
2 officers suspended during probe - January 11, 2010 - Two Fort Lauderdale police officers have been suspended while the city probes their off-duty work for accused investment-schemer Scott Rothstein.
Several reasons why Broward County is awash in corruption - January 10, 2010 - Last year, when an ambitious Fort Lauderdale lawyer named Scott Rothstein decided to hire someone to develop political strategies for businesses seeking government contracts, he turned to none other than Ken Jenne, the disgraced former sheriff who had just been released from jail
Political Beat - Janaury 10, 2010 - State Rep. Juan-Carlos ``J.C.'' Planas, a former Miami-Dade prosecutor, has applied to run for circuit judge -- but he doesn't want to handle criminal cases.
For sex offenders, no escape from cold - January 8, 2010 - With more cold weather coming over the weekend, homeless sex offenders living under or near the Julia Tuttle Causeway are banned from shelters, and with no place to go, they have little choice but to remain there.
Court rules against furlough orders - January 4, 2010 - A judge rules that furloughs for state workers ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must stop -- a blow to the governor's efforts to ease the state's financial crisis.
DUI challenge leaves 300 cases in doubt - December 30, 2009 - Defendants in about 300 Palm Beach County drunken driving cases could go free if they're successful in challenging the machines used to test their sobriety.
Strange? Odd? Weird? Bizarre? _ That's Florida! - December 29, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- You know you're living in a weird state when the governor promotes a pay-per-minute sex chat line.
Ethics watchdog needs teeth - December 29, 2009 - The Florida Ethics Commission is like a police agency with few weapons, little investigatory scope and no authority to lock up an individual.
Tackling corruption - December 29, 2009 - Ayear ago, Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom was stubbornly defending his new high-paid position at Northwest Florida State College, his reward for quietly steering millions in public money to the school.
State’s top court orders foreclosure mediation program - December 29, 2009 - MANATEE — Florida will create a state-wide “managed mediation” program designed to help more homeowners avoid foreclosure, the state’s top court said Monday.
House Ban on Acorn Grants Is Ruled Unconstitutional - December 12, 2009 - WASHINGTON — The federal government must continue to provide grant money to the national community organizing group Acorn, a federal court ruled Friday, saying that the House violated the Constitution when it passed a resolution barring the group from receiving federal dollars.
Florida needs a commission to know why it sends innocent people to prison - December 12, 2009 - It took 35 years for the criminal justice system to face the fact that it had wronged James Bain, a man convicted of the heinous crime of raping a 9-year-old boy in Lake Wales and sentenced to a lifetime behind bars. For nearly a decade Bain was denied requests for a DNA test on the evidence. It took a state attorney finally agreeing this year for the test to be done. The results ruled Bain out as the perpetrator.
Supreme Court disciplines attorneys - December 8, 2009 - The Florida Supreme Court has recently disciplined the following South Florida lawyers, according to a press release from The Florida Bar. Court orders are not final until time expires to file a rehearing motion and, if filed, determined.
Ethics commission seeks power to begin its own investigations - December 7, 2009 - Before sealing its doors and windows to secretly consider three legal complaints made by citizens against high-flying state officials, the Florida Commission on Ethics voted Friday to seek power to start its own investigations — with 10 times the fines at stake and a lowered standard of proof.
Florida's Political System, Not Just Education, On Trial - November 26, 2009 - Christine Bramuchi, Linda Kobert, and Kathleen Oropeza are not kitchen table names in Florida, but you'll be learning more about them and their fight for Florida's public schools over the next several months.
Politicians Still Cashing in on Free Trips - November 18, 2009 - The rules have changed, but Florida's congressional delegation is still getting a free rides, paid for by private interests.
Crist: Ban texting while driving - November 18, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist and the state's top highway safety appointee endorsed a ban on texting while driving Tuesday, adding new momentum to an idea that has never taken hold in the Legislature.
District 5 election could see Spence-Jones return - November 18, 2009 - As Miami's mayor announced a special election for Overtown's District 5 seat following the suspension of Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, the city awaited the next political shoe to drop.
