The Florida Supreme Court upheld a 15-week abortion ban in the state, allowing a six-week ban to take effect as well, while approving a proposed amendment protecting the right to abortion on the November ballot. Governor Ron DeSantis signed these bans into law, part of a series of Republican-led efforts to restrict abortion access since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The court's decision to uphold the bans comes amidst ongoing legal challenges and preparations for a November vote on the constitutional amendment.
A federal appellate court rejected challenges to North Carolinas Republican-drawn legislative map, ensuring elections under contested lines. The maps aim to retain a Republican supermajority in the state legislature and give Republicans more seats in Congress. In Florida, a panel of federal judges upheld Governor Ron DeSantis' redistricting plan, rejecting claims of discrimination against black voters. The decision is a win for Republicans for the upcoming elections. Challenges to both states' maps continue, with the North Carolina case highlighting concerns of racial gerrymandering and the Florida decision emphasizing the Legislature's actions over individual motivations.
Ron DeSantis has served as the 46th governor of Florida since January 8, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Andrew Gillum in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election. As governor, DeSantis resisted taking many of the measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 that various other state governments implemented, such as face-mask mandates, stay-at-home orders, and vaccination requirements. During the pandemic, Florida experienced above-average economic growth. DeSantis cut state-government spending, which, combined with federal stimulus payments and high sales-tax revenue, led to the largest budget surplus in Florida history. He engaged in recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, and oversaw the passage of the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act. He was reelected in a landslide in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election; his 19.4% margin of victory over Charlie Crist was the state's largest in 40 years. He has generally governed as a conservative.
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law eliminating squatters' rights in the state and increasing penalties against offenders, with the new law set to take effect on July 1. The legislation allows property owners to file affidavits to prove ownership and criminalizes illegal entry into homes. DeSantis highlighted Florida as the first state to address squatting directly, aiming to end the issue and prevent lengthy legal battles for property owners.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill, HB 117, allowing access to records of the 2006 grand jury investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation. The bill was unanimously passed by the state Legislature and is set to take effect on July 1, potentially sooner through a lawsuit. DeSantis emphasized the need to address the inadequacy of Epstein's punishment, joined by two of Epstein's victims. Florida's handling of Epstein's case was scrutinized following reports of leniency in the prosecution process.
The 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida was a period of vote recounting in Florida that occurred during the weeks after Election Day in the 2000 United States presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The Florida vote was ultimately settled in Bush's favor by a margin of 537 votes when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Bush v. Gore, stopped a recount that had been initiated upon a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court. Bush's win in Florida gave him a majority of votes in the Electoral College and victory in the presidential election.
The Supreme Court seems likely to reject a Republican-led effort that could reshape how politicians communicate with major social media companies with sweeping consequences for government efforts to secure elections and combat health misinformation. 1 / 3.
The University of Florida announced it would fire all employees in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) positions and administrative appointments to comply with Florida law that limits public funding for DEI programs. The decision follows a regulation by the Florida Board of Governors in January that prohibits expenditures on DEI programs promoting differential treatment based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. Conservatives, including Governor Ron DeSantis, praised the move as a crackdown on "wokeness" and applauded the reallocation of $5 million from DEI programs to a faculty recruitment fund.
Florida lawmakers, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, have urged President Biden to address the potential mass migration of Haitians arriving in the United States via boats due to escalating violence in Haiti. The lawmakers have called for an immediate federal response and emphasized the need for swift action to prevent a wave of migration from the sea following unrest in Haiti. Governor Ron DeSantis has already deployed additional personnel and aircraft to the Florida coast in preparation for any possible influx of migrants.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 15- and 16-year-olds, focusing on addictive features such as notification alerts and auto-play videos. This law, if it withstands legal challenges, will be one of the most restrictive social media bans for minors in the country. The bill was slightly modified from a previous proposal and will take effect on Jan 1. Several states, including Arkansas, have considered similar legislation.
