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State appeals court blocks stand-your-ground defense in assault case
A state appeals court has upheld a battery conviction involving a firearm notwithstanding the accused’s stand-your-ground defense, in a case involving apparent confusion about a 2017 state law switching the burden of proof in these cases from the accused to prosecutors. The Legislature intended that law to benefit people claiming they resorted to firearms in […]
Federalist Society members abound among new crop of nominees for Florida Supreme Court
A screening committee nominated nine candidates for two vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday. Every one is affiliated with the Federalist Society. Three have Hispanic roots. Four are men. Five are women. Only one is African American. The candidates, selected by a judicial nominating commission for the state’s highest court, have now cleared […]
FL Supreme Court advisory opinion on Amendment 4 is a win for governor, GOP; voting rights advocates vow to fight on
The Florida Supreme Court sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative Republicans in an advisory opinion issued Thursday in which the court said 2018’s Amendment 4 requires ex-felons to pay any fines, fees, or restitution before they recover their right to vote. The five-member court (there are two vacancies at the moment) was unanimous on […]
PAC report: December saw DeSantis committee’s strongest fundraising haul of 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political committee closed 2019 by collecting more than $1.2 million, including two gifts of $100,000, according to data compiled by the Florida Division of Elections. Those big contributions came from Rahul Patel, a corporate transactions and finance partner with King & Spalding’s Atlanta office, and Anita Zucker, a billionaire philanthropist who lives […]
There’s plenty to cheer conservatives in Gov. DeSantis’ State of the State speech
Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered a State of the State address Tuesday that mixed progressive rhetoric with conservative priorities including a hard line on taxes, a new barrier to undocumented workers, and abortion restrictions for minors. The 33-minute speech, outlining the Republican governor’s wish list for the 2020 legislative session that opened on Tuesday, highlighted what […]
A year ago in January, Ron DeSantis became FL Gov. DeSantis: What do you think about his first-year record?
At an inaugural ceremony in Tallahassee on Jan. 8, 2019, former congressman Ron DeSantis was sworn in as Florida’s governor. We’ve heard what DeSantis thinks of his first year in office – it was “an incredible year for Florida” with “historic accomplishments that are of the utmost importance to Floridians,” according to an assessment released […]
Daily exposure to trauma means stress disorder for Florida’s first responders
Tampa paramedic Steve LaDue was attending a funeral for a fellow first responder when another colleague collapsed with a heart attack. As he was trained to do, LaDue rushed to treat the man, but failed to save his life. It was the last straw for a career dedicated to other people’s traumas. “My brother really […]
Nikki Fried, gun lobbyist Hammer rumble over appeal of state’s curb on local restrictions
The NRA and the lone Democrat on the Florida Cabinet are trading barbs over a state law that sanctions local government officials who try to impose gun restrictions. Marion Hammer, the state’s top gun lobbyist, issued an alert to NRA members accusing Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried of “self-important arrogance” for […]
Applicants to fill vacancies would diversify the Florida Supreme Court
Of the 32 applicants for two vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court, the seven with the best chance to see their names forwarded to Gov. Ron DeSantis include three state appeals judges, two trial judges, an international litigator, and an overseas development official. Two of the seven are African American males, and one is openly […]
Gov. DeSantis extends Hurricane Dorian emergency in 12 Florida counties
Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a 60-day extension of the state of emergency he ordered in response to Hurricane Dorian, which spared Florida a direct hit during late summer but still inflicted damage here. In an executive order signed last week, the governor told the Florida Division of Emergency Management to continue coordinating repairs and […]
Gov. DeSantis hails his first-year accomplishments, but your view may vary
Things went swimmingly for Florida during 2019 – at least, judging by year-end summaries issued by the governor’s office and state agencies. Aides to Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a long list of accomplishments for his first year in office in areas including education, economic development, health care, hurricane response and recovery, and public safety. He […]
Gov. DeSantis hasn’t made his case among African-American Floridians, poll suggests
How is Gov. Ron DeSantis rating with Floridians nearly one year after he took office? Swimmingly, according to a Mason-Dixon poll of Floridians. In fact, the governor’s approval rating is under water with a single ethnic group – African Americans. Even that was within the poll’s 4-point margin for error. The survey, conducted between Dec. […]