sunEthics
Covering legal ethics, judicial ethics, bar admissions in Florida, Tennessee, and nationally. See our Subject Index to past postings.
A broad order disqualifying a party’s counsel is reversed where it was “based on speculation rather than evidence” . . . (see more) [Added 3/6/26]
Despite affirming an order of dismissal, the Second DCA emphatically reminds bar and bench about the importance of civility, collegiality, and professionalism . . . (see more) [Added 3/3/26]
The Fourth DCA grants a petition that alleged ineffective assistance of appellate counsel . . . (see more) [Added 2/27/26]
The Third DCA affirms an order compelling discovery based on the statutory “common interest” exception to the attorney-client privilege, despite the co-clients having adversity of interest . . . (see more) [Added 2/24/26]
The Fourth DCA affirms a judgment for defendants in a legal malpractice action, rejecting plaintiffs’ contention that the trial court erred in allowing testimony and argument about an unusual and ethically questioned “cooperation agreement” between the plaintiff former clients and the original defendant in the underlying case . . . (see more) [Added 2/20/25]
The Third DCA affirms a defendant’s conviction at his second trial, rejecting his contention that the trial court erred by admitting testimony from his first trial that was tainted by ineffective assistance . . . (see more) [Added 2/17/26]
A court abused its discretion in denying a criminal defendant’s request for a one-day continuance of his trial relating to the non-appearance of a witness . . . (see more) [Added 2/13/26]
A revocation of probation order and life sentence are vacated due to the court’s failure to conduct a Faretta hearing . . . (see more) [Added 2/10/26]
Faced with a “significant waiver issue,” a trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a new argument objecting to entry of a fee judgment on one count while other counts remained pending . . . (see more) [Added 2/6/26]
FIGA is not responsible for paying the portion of a settlement agreement that was for attorney’s fees, which are not a “covered claim” under FIGA statutes . . . (see more) [Added 2/3/26]
The Third DCA affirms a conviction, ruling that a prosecutor’s unobjected-to improper comments during opening statement were not fundamental error . . . (see more) [Added 1/29/26]
The ABA will no longer be the sole law school accrediting agency for eligibility to sit for the Florida Bar exam, per the Florida Supreme Court . . . (see more) [Added 1/16/26]
The Supreme Court rejects a proposal from the Attorney General’s Office to allow full, but temporary, bar admission for up to 3 years for certain government lawyers . . . (see more) [Added 1/13/26]
The Supreme Court amends Rule 4-8.6 concerning entities authorized to engage in law practice in Florida and nonlawyers holding certain positions or titles in law firms . . . (see more) [Added 12/22/25]
The Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee publishes an advisory opinion regarding lawyers’ use of listservs and online discussion groups . . . (see more) [Added 11/14/25]
The Supreme Court disbars, rather than suspends, a lawyer for intentional misconduct including undisclosed conflicts of interest and diverting trust funds to an entity with which he was affiliated . . . (see more) [Added 9/25/25]
The University of Florida posts the state's highest first-time taker pass rate for the July 2025 general bar examination . . . (see more) [Added 9/22/25]
The Supreme Court amends Bar rules regarding judicial referrals to the Florida Bar and the provision of the Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals dealing with Bar referrals back to Local Professionalism Panels when no discipline or diversion was imposed . . . (see more) [Added 9/2/25]
The Fourth DCA points out that the standards for use of generative AI (artificial intelligence) in court filings apply equally to pro se litigants and lawyers . . . (see more) [Added 8/15/25]
NEW in Florida Legal Ethics . . .