Florida Bar News – Chief Justice Terminates COVID-19 Emergency Operational Measures Dealing with Remote Proceedings

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New comprehensive rules governing remote conduct of court proceedings took effect October 1   Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz has issued an administrative order that marks another milestone in Florida’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery. In Re: Termination of Specified COVID-19 Emergency Operational Measures to Account for New Rules on Remote Conduct of Court Proceedings, AOSC-2251,…

Florida Bar News – Court Amends Rules to Allow Legal Service Providers to Organize as a Corporation

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The Florida Supreme Court has amended Bar rules to permit not-for-profit legal service providers to organize as a corporation and to permit nonlawyers to serve on the boards of directors of not-for-profit legal service providers. The court, on its own motion, amended Rule 4-5.4 (Professional Independence of a Lawyer) June 2 in Case No. SC22-607, as…

Florida Bar News – Bar Creates Special Committee on Greater Public Access to Legal Services

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‘It’s an exciting opportunity and there’s going to be a lot of work’ Responding to a Supreme Court request, the Board of Governors has approved a special committee on improving access to justice. At a March 25 virtual meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a Program Evaluation Committee proposal to form the “Special Committee…

Florida Bar News – Bill to Speed the Delivery of Protective Orders Moves Again

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      Sen. Janet Cruz A proposal to speed the delivery of protective orders to law enforcement is headed to the Senate floor. The Senate Rules Committee voted overwhelmingly February 15 to approve SB 654 by Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa. Under the measure, law enforcement agencies would be required to receive protective orders that are electronically…

Florida Bar News – Privacy Protections Measure for City and County Attorneys Moves in the Senate

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     Sen. Danny Burgess A measure that would give city and county attorneys, and their assistants, greater privacy protections is one step closer to the Senate floor. The Senate Commerce Committee voted unanimously on February 2 to approve SB 1420 by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills. “Now city and county attorneys will have the same public records…

Florida Bar News – The Evolution of Discipline Cases and the Court’s Treatment of Professionalism

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Most Florida Bar members uphold the high ethical standards the profession demands. But for the small fraction who risk discipline through unprofessional conduct, “The First Amendment is a poor defense.” So warns Tampa attorney Scott Tozian, a former prosecutor and former Florida Bar staff counsel who primarily defends lawyers in grievance cases. The Supreme Court…