Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones defended her recently-imposed “confidentiality agreement” on prison inspectors Wednesday, telling a House committee the new rule was “more or less a good housekeeping piece” and “not intended as a gag order.” She conceded that “everything that you have heard about the department is true,’’ referring to troubles within […]
Sunshine Law case against Chris Dorworth dismissed – Orlando Sentinel
An Orange County judge on Tuesday dismissed a charge of breaking the state’s public meeting laws against former state representative-turned-lobbyist Chris Dorworth. Judge Tanya Davis Wilson, who was set to start jury selection Thursday, ruled Dorworth’s First Amendment right to free speech was violated by the misdemeanor charge against him. “A private citizen has a protected […]
James B. Lake: Secrecy claims deserve a second guess on appeal – The Tampa Tribune
One of Florida’s most respected judges last week said appellate courts should carefully scrutinize trial court rulings that permit state agencies to keep their records secret. He is right. I hope the Florida Supreme Court is listening. Judge Chris Altenbernd is from Tampa and has served on the Lakeland-based Second District Court of Appeal for […]
