The Florida Sunshine Review spotlights the latest news on Florida open government laws and freedom of information (FOI) issues, with special emphasis on public records and open meetings developments. For similar Florida items plus mass media news, see the monthly Brechner Report from the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida.

May 12, 2008

Highland Today editorial: Negotiation with proposed Highlands County administrator illustrates how fortunate Floridians are to have strong government access laws …
Bradenton Herald, column by Joan Krauter: Let’s keep the Sunshine beaming for Trailer Estates residents …
Florida Times-Union, by Paul Pinkham: Times-Union plans to sue state attorney over handling of probe records …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Anthony Cormier: Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office accused of violating Florida’s open meetings law …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Venice mayor disputes claim that Sunshine Law was broken …
Stuart News editorial: Fellsmere follies trample open government and taxpayers …
Highlands Today, by Bill Rettew Jr.: Local public watchdog Preston Colby is back in court seeking public records …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, by Kim Hackett: Venice Mayor Ed Martin denies violation of Sunshine Law …
Boca Raton News, by John Johnston: Proposed "Voice of the People Act” on meetings draws mixed reviews …
Broward New Times, The Daily Pulp blog by Bob Norman: Public records request shows how in government gets around the spirit of and intent of the Sunshine Law …
Bradenton Herald editorial: Manatee County needs to upgrade its act in following-open government laws …
Florida Times-Union, by Kevin Turner: Fernandina Beach Inn owners legal actions include allegation of Sunshine Law violation …
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Sarah Talalay: Suit against new Marlins ballpark moves forward but open records violation point dismissed by judge …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Mark I. Johnson: Public records access getting easier in New Smyrna Beach …

Sunshine Sunday, March 16, 2008

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Sunshine Sunday is an annual focus by Florida newspapers and other media on the value of open government. Since it began in Florida, the effort has gone national and expanded to “Sunshine Week.” Aside from sample stories posted here, read more articles and see cartoons through the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors’ Web site …
Tallahassee Democrat: Gov. Crist proclaims a week of sunshine …
South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial: Sunshine Sunday calls attention to Florida’s open records and meetings laws …
Tampa Tribune, guest column by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum: Florida should be proud is of Sunshine Week …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Practical power of public records can help people make better life choices, keep government accountable …
Bradenton Herald, by Nicholas Azzara and Grace Agostin: Manatee government works in the sunshine …
Lakeland Ledger, guest column by Barbara Petersen: Latest audit of agencies regarding open records requests proves to be enlightening …
Tallahassee Democrat editorial: Bloggers, pontificators have equal access to government information under open government laws …
Palm Beach Post editorial: Story examples from Post show how public records make a difference to society …
Panama City News-Herald, by Tony Bridges: Cell phone records lacking in newspaper response to public records requests …

March 6, 2008

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Associated Press, by Bill Kaczor: Florida hospitals lose court fight against patients’ right to know …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Sunshine law is strong but not absurd …
Sarasota Herald Tribune, by Anna Scott: Editors criticize limits on records before state open government panel …
Tampa Tribune editorial: Horse rules by state agency come up lame on medical history, names …
American Chronicle, by Lanny Britnell: The changing face of identity theft requires new awareness.…

February 13, 2008

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Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial: Unjustified secrecy gives hospitals cover when they mess up …
Fort Myers News-Press editorial: Proposed state legislation would open up spending practices of local governments to the people …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, guest column by Barbara Petersen: Access to public records is critical to democracy …
Tampa Tribune, by Michael D. Bates: Decision coming soon on whether state attorney will pursue an inquiry into whether a Spring Hill Fire Rescue District commissioner violated the Florida Government-in-the-Sunshine Law.…

February 11, 2008

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*Naples Daily News, by Leslie Williams: Collier judge finds Marco City council member guilty of violating public records law (*free registration required) …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: State attorney dismisses any notion of prosecuting a sunshine violation unless it involves kickbacks or other serious problems …
Florida Times-Union editorial: State Attorney Shorstein sends devastating signal to officials in three counties by saying he won’t prosecute open government violations …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Grand jury accepts lack of candor by Jacksonville City Council in Sunshine probe and declines to call key witnesses …
Florida Times-Union, column by Mark Woods: Grand jury probe of Jacksonville City Council Sunshine culture leaves much room for doubt …
Florida Times-Union, by columnist Mark Woods: Jacksonville City Council woman who testified before a grand jury wins praise for being more open than her colleagues …
St. Petersburg Times editorial: People have a right to know what business of theirs is being litigated in their name …
Lakeland Ledger editorial: Don’t close lawyer records as government lawyers are pitching…

