MIAMI HERALD MIAMI -- A Miami judge tossed a second-degree murder case, citing Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Beth Bloom granted 25-year-old Greyston Garcia immunity under the 2005 law Wednesday after ruling his testimony about self-defense was credible. Garcia was charged with killing a 26-year-old suspected burglar in January. The Miami Herald ( http://bit.ly/GKXg1g) reports Miami police Sgt. Ervens Ford was stunned by the judge's ruling. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/22/2707448/miami-judge-tosses-case-based.html#storylink=cpy … [Read more...]
Grand jury, Department of Justice to investigate Trayvon Martin shooting
March 20, 2012
By Arelis R. Hernández and Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel A Seminole County grand jury, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, will investigate the Trayvon Martin case, the racially-charged fatal shooting inSanford. State Attorney Norm Wolfinger this morning released a prepared statement, saying he would have a county grand jury hear evidence April 10. His office, with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is reviewing and collecting evidence in the case, his statement said. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-20/news/os-trayvon-martin-doj-investigation-20120320_1_grand-jury-shooting-federal-civil-rights-statutes … [Read more...]
Florida voter ID law has more options than Texas one blocked by feds
March 15, 2012
By DARA KAM, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE — Florida law requires voters to present photo identification when they go to the polls, but it allows more alternatives than do the Texas and South Carolina laws that have been blocked by the U.S. Justice Department. Whereas Texas and South Carolina require government-issued identification such as driver licenses, military IDs and passports, voters in Florida can also use other types of cards as long as they have photos -- including credit and debit cards, student identification, public assistance cards or those form neighborhood association or retirement centers. If the identification cards don't have a signature, they can be matched against another document with a signature. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/florida-voter-id-law-has-more-options-than-2233593.html … [Read more...]
Florida lawmakers exempt Miami from taxes on new Marlins stadium garages
March 13, 2012
BY PATRICIA MAZZEI Miami leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief when, less than three hours from the end of the 60-day legislative session, state lawmakers exempted the cash-strapped city from having to pay an annual $1.2 million in property taxes on garages at the new Marlins ballpark. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/12/2690457/florida-lawmakers-exempt-miami.html#storylink=cpy … [Read more...]
Lawyer: Prosecute Rush Limbaugh for Defamation
March 12, 2012
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A high-profile attorney is calling for Rush Limbaugh to be prosecuted on a defamation charge, saying an obscure Florida law can be used to punish him for calling a college student a "slut" and a "prostitute" on the air. Gloria Allred, the famed celebrity lawyer, sent a letter to the Palm Beach County Attorney's Office on Thursday saying prosecutors should consider a charge under an 1883 law making it a misdemeanor to question a woman's chastity. -- Associated Press Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Lawyer-Prosecute-Rush-Limbaugh-for-defamation-3394632.php#ixzz1osojqMiH … [Read more...]