U.S. Supreme Court to review issue of juvenile `lifers' - November 9, 2009 - Lawyers for two Florida men who were sentenced to life without parole as juveniles will argue to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday that the penalty is cruel and unusual.
Justices Weigh Life in Prison for Youths Who Never Killed - November 7, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — There are just over 100 people in the world serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed as juveniles in which no one was killed. All are in the United States. And 77 of them are here in Florida.
They’ve done more than just describe what needs fixing – they’ve offered solutions you can put into practice in your professional life. And you can participate in the conversation, through webinars, online radio shows and live chats.
24 Hours of Rebels is now underway. Check back from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT today for links to each of the hourly features. Here’s the schedule:
Facial recognition technology is not entirely new, but the North Carolina project is the first major step for the FBI as it considers expanding use of the system to find fugitives nationwide.
Politics trumps policy - October 9, 2009 - Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is using the issue of civil rights restoration for ex-felons to position herself as a law-and-order candidate for governor in 2010.
Fla. Justices: Police Lights May Nullify Evidence - October 9, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE | Evidence seized by police can be thrown out of court in some cases if officers turned on their cars' flashing lights without having a reasonable suspicion of a crime, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
U.S. Supreme Court won't review Florida Pledge of Allegiance law - October 6, 2009 - The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a Florida law requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without a parent's note. But some Florida school districts don't enforce the law strictly.
Sex abuse victim says predator laws may have backfired - October 2, 2009 - As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Lauren Book is the face behind some of the state's toughest sex-offender laws -- laws she says have had unintended consequences.
Fort Lauderdale man gets 30 years for attack on cop - October 2, 1009 - A Fort Lauderdale man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday in connection with an incident in which he swung a screwdriver at a police officer, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's office announced.
Judge Napolitano Interviews James Bovard - September 27, 2009 - On a recent Freedom Watch, Judge Napolitano talked to writer James Bovard concerning the dangerous new powers the federal government has used since 9/11
Marine widow cleared of killing husband files suit - September 25, 2009 - SAN DIEGO -- A widow cleared of murdering her Marine husband has filed a $20 million lawsuit in San Diego, alleging her constitutional and civil rights were violated.
Does 'stand-your-ground' law have people jumping the gun? - September 21, 2009 - After more than four years, police, prosecutors and even the courts are struggling to interpret Florida's stand-your-ground law, which allows the use of deadly force for self-defense.
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A Legal Battle: Online Attitude vs. Rules of the Bar - September 13, 2009 - Sean Conway was steamed at a Fort Lauderdale judge, so he did what millions of angry people do these days: he blogged about her, saying she was an “Evil, Unfair Witch.”
Miami-Dade budget fight headed for Round Two - September 10, 2009 - Many are preparing for the second and final Miami-Dade County budget hearing on Sept. 17 to plead for their favorite social services or art program to be spared the ax.
DOC crackdown on sex offenders ruining mission - September 10, 2009 - You'd think that the supervision and discipline and therapy and strict curfews and drug testing and spiritual guidance and actual beds offered by the St. Francis Mission might be preferable to having jobless, homeless sex offenders prowl the streets and sleep under bridges.
Court signals it may loosen campaign spending - September 9, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court signaled Wednesday it may let businesses and unions spend freely to help their favored candidates in time for next year's elections. Such a step could roll back a century of attempts to restrain the power of corporate treasuries in American politics.
DNA to free man jailed for 26 years - September 9, 2009 - Anthony Caravella, whose rape and murder conviction has been contradicted by DNA evidence, is scheduled to be released Wednesday.
The House I am Renting is Being Foreclosed - September 3, 2009 - What is a Foreclosure?I am only a tenant – Why am I being served?What Should I do if My Landlord Tells Me She Plans to Stop The Foreclosure?What Should I Do If My Landlord Tells Me She Cannot Stop the Foreclosure?
Ordinary Injustice: America's Judicial System Gone Awry - September 1, 2009 - Lazy or overwhelmed public defenders. Wrongful convictions. Abuse of power. Amy Bach, a former staff reporter for The American Lawyer and a Stanford law school graduate, discusses it all in her new book, Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court (Henry Holt, September 2009). After spending seven years in criminal courts in Georgia, New York, Illinois and Mississippi, she chronicles a judicial system that fails not only those most in need, but society at large.