January 27, 2008

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Florida Times-Union, by Mary Kelli Palka: Grand jury returns no indictments in Jacksonville City Council Sunshine probe with release of presentment pending …
Tampa Tribune editorial: Tampa Bay Water board’s secretive vote leaves public high and dry …
*Naples Daily News: Legal defense fund set up for Marco Island city councilman accused of violating public records law by deleting public e-mails on private account (*free registration required) …
Tallahassee Democrat, by TaMaryn Waters: Fish fry raises Sunshine questions in Leon County …
Fort Myers News-Press editorial: Refresher on open meetings in Cape Coral is a good idea …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, guest column by Barbara Petersen: Access to public records critical for democracy …

January 12, 2008

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Florida Times-Union, by Jim Schoettler: Florida Times-Union’s Sunshine Law probe earns top honors in North Central Florida SPJ awards …
*Naples Daily News, by Katherine Lewis: Secrecy prevailed among Collier County School Board before firing, attorney says (*free registration required) …
Florida Times-Union, by J. Taylor Rushing: Governor’s Sunshine panel marks its first year (*free registration required) …
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Vanessa Blum: Gag order raises questions in Liberty City terror trial (*free registration required) …
*Miami Herald, by Susannah A. Nesmith: Judge issues gag order in Sean Taylor murder case (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Liam Dillon: Marco Island city council member vows to fight charges that he broke state public records laws (*free registration required) …

December 22, 2007

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Fort Myers News-Press editorial: News-Press receives $105,000 in attorneys fees relating to FEMA public records release …
*Fort Pierce Tribune, by Alexi Howk: Fort Pierce Mayor Bob Benton, two others accused of Sunshine Law violations (*free registration required) …
*Fort Pierce Tribune, by Alexi Howk:Sunshine Law allegations against Benton, others likely to be hard to prove, State Attorney’s Office says (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Katherine Lewis: Former Collier County Schools Superintendent Ray Baker’s Sunshine Law lawsuit heads to court (*free registration required) …

December 17, 2007

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Tampa Tribune editorial: Gov. Crist shouldn’t let CSX Railroad derail open government …
St. Petersburg Times, by Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler: University of Florida clash pits free speech against faith …
Tampa Tribune editorial: Suppressing speech on campus hurts University of Florida’s prestige …

December 13, 2007

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Andy Reid: Everglades cleanup could dodge public records laws …
Palm Beach Post editorial:Curb SLAPP court harrassment of development critics …
Gainesville Sun, by Jack Stripling: State Attorney General Bill McCollum blasts University of Florida over free speech …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Bill Cotterell: Public records access takes leap into 21st century …
Tampa Bay Newspapers Beach Beacon, by Bob McClure: Former Reddington Beach Town commissioner Sam Maniotes awarded fees after winning a public records-related lawsuit against the city …

December 10, 2007

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Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial: State, google will make public records easier to find …
Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Mark Harper: Freedom of speech limited at University of Central Florida …

December 9, 2007

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Tampa Bay 10, by Mike Deeson: Sunshine violation may have occurred at Devil Rays news conference …
Bradenton Herald, by Nicholas Azzara: Activist from First Amendment Foundation shines light on state Sunshine Law …
Palm Beach Post, by Larry Keller: Taunts prompt conservative columnist Ann Coulter to get address of her Palm Beach home removed from property appraiser’s records …
Palatka Daily News: Palatka city commissioners reverse stand, allow reporters in interviews …
DeLand-Deltona Beacon, by Pat Hatfield:DebaryPOP Web site by bloggers turned elected city officials will continue …
Naples Daily News editorial: State Attorney’s Office decision to file non-criminal charge of violating state’s open records law against Marco Island City Council member sends important message…
Palm Beach Post editorial: Crist opens up Florida with open government moves, including executive order on Open Government Bill of Rights …
Computerworld, by Linda Rosencrance: State of Florida, Google team up to make it easier to access government Web sites …
Lakeland Ledger editorial: Florida, Google deal should help untangle Florida’s Web …

November 11, 2007

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*Naples Daily News, by Liam Dillon: Marco council’s closed-door consensus raises Sunshine Law questions …
Florida Times-Union, by David Hunt: Winn-Dixie’s booting of press from stockholders meeting goes too far for First Amendment advocates and corporate attorneys …

