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Welcome to the Florida Supreme Court Public Information Pages. Below you will find the most-used feature of the Public Information collection, our current high-profile cases. The navigation bar on the left gives you access to other pages in the Public Information collection. Archived High-Profile Cases also are on-line.

Updated
High-Profile Case Description   Links
05-09-2008 Advisory Opinion to the Governor re: Judicial Appointment Powers   08-844
  On May 5, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist filed this petition asking whether he can appoint a replacement for retired Leon County Judge Tim Harley.   Docket
       
04-29-2008 Citizens' Initiative on Growth Management Changes  

08-318
08-492

  This is a citizens' initiative to amend the Constitution to provide that citizens have a right to decide local growth management changes.  

Docket
Docket

       
02-28-2008
John Couey v. State of Florida   07-1636
  This case is Couey's automatic appeal to the Florida Supreme Court for his conviction and death sentence in the murder of Jessica Lunsford.   Docket
       
02-21-2008 Anthrax Case   07-1074
  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.   Docket
       
02-21-2008 Jews for Jesus v. Rapp   06-2491
  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.   Docket
       
02-11-2008
Crist v. Fla. Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers   08-2
  This case arises from a trial court order declaring unconstitutional Florida's five recently created offices of conflict counsel   Docket
       
02-05-2008 Browning v. Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections   07-2074
  This case involves a proposed amendment to the Sarasota County charter requiring the use of voting systems that provide a verified paper ballot.   Docket
       
01-18-2008
Report of the Committee on Privacy & Court Records    

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.

   
       
01-15-2007
Statewide Grand Jury   07-1128
  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.   Docket
       
12-19-2007 Florida House of Representatives v. Crist   07-2154
  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.   Docket
       
12-12-2007
Coleman Holdings v. Morgan Stanley   07-1251
  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.    
       
12-11-2007
Citizens' Initiative on Land-Use Planning   06-161
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.   Docket
     
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.   06-521
Docket
     
11-27-2007
The Florida Bar v. Ken Jenne   07-2182
  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.   Docket
       
11-16-2007
Coleman Holdings v. Morgan Stanley   07-1251
  This case involving legal implications of the collapse of Sunbeam stock was filed with the Court on July 5, 2007.   Docket
       
11-07-2007
Lightbourne v. McCollum   06-2391
  A number of death row inmates have sued the state following alleged irregularities in the execution of Angel Diaz.   Docket
       
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.  

07-1499
Docket

       
10-31-2007 Browning v. Hersh   07-1907
  This case involves a challenge to a proposed constitutional amended on property taxes. It was dismissed October 31, 2007.   Docket
       
10-19-2007
Validity of Slot Machine Amendment   06-2505
  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.   Docket
       
10-15-2007 Strand v. Escambia County   06-1894
  In this case, the Court found that certain government bond issues must be approved in advance by voters. The case is pending on rehearing.   Docket
       
  An earlier case filed by Hersh in the Florida Supreme Court was remanded for a hearing by the trial court in Tallahassee.  

07-1268
Docket

       
09-25-2007 Joe Anderson v. Gannett Co.   06-2174
  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.   Docket
       
03-20-2007 Citizens' Initiative on Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research   06-2286
  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.   Docket
       
  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.  

07-54
Docket

       
03-20-2007
Citizens' Initiative on Funding Embryonic Stem Cell Research   06-2183
  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.   Docket
       
  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.  

06-2261
Docket

       
03-09-2007
Richard Vincent Paey v. State of Florida   07-38
  This case involves a challenge to Florida's drug trafficking laws. The Court dismissed the appeal on March 9, 2007.   Docket
       
03-05-2007
Chief Justice's Inquiry into Sealed Court Records   Webpage
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.    
     
02-09-20067 Harry Shorstein v. Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney   06-2178
  On November 3, 2006, a notice of appeal was filed in this case involving an investigation of alleged inmate abuse in Flagler County.   Docket
       
12-14-2006
Citizens' Initiative on Sales Tax Review by 2008   Filings
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.   Docket
     
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.   Filings
Docket
     
12-04-2006
Gulfstream Park Racing Cases   Filings
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.   Docket
     
11-27-2006
Citizens' Initiative on Periodic Review of Sales Taxes   Filings
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.   Docket
     
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.   Filings
Docket
     
11-27-2006
Citizens' Initiative on Sales Tax Legislation   Filings
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.   Docket
     
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.   Filings
Docket
     
11-06-2006
Stuart Horowitz v. Plantation General Hospital   Filings
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.   Docket
     
10-26-2006
Wiccan Religious Cooperative v. Jim Zingale   Filings
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.   Docket
     
10-06-2006
Engle v. Liggett Group   Filings
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.   Docket
     
12-15-2005
Certification of the Need for New Judges   Website
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.    
     

   
     
Ongoing
Archived High Profile Cases   Archives
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.    
     
     
Privacy Statement: Documents linked on this page are exempt appellate cases or have been inspected and designated as cases of significant public interest under AOSC03-49 (Nov. 25, 2003).