What is in the audio that led prosecutors to charge dentist in law prof’s murder?

Defense lawyers for a dentist and his former girlfriend claim that a newly enhanced secret recording exonerates their clients in the July 2014 murder of law professor Dan Markel at his Tallahassee, Florida, home.

Apr 26, 2022 11:07 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Prof gets $400K settlement in pronoun case; panic-attack firing leads to $450K verdict

Prof who refused to use preferred pronouns gets $400K settlement Shawnee State University in Ohio has agreed to pay philosophy professor Nicholas Meriwether $400,000 and to rescind a written warning that he received for refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns. The settlement was reached more than a year…

Apr 22, 2022 2:23 PM CDT

University’s ban on ‘discriminatory harassment’ likely violates the First Amendment, 11th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that the University of Central Florida’s ban on speech constituting “discriminatory harassment” likely violates the First Amendment.

Apr 22, 2022 11:27 AM CDT

‘Bombshell’ arrest made in murder of slain law prof Dan Markel; enhanced recording credited

Police have made an additional arrest in the July 2014 murder of Dan Markel, a professor at the Florida State University College of Law—and the news is a “bombshell.”

Apr 21, 2022 12:30 PM CDT

Judge says CDC had no authority to adopt mask mandate for planes, public transit

Apr 18, 2022 2:45 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Coca-Cola ex-GC’s $12M deal criticized; DOJ mostly loses first of six wage-collusion cases

Coca-Cola’s $12M deal with former GC is criticized Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis & Co. is advising shareholders to vote against Coca-Cola’s executive compensation plan because of the beverage company’s $12 million consulting agreement with its former general counsel, Bradley Gayton. The report said the “outsized payments” could be indicative…

Apr 15, 2022 1:34 PM CDT

GOP opposition blocks bill to name federal courthouse after Black judge, a ‘legal legend’

A measure to name a federal courthouse after the first Black judge on the Florida Supreme Court was recently blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives after one lawmaker found a news clip on a prayer ruling.

Apr 13, 2022 10:50 AM CDT

New law allows this state’s judges to personally solicit campaign donations; ethics opinion adds wrinkle

A new Tennessee law allows judges to personally solicit and accept campaign contributions, but judicial candidates should “be mindful” of other ethics rules that could be implicated, according to a March 29 ethics opinion.

Apr 11, 2022 4:19 PM CDT

ABA’s new CLE policy appears to comply with state ban on diversity ‘quotas,’ Florida Bar says

The ABA Board of Governors on Tuesday revised the association’s diversity policy for continuing legal education programs after the Florida Supreme Court banned course credit in the state for programs with panel “quotas.”

Apr 6, 2022 2:38 PM CDT

Florida lawyer gets emergency suspension after she is accused of driving her car into 4 people

A lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been temporarily barred from practicing law as a result of an emergency suspension imposed after she was accused of driving her car into four people on the sidewalk and trying to run down a witness.

Apr 5, 2022 3:07 PM CDT

Florida Supreme Court rejects bar committee’s reform proposals, asks for alternatives

After rejecting several proposals earlier this month that would have opened up Florida’s legal marketplace to nonlawyer financial interests and practitioners, the Florida Supreme Court has tasked the Florida Bar with coming up with alternative plans to strengthen access to justice.

Mar 22, 2022 8:37 AM CDT

May jurors see 3D defense reenactment of alleged crime? Judge appears reluctant to allow it

A Florida judge on Friday appeared reluctant to allow jurors to wear virtual reality goggles that illustrate the findings of an expert witness for the defense in an attempted murder case.

Mar 14, 2022 9:38 AM CDT

Child, 5, lacked intent for prosecution for alleged attack that sent teacher to hospital, experts say

Florida law provides that anyone suspected of a forcible felony, such as aggravated assault, can be prosecuted—no matter what their age is.

Mar 14, 2022 8:36 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Controversial Florida education bills advance; ban on homebuyer ‘love letters’ blocked

Florida lawmakers pass ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ anti-woke bills Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign two controversial bills passed by the legislature this week. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill, approved by lawmakers Tuesday, bans public school instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.…

Mar 11, 2022 12:33 PM CST

Many federal courts ease mask requirements; judges often retain discretion in their courtrooms

More than a dozen federal courts have eased or dropped mask requirements since the beginning of March.

Mar 11, 2022 10:04 AM CST