November 4, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, by Bridget Murphy: Judge seals “snitch confession” recording in drug trafficking case despite Florida Times-Union objections …
Florida Times-Union, by Bridget Murphy: Defendant obtains “snitch” tapes through public records request and then circulates them through the neighborhood to put pressure on witness …
Florida Times-Union, by Bridget Murphy: Judge releases phone calls from jail in murder case that defendant fought to keep his phone calls from jail from the public records …
Florida Today, by Keyonna Summers:State may obtain medical records sought in investigation regarding motorcycle builder Billy Lane …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Paula Bryant, Citizen Editorial Board: Offender search brings insights into open government …
Columbus Disptach (Ohio), by Jill Riepenhoff: Ohio puts disciplinary teacher data online for parents, others to see …
ABC News: Pistol cam fits on gun barrel and records as soon as the gun is removed from its holster, allow police to review shooting incidents …
Jackson County Floridan, by Deborah Buckhalter: Greenwood woman faces prison in fraud, identity theft…

October 14, 2007

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St. Petersburg Times, by Lorri Hefland: Largo City Commission candidate who advocates more transparency at city hall kept sealed from the public an arrest that resulted in probation two decades ago …
Bradenton Herald, by Robert Napper: Ellenton man working as a cleaner stole personal information from a Sarasota doctor’s office …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Legislature should play by the same open government rules it imposes on local governments …

October 2, 2007

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Denise-Marie Balona: Experts say Deltona talk on sex-offender rule probably defied state open meetings laws…
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by John Kennedy and Aaron Deslatte: Secrecy ushers in Legislature’s special session …
Miami Herald staff report: Miami Herald’s Christensen, Danner win win annual Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information award …

September 21, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Grand jury probe on Sunshine Law concerns widens in Jacksonville …
Miami Today, by Ted Carter and Risa Polansky: Illegal meeting puts Miami budget at risk…

September 16, 2007

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Tallahassee Democrat editorial: State lawmakers negotiate behind the scenes legally as part of the exemption they gave themselves from the Sunshine Law …
*Naples Daily News, by Brad Kane: Bonita Springs advisory board takes wrong turn on Sunshine Law (*free registration required) …
Florida Times-Union, by Adam Aasen: Times-Union editorial writer to receive the 2007 Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award for open government efforts …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Jim Ash: Open government seminars coming by Office of Open Government, First Amendment Foundation …
*Miami Herald, by Lesley Clark: Members of Congress pull pet projects out of hiding with a new ethics bill looming (*free registration required) …

August 26, 2007

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*Orlando Sentinel, by Rene Stutzman: Number of offenders getting their criminal court records sealed reaches all-time highs (*free registration required)…
Venice Gondolier, by Courtney Linn: How employees with different government entities deal with reporting arrests …

August 25, 2007

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St. Petersburg Times, by Steve Bousquet: Open government panel hears that Sunshine Law is routinely violated or treated lightly …
Florida Times-Union, letter to the editor from Thomas S. Edwards Jr.: Sunshine Law does not impair or slow down effective government …
*Naples Daily News, Julio Ochoa: Florida Gulf Coast University puts names on ballots but admits no wrongdoing (*free registration required) …
Fort Myers News-Press: News-press to receive addresses of disaster aid applicants and recipients on Monday…
Florida Times-Union, by Bridget Murphy: Lawyer wants records sealed on the death of 12-year-old Tony Youmans …

August 24, 2007

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Tallahassee Democrat, by Bill Cotterell: State task force on open government to hears from public in Tallahassee …
Associated Press, by Brendan Farrington: Department of Children and Families wants more records opened, shared …
Associated Press: Open government panel begins series of hearings …
Palm Beach Post, by Dara Kam: New commission begins look at state open government laws …
*South Florida Sun-Sentinel, column by Earl Maucker: FEMA’s public records loss in court is a victory for the public …
*Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Records requests by state attorney rain on city in Sunshine Law grand jury probe of City Council …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Melanie Payne: FEMA to release Florida disaster grant payment records to News-Press, Pensacola News-Journal and Florida Today …
*Naples Daily News, Julio Ochoa: Florida Gulf Coast University search committee says it didn’t violate Sunshine Law (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Julio Ochoa: Florida Gulf Coast University presidential search committee changes procedures but admits no wrongdoing regarding Sunshine Law (*free registration required) …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Dave Breitenstein: Dinners put Florida Gulf Coast University presidential search committee members in hot water …
Fort Myers News-Press editorial:Ask state attorney general for opinion on whether Florida Gulf Coast University presidential search committee violated the Sunshine Law …
*Naples Daily News, by Katherine Lewis:State ethics panel can’t probe Collier County School Board for Sunshine Law problems …

