Recent Blog Posts
This November, Florida May Finally Do Something about Outdated Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
While Florida has rolled back some of its harsher mandatory minimum sentencing laws, many are still stuck with sentences that are years or even decades longer than those convicted of similar crimes today. However, a referendum on the state ballot this November could change that: Amendment 11 would allow the state legislature to retroactively… Read More »
Florida Jury Finds That Officers Cannot Seize Accident Bystanders’ Cell Phones for Evidence
An important decision to come out of Martin County, Florida in early October could have statewide implications for establishing limitations on law enforcement’s ability to collect smart phones in roadside contexts. The jury decided that a deputy violated a resident’s civil rights when he grabbed a bystander’s cell phone and told him that any… Read More »
LGBTQ Advocates Are Concerned about the Administration’s New Civil Rights Probe
LGBTQ advocates are understandably concerned after the administration recently released an announcement indicating that it would be conducting a federal investigation into whether a school district’s transgender bathroom policy contributed to the sexual assault of a five-year-old girl in Georgia. According to reports, the school district adopted a policy allowing transgender students to use… Read More »
Administration Files Position Opposing Inclusion of Transgender Rights in Title VII of Civil Rights Act
In late October, the Trump administration took a huge step back in making progress in affording civil rights for everyone by filing a position with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing against the protection of transgender people against sex bias on the job under Title VII of the 1964 civil rights law. The case stems… Read More »
Florida Suspect Charged With Attempted Bombings
The hearing for the Florida man accused of sending explosive packages (pipe bombs) to several prominent members of the Democratic Party and media outlets, including CNN, was held on October 29 in federal court. Cesar Sayoc has been accused of a number of federal crimes, including assaulting federal officers, and faces more than 50… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Appeal Waivers in Plea Agreements
We’ve previously discussed the issue of the rise in the number of plea bargains versus jury trials over time, all over the country, and the impact this arguably has on ensuring that justice is done, in general, in our criminal justice system. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court itself estimated that 97 percent of… Read More »
Florida City Commissioner Charged with Murder: Second Spotlight on Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law
Florida’s “stand your ground” law is once again under the spotlight as a Lakeland, Florida city commissioner (Michael Dunn) is now facing second-degree murder charges after shooting an alleged shoplifter at his store earlier this month (October). According to the footage obtained by police, the victim hid a hatchet from the store under his… Read More »
U.S. Appeals Court Points out That Sting Operations Primarily Target Blacks and Latinos
On October 15, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals made it easier for defendants snagged in reverse sting operations to seek evidence indicating that the government engaged in serious civil rights concerns by specifically targeting blacks and Latinos in these operations. In doing so, the court painted a disturbing portrait of law enforcement… Read More »
Florida Judge Points Out How Repeated Prosecution of Innocent Man Shows That System Is Flawed
No state in the U.S. has had more death-penalty convictions overturned than Florida; most of them involving convictions where defendants arguably did not have the financial resources to properly defend themselves. One particular death penalty case here in Florida has drawn significant coverage this month (October) because of the arguably abhorrent levels of injustice… Read More »
A Closer Look at Sex Crime Allegations against Justice Kavanaugh & What May Be On “Shaky” Legal Grounds
Hearings concerning whether or notice Justice Kavanaugh will be confirmed for placement onto the U.S. Supreme Court have dominated news headlines of late, especially since several accusers have come forward, alleging that Kavanaugh is guilty of committing sex crimes against them. Both of the allegations brought thus far date back to incidents that allegedly… Read More »
Criminal Defense Lawyers Conference Highlights Basic Changes Needed For Prison Reform
In late August, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) met in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss the dire need for prison reform in each state, including Florida. According to key speaker Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal, aside from prison reform interests, states that want to cut costs and decrease the number of repeat offenders… Read More »
Celebrity Discriminated Against In Florida Hotel Raises Questions about Discrimination from Private Businesses
Sadly, racial profiling happens every day, often completely unreported—but nonetheless still incredibly unjust. When it does garner news headlines—as it sometimes does with “celebrities” who experience it—it’s an opportunity for all of us to wake up and take notice (as well as work harder to defeat it). This was the case in early September,… Read More »
Celebrity Tyler Perry Announces Wrongful Death Lawsuit against Florida Deputy In Connection With Two Men Who Disappeared After Being Taken Into Custody
Florida news headlines have been dominated by the decision made by one celebrity—Tyler Perry—to help file a wrongful death lawsuit against one Florida Deputy reportedly linked to the disappearances of two men who were taken into custody nearly 15 years ago. The case was brought against former Collier County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Calkins, who… Read More »
Florida Is, Once Again, Accused of Felon Disenfranchisement. But Are Things Finally Changing?
