Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the Supreme Court of Texas Surveys show public confidence in the courts has been in decline since 2012 and it is incumbent on lawyers and judges to work together for improvements in the administration of justice to reverse that disturbing trend, according to Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht of…
‘Itâs an exciting opportunity and thereâs 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 âSpecial Committee…
   Sen. Travis Hutson More than a decade of Business Law Section advocacy paid off in a Wesley Chapel ceremony Tuesday when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 1054, the âDorothy L. Hukilll Financial Literacy Act.â âFinancial literacy is an important life skill for a student to have,â DeSantis said. It was a watershed moment for…
The Legislature has agreed to revise a Vietnam-era law that makes drug dealing first-degree murder when a customer dies of an overdose. The Senate voted 33-5 on March 11 to approve HB 95 by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood. Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, sponsored the companion, SB 190. The measure passed in the waning hours of the…
   Rep. Mike Beltran A House panel has approved a âsovereign immunityâ measure that would, for the first time since 2010, raise the limits on claims against the government. The House Judiciary Committee voted 19-0 on February 28 to approve HB 985 by Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Valrico. It heads next to the House floor. Beltran said…
The measure would raise the amount of interest a debtor may retain in a single motor vehicle in bankruptcy proceedings   Rep. Mike Gottlieb The House has approved a measure that could prevent financially strapped Floridians from losing their only ride to creditors â an idea that began when a South Florida lawyer…
   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…
   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. âNow city and county attorneys will have the same public records…
     Sen. Janet Cruz A Senate panel has approved a measure designed to protect domestic violence victims by speeding the delivery of protective orders to law enforcement. The Judiciary Committee voted unanimously January 31 to approve SB 654 by Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa. âCurrently these petitions for injunction are going out by the…
Most Florida Bar members uphold the high ethical standards the profession demands. But for the small fraction who risk discipline through unprofessional conduct, âThe First Amendment is a poor defense.â 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…