August 20, 2007

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St. Petersburg Times, by Sandee Davies: Court clerks must take steps to protect sensitive information as part of public records filings …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Jim Ash: Lawmaker seeks release of state bridge inspection reports …
Florida Today, by Susanne Cervenka: Court records released in Titusville teacher sex case …
Panama City News Herald, by Tom McLaughlin: Lawmakers and open government advocate question state Department of Transportation Decision to keep bridge inspection reports from the public …
*Naples Daily News, Liam Dillon: Union organizers accuse Marco Island support staff of stalling on public records request (*free registration required) …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Florida consumers, parents benefit from new Web offerings …

August 13, 2007

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Tallahassee Democrat, by Stephen D. Price: House Speaker Rubio forms committee to combat identity theft …
Florida Times-Union, by J. Taylor Rushing: St. Augustine lawmaker Proctor to lead new ID theft panel …

August 12, 2007

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*Orlando Sentinel, by Rebecca Mahoney: Volusia County’s steep charges for e-mail are illegal, critics say (*free registration required) …
*Orlando Sentinel editorial: Volusia County should stop soaking the public to see officials’ e-mails (*free registration required)…
Pensacola News-Journal editorial: Don’t restrict access to public records under guise of protection …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, column by Eric Ernst: Commission on Open Government offers hope in the fight to open records …
*Naples Daily News staff report: Collier County School Board member calls for for Sunshine Law probe (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Katherine Lewis: Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce joins 15 other organizations in backing review on whether school board members violated ethics and Sunshine Law when firing Superintendent Ray Baker (*free registration required) …
*Naples Daily News, by Phil Lewis: Collier School Board Sunshine Law controversy is a reminder of importance in following both the letter and spirit of the law (*free registration required) …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Melanie Payne: FEMA to release Florida disaster grant payment records to News-Press, Pensacola News-Journal and Florida Today …
Associated Press: FEMA to release records to four newspapers …
Lakeland Ledger:Sunshine Law seminars coming for Tallahassee, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in October …

July 30, 2007

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Tallahassee Democrat, by Paige St. John: Sink switching to paperless records after complaints about record keeping …
Florida Times-Union, by Anne Marie Apollo: Technical problems means governments don’t always have the e-mail records to open upon request …

July 17, 2007

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*Naples Daily News, by Liam Dillon: E-mail by Marco Island city councilwoman’s husband triggers conflict of interest concerns (*free registration required)…
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Jacksonville City Council acts to settle Sunshine Law lawsuit stemming from 2005 meeting on a rezoning issue …
Florida Times-Union: Readers speak out on Jacksonville City Council and who should foot the bill for defense attorneys in grand jury probe …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Democrats say Jacksonville City Council can pay own legal bills for Sunshine Law probe …

July 14, 2007

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Florida Times-Union editorial: How Jacksonville City Council can build trust in light of grand jury probe into its Sunshine Law problems …
Florida Times-Union, by Michael P. Clark: Jacksonville’s 10 new council members share views about following the Sunshine Law …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Grand jury to shine light on Jacksonville City Council’s sunshine practices …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Jacksonville City Council members hire attorneys for grand jury probe access and public could foot the bills …
Florida Times-Union editorial: New Jacksonville City Council Web additions put public meetings in focus that had always been obscured from the public …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Is “culture of blatant disregard” for Sunshine Law at Jacksonville City Council just the tip of the iceberg? …

July 7, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, column by Ron Littlepage: Jacksonville City Council president seeks to provide more access the “Green Room” near council chambers …
St. Petersburg Times, by Colleen Jenkins: Fight for Gasparilla rape investigation records by woman to continue …
Florida Today editorial:State should stop dumping insurance dispute records and step up oversight …

July 4, 2007

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Lakeland Ledger: Florida Department of Financial Services stops disposing of records related to consumer disputes with insurance companies …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Where probe of Jacksonville City Council Sunshine problems goes from here …
Tallahassee Democrat, by Paige St. John: State destroyed its records of insurance company complaints but says it was within the law …
All Headline News, by Josephine Roque: Fidelity National Information Services of Jacksonville reports theft of 2.3 million consumer records …