The Supreme Court of Florida is the highest judicial body in the state and sits at the apex of the Florida State Courts System. Its membership consists of seven justices–one of whom serves as Chief Justice–who are appointed by the Governor of Florida to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each term.
The Supreme Court of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geographic diversity, and one is selected at large.The justices are appointed by the governor to set terms, which do not exceed six years. Immediately after appointment, the initial term is three years or less because the justices must appear on the ballot in the next general election that occurs more than one year after their appointment. Afterward, they serve six-year terms and remain in office if retained in the general election near the end of each term. Citizens vote on whether or not they want to retain each justice in office.Chief justices are elected by the members of the Court to two-year terms that end in every even-numbered year. Chief justices may succeed themselves in office if they are re-elected by the other justices. The chief justice also can appoint judges to temporary duty on the Court if at least one of the justices is unable to hear a case for any reason. The temporary justices are called "associate justices" and are usually chosen on a rotating basis from presiding judges of Florida's district courts of appeal. They usually sit only for a single case. Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the term "associate justice" is never used to describe the sitting Florida justices.The Court is the final arbiter of state law of Florida, and its decisions are binding authority for all other Florida state courts, as well as for federal courts when they apply Florida law. In most instances, the only appeal from the Florida Supreme Court is to the U.S. Supreme Court on questions of federal law.Established upon statehood in 1845, the Florida Supreme Court is headquartered across Duval Street from the state capitol in Tallahassee. Throughout the court's history, it has undergone many reorganizations as Florida's population has grown.As of October 2020, each justice of the Florida Supreme Court receives a salary of $227,218.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis discusses the interception of a boat carrying 25 Haitian migrants to South Florida and expresses concerns about the potential of Haitians being transported to Martha's Vineyard. DeSantis highlights the challenges of repatriating migrants from Florida due to clearance issues with the federal government and emphasizes the importance of intercepting migrants before they reach the state's shores. The increased migration from Haiti is attributed to the unrest in the country following gang violence and political turmoil.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bipartisan state law that bans squatting, allowing for immediate removal of squatters in certain conditions. The law curtails civil court eviction processes, enables police to arrest squatters without leases or rent proof, and sets a precedent for other states. Anti-squatting activist Flash Shelton hopes for nationwide law changes. Meanwhile, New York faces an increase in squatter activity, with laws permitting squatters to claim rights after 10 years state-wide and 30 days in NYC. Property owners advised to act swiftly and involve law enforcement when dealing with squatters.
The University of Florida is eliminating its chief diversity officer position, cutting 13 staff jobs, and removing administrative appointments for 15 faculty members due to a new law aimed at ending DEI programs. The university will divert $5 million earmarked for DEI into a faculty recruitment fund. Governor Ron DeSantis praised the move, calling DEI toxic and stating that Florida was the first state to eliminate it. The effort is part of a broader trend with over 50 similar anti-DEI bills being pushed in Republican-led legislatures across the U.S.
Republican-led states Missouri and Louisiana filed a lawsuit accusing high-ranking government officials of working with social media companies to censor speech, citing issues like Hunter Biden's laptop and COVID-19 origins. Justices debated if the Biden administration's actions crossed constitutional lines, with concerns over coercion or permissible persuasion. Justice Alito criticized treating social media platforms as subordinates, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson mentioned the government's duty to protect citizens by pressuring platforms to remove harmful information.
Miami Beach Commissioner, David Suarez, stated that this weekend of the spring break season has historically seen the most violence and will test the city's efforts to curb unruly behavior. Governor Ron DeSantis deployed over 140 state troopers and resources like drones to prevent spring break-related crimes. Last year, Miami Beach made 488 arrests, including felonies and homicides, seizing over 105 firearms. The city aims to distance itself from the chaos caused by spring breakers. The community has observed a calmer season due to stricter measures, following concerns over the city's image after previous violence during spring break.
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