Florida is, once again, in the national spotlight for a number of civil rights issues associated with its voting practices. The process requires that anyone who had a felony conviction wait five years before petitioning the state to regain the right to vote, which is then decided on a case-by-case basis by Governor Rick… Read More »
Undocumented Immigrants (Illegally) Targeted & Certain Fishing Practices Could Be Banned In Florida This Fall
Below, we discuss some important developments concerning actions that could lead to the illegal arrest of undocumented immigrants, as well as changes to some of Florida’s shore fishing laws that could impact some citizens’ livelihoods, here in Florida: Illegal Flyers Circulated In Florida Offering Fake Awards to Turn In Undocumented Immigrants to Law Enforcement… Read More »
Florida’s Dangerous Prisons Still Costing Taxpayers Too Much
We’ve previously discussed some of the corruption and abuse issues that plague Florida’s justice system. The Florida Department of Corrections is the largest agency in the state, with a budget of $2.3 billion each year. Still, in spite of all this spending, Florida prisons have experienced a number of high-profile abuses, deaths, and disturbances:… Read More »
The Shameful Truth: Thousands of Veterans Have Also Lost Their Right to Vote in Florida
We’ve previously discussed Florida’s history of denying millions of ex-felons of the right to vote and the civil rights concerns that raises. Its history has its roots as an outright white-supremacist measure after the Civil War to explicitly prevent African-Americans from voting. The Miami New Times recently addressed this same issue within the context… Read More »
New Florida Animal Abuse Law with Stiffer Penalties Went into Effect October 1
As of October 1, a number of new laws will take effect in Florida, including one that imposes harsher penalties for abusing animals. Others going into effect also increase penalties for anyone who trespasses on Florida airport property, including Miami, Orlando, and Tampa International Airports. The animal abuse law stems from an incident that… Read More »
Kavanaugh’s Civil Rights Views Under Scrutiny
Affirmative action is an important civil rights issue that carries a goal of instilling admissions policies geared to provide equal access to education for groups that have historically been underrepresented or excluded—such as minorities and women—in higher educational institutions. While the U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld university admissions policies that allow for race… Read More »
Wrongful Death Argued For In Florida “Stand Your Ground” Criminal Defense Case
Many are now calling the incident that occurred in July in a Florida “Circle A” convenience store parking lot more a case of a wrongful death than a viable use of the Florida “Stand Your Ground” criminal defense. Of late, this even includes the National Rifle Association (NRA) and GOP lawmakers, who rejected the… Read More »
New Law in Florida Requires Guns Surrendered Out Of Abundance of Caution
After the Florida Parkland school shooting, many are concerned about the safety of themselves and their children. However, does Florida’s new law ordering many to surrender guns infringe upon our state and federal civil rights? The Florida Risk Protection Order Act temporarily strips gun owners of their gun rights and ammunition if a judge… Read More »
Florida Seeks to Uphold Ban on Smoking Medical Marijuana In Spite Of Court’s Decision on Constitutional Amendment
On August 3, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a 57-page brief arguing that the 1st District Court of Appeals should uphold a decision made by the state legislature in 2017 to ban smoking medical marijuana. Bondi and the state of Florida argue that it is within the legislature’s jurisdiction to regulate public health,… Read More »
Feds Investigating Abuse Allegations at Florida Women’s Prison
On August 8, the Miami Herald covered an important U.S. Department of Justice federal civil rights investigation into various abuses—including sexual misconduct by correctional officers—at Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida. The investigation comes after years of complaints and exposes involving current and former inmates describing serious abuses, including officers forcing inmates to have sex… Read More »
Florida’s New Opioid Law Has Doctors Concerned
Florida’s new opioid law has a number of doctors concerned; namely because it does not just cover opioids, but a host of other drugs. Specifically, the law covers almost all medications currently classified as “Schedule II through V drugs,” including anti-seizure medications, Adderall, Ambien, ADHD medications, Ritalin, steroids, and Xanax. While it does not… Read More »
Will Florida Law Shield FIU Bridge Companies From Criminal Liability?
According to recent reporting, engineers working for Florida International University (FIU) saw gaping cracks in the bridge that was being constructed two days before it collapsed and killed six people. While many have pointed out that this constitutes professional misconduct, some are now speculating whether companies should also be held criminally liable for the… Read More »