July 1, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, column by Wayne Ezell: Times-Union’s probe of City Council Sunshine problems started 18 months ago and included review of 4,000 pages of calendars, meeting notices and other documents …
Fort Myers News-Press editorial: Court victory on open records against FEMA is a win for more government accountability …
Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial: New open government commisison can spotlight shady spots in Florida’s open government laws …

June 30, 2007

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Pensacola News-Journal, by Paige St. John: Florida Department of Financial Services draws fire for pitching insurance records …
Florida Bar News, by Jan Pudlow: Manatee County court clerk’s one-year pilot program on access to court records seeks to advance public information while protecting confidential details …
Belleair Bee, by Henry Weikle: Flurry of e-mail raises questions at Indian Rocks Beach …
Bradenton Herald, by Natalie Neysa Alund: Company selling copies of property deeds at inflated costs in Manatee County …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Governor’s new commission on open government will take long-overdue look at vitality of open records, meetings …

June 27, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: State attorney slams Jacksonville City Council regarding Sunshine Law lapses …
Wall Street Journal, column by Jason Fry: Internet availability of records raises questions about when public records are too public …

June 23, 2007

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Megan O’Matz: Court rules FEMA must turn over documents to Sun-Sentinel in climax of three-year effort …
Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial: New nine-member panel on open government has important job to do …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Public will be shortchanged if grand jury does not investigate Jacksonville City Council’s Sunshine Law failings …
Florida Times-Union staff report: State attorney to show the light to Jacksonville City Council regarding the Sunshine Law …
Associated Press, by Brandan Farrington: Crist honored for efforts toward open government …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Time to end the state Legislature’s “do as we say, not as we do” approach to open government meetings …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Melanie Payne: News-Press, other newspapers, prevail in public records request with FEMA …
Gainesville Sun, by Cindy Swirko: Springhills developers allege Sunshine Law violations in lawsuit against the county …
Palm Beach Post, by Dwayne Robinson: A Wellington administrator says city council members violated the Sunshine Law …
Florida Times-Union: Times-Union unveils searchable database on restaurant inspections in Northeast Florida …

June 18, 2007

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Associated Press, by Bill Kaczor: Crist creates commission to keep government in the sunshine …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Aaron Deslatte: Crist creates open government reform commission …
*Orlando Sentinel, by Mark Hollis: Open government laws to get most comprehensive review in decades with new commission from Gov. Charlie Crist (*free registration required) …
Hernando Today, by Michael D. Bates: Information flow tightened on Hernando County budget …

June 17, 2007

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Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: City Council proposes new ordinance to ensure Sunshine Law compliance in response to yet-to-be-published Times-Union findings …
Florida Times-Union, by Beth Kormanik: Times-Union investigation finds evidence of Florida Sunshine Law violations by City Council …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Jacksonville City Council culture kept public in dark about hundreds of public meetings among council members …
Florida Times-Union editorial: Public needs grand jury to investigate Sunshine Law problems at Jacksonville City Council and study other oversight issues …
Florida Times-Union, by columnist Ron Littlepage: Grand jury needs to probe council’s culture of secrecy …
Florida Times-Union, by columnist Mark Woods: What’s on the menu for Jacksonville City Council members at “City Hall Annex West?” …
First Coast News, Jacksonville, by Mark Spain: City Council probe reveals big mistakes in Jacksonville …

June 11, 2007

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Associated Press, by Bill Kaczor: Hospitals seek delay on constitutional amendment that gives patients the ability to know about past mistakes made by doctors and medical facilities …
St. Petersburg Times editorial: Public deserves the info it demanded on doctors and hospitals …
Florida Today editorial: Lawmaker tax plan made in secret shuts out informed citizen debate …
Fort Myers News-Press, by Jennifer Misthal: Bonita Springs special events committee must abide by sunshine laws…
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, by Sally Apgar: Probe into ID card scheme finds 115 people got jobs using counterfeit cards with a 10-year-old Florida girl’s tolen Social Security number…
*Orlando Sentinel, by Tanya Caldwell and Steven D. Barnes: DeBary City Council minutes from recent meeting turn out to be wrong (*free registration required) …
Boca Raton News, by Dale M. King: Palm Beach clerk urges residents to guard personal data …

June 5, 2007

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St. Petersburg Times, by Alex Leary: Property tax talks of state lawmakers stay a secret …
St. Petersburg Times editorial: Vague, secret deals by state lawmakers are no way to do public business …
EmeraldCoast.com: Florida Department of State adds some new material to its Florida Memory Photographic College holdings online …
WBBH Channel 2, Fort Myers, by Kate Eckman: More businesses printing credit card numbers on receipts despite federal law against it …