Innocent, but Executed - September 1, 2009 - In his final hours on death row, Cameron Todd Willingham and his attorneys tried frantically to show the governor of Texas a new scientific report proving his innocence. The evidence was apparently ignored, and Willingham was executed on February 17, 2004.
Appeal stops tier system for disabled - August 22, 2009 - The 1st District Court of Appeal on Friday struck down a controversial classification system that the state uses to determine benefits for some 31,000 disabled Floridians.
Lawsuit: Orlando's red-light cameras unconstitutional - August 20, 2009 - A class-action lawsuit filed Thursday claims Orlando's red-light cameras are unconstitutional and should no longer be used to issue tickets.
Elections inquiry prompted WellCare disclosure - August 20, 2009 - MIAMI (AP) -- A day after saying it had voluntarily disclosed illegal campaign contributions in Florida, troubled health insurer WellCare revealed Thursday it came forward following an inquiry from the state elections commission on a separate matter.
Illegal cash went to many officials - August 20, 2009 - WellCare Health Plans gave illegal campaign contributions to dozens of Florida’s legislators and top officials, including the current attorney general and top health regulator, between 2005 and 2007, according to a Florida Elections Commission report.
Bad Laws -Creators of Tuttle sex offender problem can fix it -- now - August 20, 2009 - Plenty of talk out there lately. Speeches. Promises. Threats. Sound bites on the evening news. Lots of stuff about solving the Julia Tuttle Causeway conundrum. The Tuttle conundrum, you might have noticed, has not gone away.
Fla. court OKs force against retreating attackers - August 19, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida's "stand-your-ground" law allows the use of deadly force for self-protection even if an attacker or intruder is in retreat, an appellate court said Wednesday.
Bad Judge, Teretha Lundy Thomas - August 8, 2009 - When you think the laws are correct then you have to get a judge to read them the way the law was not meant to be read. All of the Landlord/Tenant laws have been thrown in the thrash when it comes to Teretha Lundy Thomas. Florida Statute 83.51 Landlord’s obligation to maintain premises. Florida Statute 83.51 is what the landlord is suppose to do to maintain their apartment building up Florida Building Codes. They are required to....
Is Judge Shelley Kravirtz Just PlainStupid - August 8, 2009 - Florida Statute 83.49 (2) The landlord shall, within 30 days of receipt of advance rent or a security deposit, notify the tenant in writing of the manner in which the landlord is holding the advance rent or security deposit and the rate of interest, if any, which the tenant
High Court revokes control order - August 1 2009 - The government's anti-terror strategy has suffered a blow after the High Court revoked the control order of a suspect accused of links to al-Qaeda.
Photographers Rights And The Law In The UK - A brief guide for street photographers. Know your rights when you're out with your camera. Despite the law being clear on a citizen's rights to freely...
4 police officers caught in crash cover-up - July 29, 2009 - Miami Herald - HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Four Hollywood police officers are accused of faking a crash report - and it was caught on an officer's dashboard camera.
DCF ignored case of baby who later died- July 29, 2009 - A Broward Circuit judge sought state intervention repeatedly for a vulnerable baby. But help for Bryce Barros came too late.
South Florida doctors, hospitals named in fraud lawsuit - February 28, 2009 - A whistle-blower lawsuit alleges that ELA Medical schemed with 12 South Florida hospitals and 25 doctors to get them to use the company's devices
Vegas jurors view graphic tape in toddler sex case - February 28, 2009 - LAS VEGAS -- Jurors grimly viewed key evidence in the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting two little girls in separate incidents in 2003.
Miami judge blasted for scolding runaway girl - February 28, 2009 - A Miami judge, trying to scare a neglected child into making better decisions, may have gone too far with his tongue-lashing.
Miami-Dade man denied bail on murder charge - February 28, 2009 - A Miami-Dade judge Friday denied bail to a man accused in the 2007 shooting and wounding of Shawn Michael Joseph -- who himself was later charged in the slaying of a Hollywood gas station clerk.
