Topic: Judges

The trooper's lawyer says a colonel wrote on a blackboard, "thou shall not write tickets to legislators." HSMV's attorney denies there is a secret policy and that the trooper was fired for writing "false citations."

In a party line vote, the House approved a measure Wednesday that would let voters decide to let the winner of the 2014 gubernatorial election pick successors to three justices on the Florida Supreme Court slated to retire on January 8, 2019, the same day the governor's term ends.

Sen. Tom Lee wants to make clear the winner of the 2014 gubernatorial election would appoint the replacements of three Florida Supreme Court justices whose terms end January 2019.

Florida Supreme Court's second Hispanic takes the top job July 1.

Rising workloads drive the need at all levels of Florida's court system, justices tell governor and legislative leadership in their annual report.

The use of midazolam hydrochloride is not "cruel and unusual" in capital punishment Circuit Judge Phyllis Rosier determines in an evidentiary hearing ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.

Judge tells tell a Senate committee examining release procedures after two murderers were mistakenly set free that escapees lifted his signature from Casey Anthony case documents. ... Related Research: Nov. 6, 2013 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice meeting materials, and meeting video from WFSU-TV/The FLORIDA Channel.

The bogus documents used in the recent release of two convicted killers from the Franklin County Correctional Institution were not produced by an inside job, FDLE says, and assured lawmakers Monday that the prison system is tightening document security. ... Related Research: Nov. 4, 2013 Department of Corrections presentation to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on fraudulent court orders.

FDLE says more arrests are forthcoming as corrections and courts officials look into how documents were forged that allowed their release. The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice says his panel will have a hearing on the case in November.

Much of the $33 million in new requests would go toward facilities repair and maintenance. The increase would push the courts budget about 7 percent higher than the current $443.4 million.

Prosecution suggests the removal of Leon County Judge Judith Hawkins from the bench, while her defense argued her conduct was deserving of no more than reprimand. ... Related Research: Briefs & Other Documents in Case No. 12-2495 before the Supreme Court of Florida.

Prosecutor says the Leon County judge operated a private business out of her chambers and attempted to hide it by deleting documents from her office computer once the investigation began. ... Related Research: Briefs & Other Documents in Case No. 12-2495 before the Supreme Court of Florida.

Plaintiffs argued allowing ex parte interviews in medical malpractice cases would reveal patient's personal information in violation of a 1996 insurance portability law. A federal judge ruled the 2013 state law did not include any of the exceptions provided in the federal Health Insurance Portability Account of 1996. ... Related Research: Sept. 25, 2013 Ruling in Case 4:13-cv-00378-RH-CAS before the Tallahassee Division of the U.S. District Court of Northern Florida.

Groups suing over the way legislators drew new districts for the state Senate and U.S. Congress want to interview legislators, but justices sound skeptical about whether state legislators must answer questions in a long-running political battle. ... Related Research: Briefs & Other Documents in Case No. 13-949 before the Supreme Court of Florida.