Jim Ash

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Court suspends Judge Mardi Levey Cohen for campaign related infractions Senior Editor Top Stories The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday suspended a Broward County judge who admitted violating several judicial canons in her 2022 election campaign. Justices agreed with the Judicial Qualifications Commission that Broward County Judge Mardi Levey Cohen should be suspended for 10 days without pay and undergo a public reprimand.

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Board weighs exemption for sponsored search engine ads under lawyer advertising rules Senior Editor Top Stories The Board of Governors is weighing a proposed amendment to lawyer advertising rules that sponsors say is necessary to address “SEO,” or sponsored search engine results. The proposed amendment to Rule 4-7.20 (Exemptions from the Filing and Review Requirement) would add a subdivision (i).

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Florida lawmakers pass wrongful death legislation Senior Editor Top Stories It’s now up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to decide whether to repeal a 35-year-old Florida law that bars adult children and their parents from recovering non-economic damages in wrongful death cases tied to medical negligence. The Senate voted 33-4 late last week to sign off on HB 6017 by Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Ft. Pierce.

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Florida expands criminal penalties for threats against court officials Senior Editor Top Stories Florida’s longest-serving magistrate says she’s grateful now that the Legislature has agreed to enhance criminal penalties for threatening and harassing a wider range of “court officials.”“I’m very grateful for the bill sponsors, I’m very grateful for the Family Law Section, and I really hope that the governor signs it,” said 15th Judicial Circuit Magistrate Diane Kirigin.

2 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Full legislature moves court efficiency reforms Senior Editor Top Stories The House has granted final legislative approval to a series of non-controversial statutory revisions designed to make the court system function more efficiently. The House voted 115-0 Tuesday to approve SB 538 by Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Fleming Island attorney. “Mr. Speaker, this is the Office of State Courts [Administrator] agency bill,” said the House sponsor, Rep.