No bond for man charged in Chicago triple slayings - February 27, 2009 - CHICAGO -- The man charged in the fatal shootings of three Chicago teenagers has been ordered held without bond after prosecutors alleged that he fired an assault rifle at a rival gang member but missed.
Jury recommends death for yacht killing defendant - February 27, 2009 - SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A Southern California jury has recommended the death penalty for a third defendant convicted of killing two yacht owners by tying them to an anchor and throwing them to sea.
Family awarded $8 million in Broward tobacco suit - February 19, 2009 - Philip Morris USA vowed to appeal a Broward jury's decision to award $8 million to the widow and son of a Cooper City man who died from lung cancer.
Former Miami airport fuel farm manager gets 12 years - January 30, 2009 - A former manager at Miami International Airport's fuel farm was sentenced to 12 years in prison after lying in a deposition, a judge ruled.
Court: Fla. cops can be sued over 'safety checks' - January 29, 2009 - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Law enforcement agencies can be sued over "safety checks" that go bad, a sharply divided Florida Supreme Court said Thursday.
Ill. mob boss gets life for 'unspeakable' murders - January 29, 2009 - CHICAGO -- Reputed mob boss Frank Calabrese Sr., one of five men convicted at Chicago's biggest underworld trial in decades, was sentenced to life in prison by a judge who described the murders he was accused of as "unspeakable."
Broward considers changing pretrial release program - January 27, 2009 - A proposal that would alter Broward's pretrial release and benefit the county's bail bond companies will be debated at a public hearing Tuesday.
Jury selection for third Liberty City Six trial gets under way Tuesday - January 26, 2009 - The third -- and likely last -- trial of a Liberty City group charged with conspiring with al Qaeda to blow up Chicago's Sears Tower and FBI buildings will get under way with jury selection Tuesday.
Senate approves pay equity bill - January 23, 2009 - WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved landmark worker rights legislation on Thursday that will make it easier for those who think they have endured pay discrimination to seek legal help. The vote was 61-36.
Ethics crisis in America? Church leaders say yes - January 21, 2009 - KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - From billion-dollar ponzi schemes to bad mortgages and pay-to-play dealings by public officials, some are asking: Is there a crisis of ethics in America?
Supreme Court Rejects Case On Bucs' Pat-Downs - January 21, 2009 - WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan who challenged the team's pat-down searches at Raymond James Stadium.
Obama Has Chance to Shape U.S. Courts - January 19, 2009 - Vacancies of Appellate Judges, Makeup in Congress Should Give New President Sway Over How Laws Will Be Interpreted
Housing crash spawns big lawsuits - January 14, 2009 - A flood of legal claims -- of fraud, discrimination, predatory lending and more -- has followed the sharp downturn in the real-estate market. Some borrowers are even seeking compensation for the hits to their credit ratings.
'Most Wanted' Mo. woman gets 3 years for shooting - January 14, 2009 - KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A purported Kansas City, Mo., gang leader who was briefly on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Texas carries out nation's first execution of 2009 - January 14, 2009 - HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- A man convicted of murdering three people during a night of robberies more than 13 years ago in Fort Worth was put to death Wednesday evening in the nation's first execution of the year.
States ponder early release for some prisoners - January 10, 2009 - NEW YORK - Their budgets in crisis, governors, legislators and prison officials across the nation are making or considering policy changes that will likely remove tens of thousands of offenders from prisons and parole supervision.
Pharmed co-founders sentenced to 9 years in prison - January 7, 2009 - Saying she wanted to maintain community values in a time of rampant healthcare fraud, a federal judge sentenced Carlos and Jorge de Céspedes, brothers who were once pillars of the community, to nine years in prison Wednesday.
Blame assigned in fraud probe - January 6, 2009 - A judge says a chief executive and an assistant vice president were equally responsible for a fraud against a medical center.
Judge OKs legal settlement for Mo. gov.'s e-mails - January 6, 2009 - JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A judge has approved a legal settlement that requires outgoing Gov. Matt Blunt to hand over thousands of e-mails to investigators, but leaves unresolved the question of whether Blunt's office violated public records laws.
