Jim Ash

Tallahassee

Senior Editor at The Florida Bar Journal

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Articles

Amended vexatious litigant bill heads to the Senate floor

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Amended vexatious litigant bill heads to the Senate floor Senior Editor Top Stories Two bills containing a Supreme Court workgroup’s proposal to strengthen Florida’s “vexatious litigant” law are headed to the Senate floor, after one was revised to address a critic’s concerns. The committee voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve SB 1650 by Republican Sen. Erin Grall, a Vero Beach attorney. The committee also approved SB 1652, a linked public records exemption.
Corporate counsel get a seat at the table in new Bar Initiative

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Corporate counsel get a seat at the table in new Bar Initiative Senior Editor Top Stories Brightline Assistant General Counsel Danielle Anders doesn’t get to sway many juries, and she doesn’t mind. She gets a rush of job satisfaction every time she boards a high-speed train in Boca for her daily commute to Miami. “Working for a company like Brightline, I get to see my work in motion,” she says.
Bill allowing civil lawsuits for parental kidnapping clears House panel

1 week ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Bill allowing civil lawsuits for parental kidnapping clears House panel Senior Editor Top Stories Despite the Family Law Section’s strong objections, a House panel voted unanimously Thursday to give parental Kidnapping victims a right to sue for damages. The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee voted 13-0 to approve HB 1385, by Rep. Wallace Aristide, D-Miami. Rep.
House committee approves bills to combat vexatious litigation

2 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

House committee approves bills to combat vexatious litigation Senior Editor Top Stories A House panel on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve bills that contain a Judicial Management Council workgroup proposal to strengthen Florida’s “Vexatious Litigant” law. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20-0 to approve HB 1559, by Rep. Judson Sapp, R-Palatka, after earlier voting to approve a linked public records exception. Sapp launched his presentation with a definition.
Senate greenlights court efficiency reforms

3 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Senate greenlights court efficiency reforms Senior Editor Top Stories The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to approve a series of non-controversial statutory revisions designed to make the court system function more efficiently. The Senate voted 37-0, with no debate and little discussion, to approve SB 538 by Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Flemming Island attorney. Bradley called the bill the “state court system’s legislative package,” during a brief presentation.
Senate passes bill to expand treatment access for defendants

3 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Senate passes bill to expand treatment access for defendants Senior Editor Top Stories The Senate on Thursday approved a bipartisan measure that would give more defendants accused of lower-level crimes access to court-ordered treatment. The Senate voted 37-1 to approve SB 878 by Criminal Justice Chair Jonathan Martin, a Ft. Myers attorney and former prosecutor.
Board discusses sustainability plan, the budget, and cybersecurity guidelines

3 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Board discusses sustainability plan, the budget, and cybersecurity guidelines Senior Editor Top Stories The Board of Governors recently debated a proposed spending plan for FY 2025-26, and heard President-elect Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes describe a proposal for a “sustainability” initiative to stem the flow of lawyers leaving the profession.
Competing spending plans include dozens of new judges

3 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

Competing spending plans include dozens of new judges Senior Editor Top Stories House and Senate budget committees on Wednesday approved competing spending proposals that, despite calls for austerity, would create dozens of new judges. House Budget Chair Lawrence McClure, a Dover businessman, said the current state budget has ballooned out of control since the $89 billion spending plan he voted to approve in 2018, after he was first elected.
House panel approves bill strengthening protections for court personnel

4 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

House panel approves bill strengthening protections for court personnel Senior Editor Top Stories A House panel on Wednesday approved a bill that would enhance penalties for “tampering with, harassing, or retaliating” against court personnel that contains a Family Law provision to protect quasi-judicial officers. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 15-0 to approve HB 1049 by Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Ft. Myers attorney.
House panel moves plan that calls for 29 new judges

4 weeks ago | floridabar.org | Jim Ash

House panel moves plan that calls for 29 new judges Senior Editor Top Stories A House panel on Tuesday approved an austerity budget proposal that calls for a significant increase in new judges, but falls far short of the 50 the Supreme Court requested in December. The House Justice Budget Subcommittee voted 14-0 to approve PCB JUB 2501, a proposed committee bill that would spend $13.9 million to create 29 new circuit and county court judgeships.