http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/banker_is_latest_defe...
Ex-bank exec is latest to face criminal case linked to ex-lawyer's $1.2B scheme; victims to get $50M
A former South Florida bank president convicted of bank fraud and sentenced to probation decades ago is the latest individual charged—and expected to take a plea—in a federal criminal case linked to a swindle of at least $1.2 billion by now-imprisoned former attorney... [...]
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/clients_wish_for_deat...
Client's wish for death penalty doesn't justify defense lawyer's withdrawal, Fla. supreme court says
The Florida Supreme Court has refused a defense lawyer’s request to withdraw from the appeals of a client who wants to argue in favor of his death sentence.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 opinion (PDF) last Thursday, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Lawyer... [...]
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/cut_lawyer_use_of_got...
Cut use of 'gotcha card' by requiring pretrial searches of jurors' backgrounds, judges suggest
If a juror lies when asked about his or her background, that can be grounds for a mistrial. And, given the proliferation of social media, it's a lot easier than it used to be to find out when a juror has withheld information.
But deciding whether to grant a mistrial is a... [...]
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/flor...
Florida Supreme Court revamps rules for death penalty appeals
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved a series of changes aimed at improving the death-penalty appeals process, including revising requirements for attorneys handling cases.
Justices last year formed a subcommittee to look at the appeals system, a move that came as the Legislature targeted delays in... [...]
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_who_hit_public_...
Judge who hit public defender returns to bench, less than a month later Not quite a month after loudly challenging a public defender and inviting him outside the courtroom for a fight-and reportedly striking him-Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy apologized and returned to the bench Monday, Florida Today reports. Video of the Florida courtroom outburst went viral, and sounds... [...]