Trial to begin in turnpike slayings - January 6, 2009 - Two men are charged with crimes related to the deaths of the Escobedo family -- whose slayings are linked to drug dealing.
Broward judge boots murder case prosecutors over taped calls - January 6, 2009 - Recordings of a defendant's phone calls with his lawyer from the Broward County Jail are at the heart of a dispute that has landed two prosecutors in hot water.
Judge reinstates Islamic group's wiretapping suit - January 5, 2009 - SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge on Monday reinstated an Islamic charity's lawsuit challenging a Bush administration surveillance program.
Ex-SC trooper caught kicking suspect pleads guilty - January 5, 2009 - COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A former South Carolina trooper caught on video kicking a suspect in the head after a highway chase pleaded guilty Monday to violating the man's civil rights, according to federal court documents.
Ill. mother wins suit over son's prison killing - January 5, 2009 - SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A judge has ordered an Illinois prison inmate who killed his cellmate - after allegedly warning guards he would harm the man - to pay $13 million to the dead inmate's estate and his mother.
Some US cities eliminate criminal-history question - January 5, 2009 - NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Hoping to prevent convicts from being shut out of the work force, some major U.S. cities are eliminating questions from their job applications that ask whether prospective employees have ever been convicted of a crime.
Cuban American named Florida Supreme Court justice - January 3, 2009 - Gov. Charlie Crist named Jorge Labarga to the Florida Supreme Court. The Palm Beach judge represents the second Cuban American to serve on the high court.
s the Integrity of Florida's Judiciary in Question? - January 1, 2009 - Over the last month, the drama played out over the most recent nomination to the Florida Supreme Court has sparked sharp criticism of the judicial nominating process.
Taxpayers say fire-fee refunds `should be more' - January 1, 2009 - Miami taxpayers have started receiving their fire-fee refunds. But many residents are grumbling about the amount of the payout.
Court: Religious objection won't stop DNA sampling - December 30, 2008 - WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to stop the government from taking DNA from a prisoner who claims the process would violate his religious beliefs.
Supeme Court overturns death penalty case - December 30, 2008 - The Florida Supreme Court made an unusual decision on Monday and agreed to overturn the death sentence of Willie H. Nowell who was convicted for first-degree murder. They remanded the case back to the trial court with new directions for a new trial.
Broward mortgage fraud scheme leader gets 8-year term - December 30, 2008 - The leader of a $10 million Broward-based mortgage fraud scheme has been sentenced to eight years in prison, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Time runs out on rape suit - December 28, 2008 - A federal judge says the U.S. Bureau of Prisons was 'woefully deficient' in protecting a government witness from guards who repeatedly sexually assaulted her at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.
Reform judicial nominations - December 28, 2008 - As became evident this month, Florida gives the governor too much power over selecting judges.
Lawmaker: End tax money for candidates - December 27, 2008 - UMATILLA - State Rep. Alan Hays wants Florida to end the practice of giving public money to statewide candidates to help finance their campaigns.
Cafe ads draw $30K fine - December 25, 2008 - A former congressional candidate is fined for running afoul of election law when he ran ads funded through non-campaign funds about his bakery's pie and coffee.
Miami-Dade poor defendants face court delays - December 25, 2008 - Miami-Dade's poor defendants will face longer court delays in most cases, as the public defender tries to cope with high caseloads and shrinking budgets.
No 'right to know' at nursing homes - December 24, 2008 - TALLAHASSEE - Florida's "right to know" constitutional amendment that lets patients check records of medical mistakes by doctors and hospitals doesn't apply to nursing homes, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Alleged misconduct in Ted Stevens trial - December 23, 2008 - An Alaska FBI agent has accused fellow agents and at least one prosecutor of misconduct and unethical behavior in the public corruption investigation in Alaska and the trial of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.
Mental patients isolated for years despite laws - December 23, 2008 - STAUNTON, Va. -- Mental patients sprinkled throughout the nation's psychiatric hospitals are being locked up alone for years despite laws aimed at preventing the practice, because medical workers say they're too dangerous to handle any other way.
ACLU sues Laguna Beach over treatment of homeless - December 23, 2008 - LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. -- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the ritzy Southern California city of Laguna Beach over its treatment of the homeless.
