sunEthics
Covering legal ethics, judicial ethics, bar admissions in Florida, Tennessee, and nationally. See our Subject Index to past postings.
A motion to disqualify a trial judge in related criminal cases was properly denied as legally insufficient . . . (see more) [Added 9/6/24]
The Supreme Court approves changes to rules regarding lawyers’ use of generative artificial intelligence, advertisements with celebrity clients or former clients, “zealous” representation, and lawyers indefinitely suspended for more than 91 days . . . (see more) [Added 9/2/24]
A court erred in not renewing the offer of counsel before hearing the defendant’s motion for new trial . . . (see more) [Added 8/30/24]
A sanctions order against a lawyer and his law firm is reversed due to a lack of meaningful opportunity to present evidence opposing the sanctions . . . (see more) [Added 8/26/24]
The First DCA grants a petition to disqualify a trial judge based on the judge’s refutation of the movant’s allegations . . . (see more) [Added 8/22/24]
The Second DCA refers a lawyer to the Florida Bar for repeated failures to comply with court orders and attendant delays in an expedited proceeding . . . (see more) [Added 8/19/24]
The Sixth DCA declines to address whether expert witness testimony is needed to establish a reasonable attorney’s fee . . . (see more) [Added 8/9/24]
Denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea is reversed due to the trial court’s failure to offer the assistance of counsel . . . (see more) [Added 8/5/24]
A trial court erred in awarding fees under F.S. 744.108 to a mother who was acting as guardian advocate, rather than guardian, to her minor child . . . (see more) [Added 8/2/24]
A successor judge did not err by not conducting another Faretta inquiry when a defendant asked to represent himself a second time . . . (see more) [Added 7/30/24]
Approving a recommendation from the Board of Bar Examiners, the Supreme Court adopts the “NextGen” bar exam beginning in July 2028 . . . (see more) [Added 7/26/24]
The Supreme Court disbars a former judge for misrepresentations in campaign filings and an application to fill a judicial vacancy, as well as misconduct during the disciplinary proceedings . . . (see more) [Added 7/22/24]
Comments during closing argument “traveled far outside the bounds of propriety” but did not warrant reversal because the error was not properly preserved and did not rise to the level of fundamental error . . . (see more) [Added 7/18/24]
The First DCA strikes an Anders brief as insufficient under Fla.R.App.P. 9.140 and In re Anders Briefs, 581 So.2d 149 (Fla. 1991) . . . (see more) [Added 7/15/24]
In a concurring opinion, a Sixth DCA judge criticizes trial counsel’s conduct . . . (see more) [Added 7/11/24]
A successor judge erred in confirming an arbitration award against a law firm in a legal malpractice case . . . (see more) [Added 7/8/24]
A trial court did not depart from the essential requirements of law in rejecting Worley objections and permitting financial bias discovery regarding a plaintiff’s “hybrid witnesses” . . . (see more) [Added 7/2/24]
The Supreme Court suspends a former public official for 1 year, instead of the recommended 90 days, for misconduct and a misdemeanor adjudication involving dishonesty . . . (see more) [Added 6/28/24]
The Supreme Court reprimands a judge for a misleading social media post but rules that identifying herself as a “conservative” during the campaign did not violate judicial canons . . . (see more) [Added 6/24/24]
The First DCA affirmed an order denying relief in connection with a public records request made to the governor’s office . . . (see more) [Added 6/20/24]
The Supreme Court approves a Bar petition for changes to rules governing practice pending admission, Bar membership information, Bar-approved referral services, and others . . . (see more) [Added 5/13/24]
Florida International tops the state's law schools in first-time taker pass rate for the February 2024 general bar examination . . . (see more) [Added 4/15/24]
The Supreme Court acts on Bar recommendations designed to improve professionalism in the legal profession, including amending CLE requirements . . . (see more) [Added 7/10/23]
The Supreme Court amends lawyer advertising rules regarding disclaimers, presumptively valid content, direct mail communications, and qualifying providers . . . (see more) [Added 6/25/23]
The Supreme Court grants the Florida Bar’s petition to amend the confidentiality rule in two respects, including adding a provision addressing responses to negative online reviews . . . (see more) [Added 3/16/23]
Responding to a petition from the Bar, the Supreme Court amends bar rules various subjects including lawyer advertising, dealing with clients with diminished capacity, inventory attorneys, and confidentiality in the disciplinary system . . . (see more) [Added 3/4/22]
The Supreme Court amends Rule 4-5.5 to conform to the UPL advisory opinion permitting lawyers licensed in other states to work remotely from Florida for extended time periods on matters not involving Florida . . . (see more) [Added 2/18/22]
The Board of Governors votes to reject recommendations made by the Special Committee to Improve Delivery of Legal Services concerning non-lawyer ownership of law firms, fee sharing, and changes to advertising rules . . . (see more) [Added 11/8/21]
The Supreme Court approves a unique rule creating a special disciplinary process for complaints against lawyers that were instigated by a judge’s complaint or comment . . . (see more) [Added 10/25/21]
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of Worley and declines to apply it to permit discovery regarding the financial relationship between a defendant’s nonparty insurer and a defense expert witness . . . (see more) [Added 10/19/21]
A narrow Supreme Court majority rules that a company connecting drivers who get traffic tickets with lawyers who will defend the tickets engaged in the unauthorized practice of law . . . (see more) [Added 10/15/21]
A unanimous Florida Supreme Court rules that an insurer has standing to bring a legal malpractice action against counsel it hired to represent its insured, based on the policy’s subrogation provision . . . (see more) [Added 6/4/21]
The Supreme Court approves an advisory opinion concluding that it is not the unlicensed practice of law for a lawyer licensed in other states but not in Florida to work remotely from his home in Florida on federal intellectual property matters . . . (see more) [Added 5/21/21]
The Supreme Court amends and renames the Rules of Judicial Administration, addressing judicial disqualification, creating disqualification through adding counsel, and appearance of “stand-in counsel” . . . (see more) [Added 1/27/21]
NEW in Florida Legal Ethics . . .