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High-Profile Case Description |
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| 05-09-2008 |
Advisory Opinion to the Governor re: Judicial Appointment Powers |
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08-844 |
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On May 5, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist filed this petition asking whether he can appoint a replacement for retired Leon County Judge Tim Harley. |
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| 04-29-2008 |
Citizens' Initiative on Growth Management Changes |
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08-318
08-492 |
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This is a citizens' initiative to amend the Constitution to provide that citizens have a right to decide local growth management changes. |
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Docket
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02-28-2008 |
John Couey v. State of Florida |
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07-1636 |
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This case is Couey's automatic appeal to the Florida Supreme Court for his conviction and death sentence in the murder of Jessica Lunsford. |
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| 02-21-2008 |
Anthrax Case |
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07-1074 |
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The U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on June 11 filed a Certified Question with the Florida Supreme Court regarding a death caused by anthrax contamination at the American Media buildng in Boca Raton in 2001. |
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| 02-21-2008 |
Jews for Jesus v. Rapp |
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06-2491 |
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This case asks whether and to what extent Florida will permit lawsuits for publications that allegedly place people in a "false light." Arguments are tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2008. |
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02-11-2008 |
Crist v. Fla. Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers |
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08-2 |
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This case arises from a trial court order declaring unconstitutional Florida's five recently created offices of conflict counsel |
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| 02-05-2008 |
Browning v. Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections |
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07-2074 |
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This case involves a proposed amendment to the Sarasota County charter requiring the use of voting systems that provide a verified paper ballot. |
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01-18-2008 |
Report of the Committee on Privacy & Court Records |
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2008 Filings. On January 18, 2008, the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Access to Court Records filed its Invitation for Comments on its Preliminary Proposal. Comments are requested by March 3, 2008.
2007 Filings. On June 20, 2007, an Interim Report and Cover Letter were filed with this Court. As a result, the Chief Justice Issued a revised Moratorium order on September 7, 2007.
Other documents filed with this Court on April 2, 2007, are available.
2006 Court Order & Limited Moratorium. On July 3, 2006,the Court released an Order in response to the Report of the Committee on Privacy & Court Records along with a new Limited Moratorium on certain electronic releases of court records. The order was later implemented by an Administrative Order issued August 21, 2006.
Group 3. A Request of the Court for comments on Group 3 of the Report is available. Comments will be accepted until May 1, 2006. View the current Comments on Group 3.
Group 2. By a prior separate Request of the Court, comments on Group 2 of the Report were accepted until March 1, 2006. Check Comments on Group 2, which were last updated March 2, 2006.
The members of the Florida Supreme Court in their administrative capacity have invited persons who commented on the Report on Privacy & Court Records, Group Two Recommendations, to speak to the Court on April 19 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. The meeting will be in the courtroom in Tallahassee.
Group 1. Pursuant to a prior Request of the Court, comments on Group 1 of the final Report were accepted until February 1, 2006. Check Comments on Group 1. A hearing on Group 1 issues was held March 1, 2006, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET at the Supreme Court Building in Tallahassee.
Full Report. The seven segments of this Report were submitted to the Court in September 2005. They are the Cover, Cover Letter, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. On May 6, 2005, the Committee on Privacy & Court Records issued its earlier Draft Report.
Prior Matters. On February 13, 2004, an Amended Moratorium Order was issued in this matter. Other Documents include the Report of the legislative Study Committee on Public Records released Feb. 15, 2003. Additional Documents are available on the State Courts' Website. |
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01-15-2007 |
Statewide Grand Jury |
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07-1128 |
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On June 19, 2007, the Governor asked the Court to impanel a statewide grand jury. The Court entered an order impaneling the statewide grand jury on June 20, 2007. An Interim Report was filed January 15, 2008. |
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| 12-19-2007 |
Florida House of Representatives v. Crist |
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07-2154 |
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On November 19, 2007, the Florida House of Representatives and Speaker Marco Rubio filed suit in the Supreme Court challenging a Seminole Indian Gaming Compact negotiated by Governor Crist. |
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12-12-2007 |
Coleman Holdings v. Morgan Stanley |
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07-1251 |
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This case involving legal implications of the collapse of Sunbeam stock was filed with the Court on July 5, 2007. The court dismissed the case without a decision on December 12, 2007. |
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12-11-2007 |
Citizens' Initiative on Land-Use Planning |
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06-161 |
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On February 1, 2006, the Attorney General petitioned the Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment requiring that changes to local land-use plans be submitted to the voters. The Court issued its Opinion on June 22, 2006. |
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Docket |
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In addition, on March 27, 2006, the Attorney General has filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the land-use initiative is placed on the ballot. The Court rejected the initial estimate, and the Attorney General submitted a new one. |
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06-521
Docket |
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11-27-2007 |
The Florida Bar v. Ken Jenne |
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07-2182 |
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At the request of The Florida Bar, the Court has suspended attorney Ken Jenne because of his conviction of a felony and ordered that a referee be appointed to investigate the matter. |
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11-16-2007 |
Coleman Holdings v. Morgan Stanley |
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07-1251 |
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This case involving legal implications of the collapse of Sunbeam stock was filed with the Court on July 5, 2007. |
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Docket |
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11-07-2007 |
Lightbourne v. McCollum |
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06-2391 |
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A number of death row inmates have sued the state following alleged irregularities in the execution of Angel Diaz. |
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Docket |
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On August 10, 2007, the Attorney General filed a separate petition seeking to reverse an order of the trial court regarding viewing the death chamber and a walk-through. The Court denied review on August 20, 2007. |
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07-1499
Docket |
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| 10-31-2007 |
Browning v. Hersh |
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07-1907 |
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This case involves a challenge to a proposed constitutional amended on property taxes. It was dismissed October 31, 2007. |
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Docket |
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10-19-2007 |
Validity of Slot Machine Amendment |
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06-2505 |
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This case involves the question of whether a constitutional amendment approved by the voters can later be invalidated if petitions needed to put it on the ballot later are shown to be fraudulent. |