Yale agrees to pay $7.6M to resolve allegations - December 23, 2008 - NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Yale University has agreed to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations that it broke the law by mismanaging federally funded research grants, federal authorities announced Tuesday.
U. of Mich. fights $1.72M verdict for ex-student - December 23, 2008 - DETROIT -- Four faculty members at the University of Michigan dental school blame a judge for a $1.72 million verdict for a former student who claimed she was illegally dismissed from school.
Lehman sale approved - December 23, 2008 - A bankruptcy judge on Monday approved the sale of Lehman Brothers' prized investment management unit to a group of managers and employees.
Miami Beach man, Swiss commodity trading firm fined in trading scheme. - December 23, 2008 - A federal court in Miami has slapped a Miami Beach man and a Swiss commodity trading firm with $9 million in fines for purportedly defrauding investors of $4.4 million in a commodity futures and options trading scheme.
Charge against attorney dismissed - December 23, 2008 - Prominent attorney Ben Kuehne won a major victory in his fight against the government, which accuses him of laundering drug profits for legal fees.
Lawyers' letter to JNC - December 21, 2008 - Here's the letter the lawyers angry over Gov. Charlie Crist's judicial activism sent to the chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission on Monday.
Thee Dollhouse strip club must move elsewhere in Sunny Isles Beach - December 19, 2008 - Sunny Isles Beach commissioners have finalized a plan to create an adult-entertainment zone on Collins Avenue -- meaning the city's lone adult establishment, Thee Dollhouse strip club, will have to move within five years.
PBS&J fails to recoup embezzled cash - December 19, 2008 - A Miami federal judge has ruled against PBS&J in its effort to recover about $6.8 million the company claims was stolen through a fraudulent account opened at Wachovia Bank by a former company executive who participated in a massive embezzlement.
Minnesota Supremes Go Partly With Coleman On Absentee Ballot Suit, With Major Strings Attached - December 18, 2008 - A divided Minnesota Supreme Court has now ruled on Norm Coleman's lawsuit to stop the counting of absentee ballots that are found to have been rejected through clerical errors: The court appears to have mostly ruled for Coleman, but with some very important strings attached.
Mont., fed gov't loosen rules on Yellowstone bison - December 18, 2008 - BOZEMAN, Mont. -- State and federal officials have agreed to allow bison to migrate into parts of Montana from Yellowstone National Park - a move expected to slow but not stop an annual slaughter of the animals.
Ill. high court rejects attempt to remove governor - December 18, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- With the Illinois Supreme Court rejecting an effort to oust Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a legislative panel considering impeachment prepared to examine whether he abused his power, despite challenges from the Democrat's lawyer.
Justice Kennedy rejects 2 more challenges to Obama - December 17, 2008 - Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has rejected two more efforts to get the court to consider whether President-elect Barack Obama is eligible to take office.
Convict sentenced to death - December 16, 2008 - A Miami-Dade judge Monday sentenced Wadada Delhall to death for the killing of an eyewitness in his brother's murder trial.
Appeals court: Ex-Black Panther to stay in custody - December 12, 2008 - NEW ORLEANS -- A former Black Panther will remain in prison until hearings are held to determine whether he'll face another trial in the 1972 killing of a prison guard.
Miccosukees win judgment over websites - December 12, 2008 - The Miccosukee Tribe won a default judgment in Miami federal court against a man who allegedly infringed on its name by registering website addresses to profit from it.
Florida Supreme Court backs Broward smoker's $545,000 award - December 12, 2008 - The Florida Supbreme Court on Thursday let stand a Broward County smoker's $545,000 award in a tobacco case that also may affect liability claims for a broad range of other ''inherently dangerous'' products.
Pay raise for judges tucked into bailout plan - December 11, 2008 - WASHINGTON -- If the $14 billion bailout plan for U.S. automakers passes, it will help more than just Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. Federal judges would get a pay raise, as well.
Judge blasted for jailing boy who missed court dates - December 11, 2008 - A Miami appeals court has rebuffed a juvenile judge for the 12th time, demanding his ''obedience'' even when he disagrees with state law.
