PACDL - Pinellas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

11/06/2023

A Supreme Court panel voted unanimously Friday not to recommend consolidating any of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits. The Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee’s 14-0 vote capped months of meetings, public hearings, and surveys that generated more than 7,000 responses — most of them opposed to ...

10/19/2023

Members of the legal profession operate within a complex social milieu that, when not seen clearly, can have consequences for their professional...

10/10/2023

The Florida Supreme Court is once again contemplating changing the state’s rule that guarantees all citizens a right to a speedy trial. But, already, not all justices appear on board with revisiting the matter. “I think this is a solution looking for a problem,” said Justice Jorge Labarga with...

07/18/2023

https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/supreme-court-reduces-the-number-of-mandatory-cle-hours/

Florida Bar members will begin feeling the impact of a recent Supreme Court order that revises continuing legal education requirements beginning in January, according to Bar staff. “The important thing for lawyers to know is the effective date of the order is January 8, 2024,” said Florida Bar P...

07/10/2023

A lawyer looks at a jury and takes a deep breath. He is going to finish his closing argument in a mass murder trial: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence: nor is the law...

06/15/2023

https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2023/06/14/florida-doctor-involved-death-row-case-criticized-ex*****on-vigil/

The doctor was part of a panel of three tasked with evaluating whether Duane Owen is too mentally ill to be executed.

06/11/2023

PACDL representing at the 36th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet. Congratulations to Vanessa L. King and Frank McDermott for being sworn in as the FACDL Chapter Reps for 2023-24.

Great times in Manalapan. Next year it will be in Sarasota at the Ritz Carlton. Put it on your calendar now! June 6-9, 2024.

05/26/2023

The courthouses in the Sixth Judicial Circuit will be closed Monday, May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day. There will still be first appearances Monday as required by law. First appearances in Pinellas County will be at the County Justice Center at 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 14. First appearances in Pasco County will begin at 8:00 a.m. in Courtroom C at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center at 38053 Live Oak Ave, Dade City.

05/19/2023

We had a great time getting together with our friends across the bridge Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for Happy Hour at Hula Bay Club sponsored by RizeUp Media! Hope to see you at the next one!

05/04/2023

03/21/2023

https://floridapolitics.com/archives/596689-justice-ricky-polston-resigns-from-florida-supreme-court/

'It has been my great honor to serve the people of Florida in the judiciary for over 22 years.'