Law News Florida | Florida Legal News

Never Too Early

Douglas R. Beam — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:10:23 +0000

It’s always too early to quit.

Norman Vincent Peale

The post Never Too Early appeared first on Law News Florida | Florida Legal News.

State Supreme Court Grants League’s Speed-Up Request

Douglas R. Beam — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:07:54 +0000

The Florida Supreme Court Monday [June 17] granted a request for an expedited review in a case seeking to shed light on how lawmakers redrew legislative districts for the 2012 election. The League of Women Voters, among other groups, seeks to question lawmakers and their staff about the process. But the 1st District Court of Appeal decided 2 to 1 in May that legislators and staff enjoy a long-standing privilege that shields them from having to testify about legislative business. In Monday’s order, the Supreme Court directed the Legislature’s attorneys to respond to the brief submitted by the League by June 21. (Read Full Article Here)

The post State Supreme Court Grants League’s Speed-Up Request appeared first on Law News Florida | Florida Legal News.

Editorial: Recklessly Speeding To Execute

Douglas R. Beam — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:07:51 +0000

The editorial states that the legislation that Scott signed into law Friday [June 14] to speed up executions puts him on track to be the most active executioner in modern Florida history, in a state that has had more exonerations off Death Row than any other in the country, and that the new law addresses a nonexistent problem. The Florida Supreme Court ordered a comprehensive review of the state’s post-conviction death penalty process that is under way. The editorial considers that “it would have been far more responsible to wait for those conclusions than to recklessly speed up the process with so little concern about executing the wrong person.” (Read Full Article Here)

The post Editorial: Recklessly Speeding To Execute appeared first on Law News Florida | Florida Legal News.

Judicial Profile: Bicultural Sensibility Sets Tone For Judge Zayas

Douglas R. Beam — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:07:46 +0000

A profile of Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Angelica Zayas, whose bicultural sensibility —influenced by her Cuban upbringing — proved valuable when she entered the legal profession. Among the cases she has handled is a high-profile child abuse accusation against two Cuban exiles. In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to the bench. She’s been in the juvenile division since. (Read Full Article Here)

The post Judicial Profile: Bicultural Sensibility Sets Tone For Judge Zayas appeared first on Law News Florida | Florida Legal News.

Clay County Judge Accused Of Bias, Removed From Death Penalty Sentencing

Douglas R. Beam — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:07:43 +0000

Clay County Circuit Judge John Skinner has agreed to step down from a death penalty sentencing after the State Attorney’s Office accused him of being biased in favor of the defendant, Leo Louis Kaczmar, guilty of stabbing a woman more than 50 times before setting a fire to conceal the crime in December 2008. Assistant State Attorney James Colaw made a motion last week to remove Skinner from the case, accusing Skinner of telling him he’d already decided to give Kaczmar life in prison and wouldn’t be sentencing him to death. Skinner made those comments before a sentencing hearing, the motion said, and it is improper for a judge to express an opinion at that point. Chief Judge Donald Moran will assign another judge to the case. The only two sentencing options available for Kaczmar are Death Row or life without the possibility of parole. (Read Full Article Here)

The post Clay County Judge Accused Of Bias, Removed From Death Penalty Sentencing appeared first on Law News Florida | Florida Legal News.