June 1, 2007

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Bradenton Herald, by Natalie Neysa Alund: Manatee County Clerk of Courts Chips Shore soon to put court records online in unique state pilot project …
Palm Beach Post, by Michael C. Bender: Bills aim to thwart I.D. theft …

May 28, 2007

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St. Petersburg Times, by Michael Van Sickler: Florida Transportation Commission’s practices defy Sunshine Law and raise concerns about its actions …
*Orlando Sentinel, by Claudia Zequeira: Sunshine Law inquiry clears Osceola School Board trio (*free registration required) …

May 24, 2007

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Palm Beach Post, by Michael C. Bender: Crist signs bill to make it easier to request public records …
Lakeland Ledger editorial: Winter Haven Housing Authority comes down hard on the side of the public’s right to know …

May 22, 2007

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Palm Beach Post editorial: Government in the Sunshine took fewer hits than usual this legislative session …
Lakeland Ledger, by Rick Rousos: City defends investigation into who provided a public record to The Ledger showing a $43.7 million loss on Lakeland Electric’s natural gas purchases…
*Miami Herald, by Dan Christensen and Patrick Danner: Investigation into the planting of false court records by two Miami-Dade judges finds no wrongdoing (*free registration required) …

May 19, 2007

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The Daily Pulp blog, by Bob Norman: Judge Gary M. Farmer writes one of the strangest and most entertaining legal papers ever in ruling on Miami Herald defamation case involving a Kentucky Derby-winning horse …
Palm Beach Post, by Tony Doris: Two seek secrecy on “pay-to-play” grand jury report…
*Miami Herald, by Dan Christensen and Patrick Danner: Federal courts are changing the way cases are docketed to avoid “the appearance of a secret docket” (*free registration required) …
Florida Times-Union editorial (see second item): Butterworth praised for loosening records, lips regarding Florida Department of Children and Families …
*Miami Herald, by Carol Marbin Miller: State child welfare adminstrators, Miami Herald seek open hearing in Cuban child custody case (*free registration required) …
Associated Press, by Paul Davenport: States, including Florida, want to safeguard names of fallen troops …

May 15, 2007

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Tallahassee Democrat, by Bob Gabordi: FAMU gets $60.25 for records as newspaper gets a dose of frustration for its money…
Tallahassee Democrat staff report: FAMU turns over records to newspaper …
*Miami Herald, by Charles Rabin: Miami-Dade Commissioner Barbara Jordan wants to ban the “N-word” (*free registration required) …

May 13, 2007

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Fort Myers News-Press editorial : Teens learn hard lesson about First Amendment as principal was wrong to muzzle students’ writing about issues …
*St. Augustine Record, by Paulette Perhach: Cry of censorship rallied Flagler College students to protest decision regarding editing of the Gargoyle, the student newspaper (*free registration required) …
*St. Augustine Record, by Paulette Perhach: Editing of students newspaper article at Flagler College generates controversy and questions regarding press freedoms at the school (*free registration required) …
Palm Beach Post, by Eliot Kleinberg: Post’s request for federal records on 9/11 hijackers yields little new information…

May 9, 2007

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Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial : Officials’ private phones shouldn’t hide their public responsibility to provide records …
Sarasota Herald-Tribune editorial: Google search engine’s efforts should improve access to public records …

May 5, 2007

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The Spinnaker editorial : University of North Florida student newspaper protests the withholding of election violation documents by the school student government and the university administration in a front-page editorial …
*Miami Herald, by Monica Hatcher: Legislature wants to give court clerks three more years to strike out personal information from their public records on the Internet (*free registration required) …
*Miami Herald, by Monica Hatcher: Public records can be easy targets for identity thieves (*free registration required) …
Jacksonville Financial News and Daily Record: Florida Bar to post lawyer disciplinary histories on its Web site …

May 1, 2007

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Daytona Beach News-Journal, by Barry Flynn: Flagler Sheriff’s Office is planning to translate some brochures and parts of its Web site into Spanish, Portuguese and Russian …
Associated Press, by Jim Ellis: Judge to mull over releasing boy’s statement regarding homeless beating …
Florida Today, by Kate Brennan: Florida Department of Education hopes to have new Web site on teacher disciplinary actions going by August …

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