Montana judge: Man has right to assisted suicide - December 6, 2008 - HELENA, Mont. -- A Montana judge has ruled that doctor-assisted suicides are legal in the state, a decision likely to be appealed as the state argues that the Legislature, not the court, should decide whether terminally ill patients have the right to take their own life.
2 Broward Ex-Cops Plead Guilty In FBI Sting - December 5, 2008 - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Two former Broward County sheriff's deputies have pleaded guilty to drug charges as part of an FBI undercover corruption investigation. The pleas were entered Friday in federal court by 38-year-old Kevin Frankel and 37-year-old Richard Tauber. Both face possible life prison sentences
Lawyer pleads guilty, gets 2-year sentence - December 2, 2008 - A Venezuelan lawyer who was the first to plead guilty in a local plot to cover up a South American political scandal received a two-year prison sentence.
Trial begins over California prison crowding - November 18, 2008 - SAN FRANCISCO -- Attorneys for the state and inmates' rights groups clashed Tuesday at the opening of a high-stakes trial over whether California's jam-packed prisons have led to unconstitutionally poor medical and mental health care.
NH prescription privacy law upheld - November 18, 2008 - CONCORD, N.H. -- A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation law that restricts drug company access to some information about doctors' prescription writing habits.
Transient ordered to pay $101M for setting fires - November 18, 2008 - LOS ANGELES -- A homeless man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $101 million for starting two fires, including one that burned more than 163,000 acres in California two years ago.
25 states compensate the wrongfully convicted - November 18, 2008 - Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have laws that provide compensation for the wrongfully convicted:
Everything Vibrates - November 13, 2008 - The Supreme Court grapples with the primordial ooze of the Summum case.
Judge sentences Nixzmary's mom to 40 years - November 12, 2008 - The mother of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown was sentenced to 40 1/3 to 43 years behind bars on Wednesday for doing nothing as the battered and malnourished child lay dying in their home - a case so shocking it hastened child welfare reforms.
Prosecuting Johns - November 12, 2008 - Why allowing Eliot Spitzer to break the law is a mistake.
Judge closes inquiry in Ohio corruption probe leak - November 9, 2008 - CLEVELAND -- A judge has closed his inquiry into whether federal prosecutors gave two newspapers sealed documents in an investigation of Cleveland's former mayor.
Judge won't block Detroit reporter's deposition November 8, 2008 - DETROIT -- A federal judge won't block the deposition of a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter to answer questions about unnamed sources used in a 2004 story about the ethics investigation of a terrorism prosecutor.
Reginald Garcia: Clemency 101: Seeking Justice for Felons; UPDATE on New Rules for Automatic Restoration of Civil Rights - July 2007 - Florida residents and certain out-of-state residents who have a previous felony conviction and have completed their prison sentence or probation often need information or legal counsel to seek clemency approval for restoration of civil rights (R.C.R.) or a full pardon. Clemency approval by the Governor and Cabinet will be of valuable assistance to obtain certain jobs, business or professional opportunities, state licenses, and government contracts or security clearances.
Miami Complaints Blog is a good place to start if you have something to say about the way the government is run.
Landlord/Tenant Laws
Check out my Blog about Landlord/Tenant issues. Learn about how the law is written and exactly how the laws works.
Things to Think About
Things to Think About are some videos that I think everyone should know and think about so you can make your own conclusion. Go here for the things that the American should not forget and let your representitives know what you think about their policies.
Here are Some More Important Websites
Here is where you can go for more organizations that will help inform you about what is going on in the State of Florida. You can also find some help here from different organizations throughout Florida.
Quote of the Year
The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'.
A Legal Battle: Online Attitude vs. Rules of the Bar
Ordinary Injustice: America's Judicial System Gone Awry
- When you think the laws are correct then you have to get a judge to read them the way the law was not meant to be read. All of the Landlord/Tenant laws have been thrown in the thrash when it comes to Teretha Lundy Thomas. Florida Statute 83.51 Landlord’s obligation to maintain premises. Florida Statute 83.51 is what the landlord is suppose to do to maintain their apartment building up Florida Building Codes. They are required to....