Recently added articles from Florida Bar News:
Court budget trimmed by 1.25%: new trust fund seen as a 'first step' to a long-term solution.
Feb 01, 2009; ... With a minimal cut in funds and employees and a new trust fund to help pay for continuing operations, Florida court officials and Bar leaders are calling last month's special legislative session at least a good first step. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Overall, the budget ...
State attorneys, PDs still stretched thin: 'we're prosecuting more cases with less people and less money'.(public defenders)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Representatives of both the state attorneys and public defenders say that while they're grateful to have sustained only a 1.25 percent holdback in their budgets during the most recent legislative special session, by no means is it party time. Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney ...
Why is this upside down?(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... In order to comply with U.S. Postal Service requirements, the News has relocated the mailing label that appears on your paper. The USPS says the new standards create consistent ...
Business leaders feel the sting of court cuts.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Startling sound bites fell from the lips of Coral Gables economist Tony Villamil: Civil case delays caused by the court funding crisis are resulting in $17.4 billion lost in Florida economic output each year. And those civil case delays also "adversely impact" more than 120,000 ...
Lawyers' income is flat as firms brace for lean times.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Overall attorney income in Florida is holding steady, but many of the state's lawyers are pessimistic about the future. Forty-six percent of the lawyers responding to The Florida Bar's 2008 Economics and Law Office Management Survey said their practice has worsened due to the ...
Florida's first black lawyers.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince made Florida's First Black Lawyers (1869-1979) one of her Supreme Court initiatives, and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association (VHFCNBA) has implemented the project by researching and writing the history of the first black lawyers ...
Florida should consider mediation in foreclosures.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Florida's courts are managing to keep pace with an exploding caseload of mortgage foreclosures, but the state should consider requiring mediation before a foreclosure is filed on a homestead. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Senate Judiciary Committee heard that request ...
Flury named director of Guardian ad Litem Office.(Theresa Flury)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Theresa Flury has been named the executive director of the statewide Guardian ad Litem Office. Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist, Flury will serve as the office's second executive director, succeeding Angela Orkin, who led the GAL program since 2004. "The program is ...
Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar gives kids what they need.(Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association)
Feb 01, 2009 ... For six years, Gainesville lawyer Carl Schwait has donned his Santa suit to deliver holiday gifts to children attending schools in some of the poorest areas in the Eighth Circuit. While Schwait sees the smiles and gets the hugs when distributing the gifts, it is only through the ...
Despite challenges, CCCRCs are operational and anticipate saving money for the state.(Offices of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels)
Feb 01, 2009 ... They've been sued--twice--and had trouble finding offices, but the state's Offices of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels are up and running, and as anticipated saving money for the state. In a brief report at the January 14 Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, Jackson ...
Central Florida Diversity Picnic slated for Tampa.(Annual Central Florida Diversity Picnic)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Second Annual Central Florida Diversity Picnic is set for Saturday, February 28, at the Downtown Tampa Campus of the Stetson University College of Law. The Central Florida Diversity Picnic's goal is to allow minority law students an opportunity to meet and begin to establish ...
Supreme Court takes up lawyers' Web sites.
Feb 01, 2009; ... Bar member Tim Chinaris went to the Supreme Court on January 6 to make a simple request, as the justices considered Florida Bar-proposed advertising rule amendments on attorney and law firm Web sites. Chinaris, who served on the committee that drafted the Web site rule, wanted a ...
Send that message.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... I write in response to a January 1 letter complaining that a prosecutor had urged a harsh sentence in a case in order to "send a message." The letter writer suggested that such a consideration is entirely inappropriate in sentencing a defendant. I disagree. While "sending a ...
Focus on quality.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... The headlines from the January 1 News were "Downs named president-elect," "Pro bono goes stagnant," and "Lawyers sound off on impact of budget cuts." To attach a relationship to these events, please consider that Ms. Downs is but one Bar president in recent history to be elected ...
The right thing to do.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... I am writing on behalf of my client who is very thankful for the attention to detail, professionalism, and care that Jim Wetzel of Stephens Lynn Kline La Cava Hoffman & Puya showed in a recent matter. Jim is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar and The Florida Bar who has done something ...
Pro bono.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Prior to joining the ranks of government attorneys, I spent a large portion of my career practicing out of a three-attorney firm and trying to earn a reasonable living representing the poor. Although typically more than 1,000 of my "billable" hours each year were worked without ...
Smart growth?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... Imagine that the Florida Supreme Court approved a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that institutionalizes discrimination against Florida voters who serve in the military or National Guard. Imagine the amendment also discriminates against disabled voters; even voters chained 9 ...
Death penalty.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
Feb 01, 2009; ... In Marc T. Hardekopf's strong support for the death penalty in his January 15 letter, he stated concerns about keeping Floridians safe, making sure victims' families can feel that justice has been served, and ensuring that murderers are punished can be met by way of a sentence of life in ...
Proposed amendments to the Family Law Rules concerning relocation of a child.(Notice)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Florida Supreme Court, on its own motion, proposes an amendment to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. The proposed new rule is meant to implement section 61.13001, Florida Statutes (2007), governing parental relocation with a child. Florida Supreme Court Approved Forms ...
Proposed amendments to Family Rules forms.(Notice)
Feb 01, 2009 ... The Florida Bar's Family Law Rules Committee has submitted to the Florida Supreme Court an out-of-cycle report proposing amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. The committee is proposing three new family law forms: 12.995(a), Income Deduction Order; 12.995(b), Notice to ...