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 […]
lorida Appellate Court: Open Meeting Law Applies to Collective Bargaining – Holland & Knight
HIGHLIGHTS: In a crucial victory for transparency, a Florida state appeals court ruled on Oct. 21, 2014, that the law will not “condone hiding behind federal mediation” when municipal governments try “to thwart the requirements of the Sunshine Law” by conducting labor negotiations during federal court litigation. The First District Court of Appeal concluded its […]
Tampa International Airport’s ex-lawyer being investigated for possible Sunshine Law violation – Tampa Bay Times
The Florida Bar is investigating whether former Hillsborough County Aviation Authority attorney Gigi Rechel, who abruptly resigned Thursday, violated the state’s Sunshine Law governing open public records. The Bar said Friday that it’s conducting an inquiry into Rechel in her capacity as the authority’s general counsel. Rechel, 53, spent 15 years giving legal advice to […]