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Docket |
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| 10-15-2007 |
Strand v. Escambia County |
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06-1894 |
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In this case, the Court found that certain government bond issues must be approved in advance by voters. The case is pending on rehearing. |
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Docket |
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An earlier case filed by Hersh in the Florida Supreme Court was remanded for a hearing by the trial court in Tallahassee. |
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07-1268
Docket |
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| 09-25-2007 |
Joe Anderson v. Gannett Co. |
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06-2174 |
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This case asks whether and to what extent Florida will permit lawsuits for publications that allegedly place people in a "false light." Arguments are tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2008. |
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| 03-20-2007 |
Citizens' Initiative on Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research |
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06-2286 |
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On November 30, 2006, the Attorney General filed a petition for review of a proposed citizens' initiative banning state spending on research that requires the destruction of a live human embryo. The Court must review the proposed constitutional amendment to ensure it addresses only a single subject and has an accurate ballot summary. The Court has scheduled oral arguments for April 16, 2007. |
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Docket |
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In addition, on January 16, 2007, the Attorney General filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the initiative is placed on the ballot. |
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07-54
Docket |
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03-20-2007 |
Citizens' Initiative on Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research |
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06-2183 |
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On November 7, 2006, the Attorney General filed a petition for review of a proposed citizens' initiative to fund embryonic stem cell research. The Court must review the proposed constitutional amendment to ensure it addresses only a single subject and has an accurate ballot summary. |
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Docket |
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In addition, on November 22, 2006, the Attorney General filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the initiative is placed on the ballot. |
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06-2261
Docket |
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03-09-2007 |
Richard Vincent Paey v. State of Florida |
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07-38 |
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This case involves a challenge to Florida's drug trafficking laws. The Court dismissed the appeal on March 9, 2007. |
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Docket |
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03-05-2007 |
Chief Justice's Inquiry into Sealed Court Records |
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Webpage |
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On Oct. 3, 2006, Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis asked circuit chief judges to report to him by Oct. 13, 2006, on the status of sealed court records in their courts. He also asked The Florida Bar to report on recommended Rules changes by Nov. 1, 2006, on the sealing of court records. Public comments are now being filed with the Court. Oral arguments were held on March 5, 2007. |
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| 02-09-20067 |
Harry Shorstein v. Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney |
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06-2178 |
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On November 3, 2006, a notice of appeal was filed in this case involving an investigation of alleged inmate abuse in Flagler County. |
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12-14-2006 |
Citizens' Initiative on Sales Tax Review by 2008 |
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Filings |
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On September 1, 2005, the Attorney General asked the Court to review a citizens' initiative requiring a legislative review of current sales tax exemptions prior to July 1, 2008. |
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Docket |
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In addition, the Attorney General has filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the sales tax initiative is placed on the ballot. |
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Filings
Docket |
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12-04-2006 |
Gulfstream Park Racing Cases |
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Filings |
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These cases involve lower court decisions striking a state statute authorizing simulcasting between two racing facilities in South Florida. In a companion case, Hartman-Tyner Inc. v. Gulfstream Park Racing, Filings and Docket information also are available. |
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Docket |
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11-27-2006 |
Citizens' Initiative on Periodic Review of Sales Taxes |
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Filings |
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On September 1, 2005, the Attorney General asked the Court to review a citizens' initiative requiring a legislative review of certain sales tax exemptions every ten years. |
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Docket |
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In addition, the Attorney General has filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the sales tax initiative is placed on the ballot. |
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Filings
Docket |
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11-27-2006 |
Citizens' Initiative on Sales Tax Legislation |
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Filings |
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On September 1, 2005, the Attorney General asked the Court to review a citizens' initiative requiring that each law creating or reenacting a sales tax exemption must contain only a single exemption and a statement of certain matters. |
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Docket |
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In addition, the Attorney General has filed a separate petition that asks the Court to review a financial impact estimate that will be provided to voters if the sales tax initiative is placed on the ballot. |
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Filings
Docket |
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11-06-2006 |
Stuart Horowitz v. Plantation General Hospital |
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Filings |
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On February 17, 2006, the Court accepted jurisdiction in this medical malpractice case. It raises the issue of the extent to which hospitals can be held liable for the malpractice of physicians to whom they have granted staff privileges. |
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Docket |
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10-26-2006 |
Wiccan Religious Cooperative v. Jim Zingale |
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Filings |
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The Wiccan Religious Cooperative challenges state tax exemption laws regarding sales of certain religious objects. The Opinion in this case was issued October 26, 2006. |
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Docket |
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10-06-2006 |
Engle v. Liggett Group |
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Filings |
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The Court is reviewing a decision in which the lower appeals court reversed a jury verdict against tobacco companies. Oral Arguments were November 3, 2004. The Opinion was released July 6, 2006, and the case remains pending on rehearing. |
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Docket |
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12-15-2005 |
Certification of the Need for New Judges |
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Website |
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The 2008 Certification of the need for new judges was issued. Certification then will be considered by the Legislature. Historical Information on Certification also is available. |
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Ongoing |
Archived High Profile Cases |
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Archives |
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High profile cases that are now final can be found in the Archives. These include highly publicized cases such as the 2000 presidential election appeals, the Schiavo cases, and the Aileen Wuornos murder conviction appeals. |
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