U.S. Courts

Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Possibly Identified and Arrested UPDATED

The age of 24 hour cable news/Twitter feeds have come smashing together...Via CNN, The Miami Herald had reported that Boston Marathon bombing investigators may have identified a suspect. There had been reports of a possible suspect leaving a black bag at the site of the second explosion via su ... More >>

Fane Lozman, One Week After Houseboat-Not-a-Boat Decision, Says: "Meh"

One week following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that Fane Lozman's houseboat wasn't, in fact, a boat, Lozman has one response: Yeah, that's great, but where's my money? Turns out winning a Supreme Court decision isn't quite like winning the lottery. And Fane Lozman -- who's had h ... More >>

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Fane Lozman and His Floating Home

Three years ago, the City of Riviera Beach destroyed multimillionaire Fane Lozman's home. At the time, city officials said Lozman's 60-foot, two-story floating home was not a vessel and therefore ordered it dismantled at the marina where it was docked. Work crews spent five days dismantling the h ... More >>

Latest SCOTUS Bungle: It Denied a Case to Hold Miccosukees Accountable for Something, for Once, Ever

The good news: You can still get absolutely wasted at all your favorite Native American hangouts -- and there's nothing anyone can do to stop you. The bad news: All we had to do was sacrifice our society's guiding sense of accountability. Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court denied a ... More >>

Supreme Court Justices Hear Lozman v. Riviera Beach, Ponder Floating Styrofoam Sofas

A kooky South Florida story made the big time in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, as justices heard arguments in a case that will decide whether Fane Lozman's floating home -- targeted for removal from a marina by Riviera Beach and towed away by U.S. marshals -- was a building or a boat.Se ... More >>

Obamacare Individual Mandate Upheld; Take That Florida Republicans

A lot has been said about the Supreme Court challenge to "Obamacare," the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One thing, though, that's gotten lost in the shuffle is that the case is called Health and Human Services v. Florida -- it was filed by Florida's then-attorney general Bill McCollum, ... More >>

CNN Botches Health-Care Ruling on Homepage

In the race to break the news of the U.S. Supreme Court health-care ruling, several media outlets wrongly rushed out headlines declaring it had been struck down. But none botched the news with as much gusto as CNN.Full-sized screenshot of the mistake after the jump.

New Laws in Dozens of States Could Take Out Barack Obama This Fall

BREAKING: CCA Sues Pembroke Pines in Federal Court

​Well, that was quick. Pembroke Pines commissioners voted last night to rescind a contract to provide fire, EMS, water, and sewer services to Southwest Ranches, in opposition to a planned ICE detention facility being proposed by Corrections Corporation of America.CCA responded immediately with a h ... More >>

Score a Half-Billion-Dollar Win for Spain, but Treasure Hunters Vow to Keep Digging

​Sean Fisher lives the exciting yet often uncertain life of a treasure hunter. As vice president of Mel Fisher's Treasures, Fisher knows that his career choice is not always easy. Treasure hunters spend years scavenging the salty seas in hopes of finding hidden gems that could win them a fortune - ... More >>

Five Supreme Court Cases That Say Florida's Prayer in Schools Bill Is Bunk

Imagine you're at a high school pep rally: The football players are in their jerseys, the cheerleaders are yelling, and the students are getting ready for the school spirit contest. But first, a student is invited to the microphone to give an inspirational message."Let us pray," he says. Some of the ... More >>

Oba Chandler Set to Be Executed Today; Picked Salami Sandwiches for His Last Meal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die at 4 p.m. today.​Rapist/triple murderer Oba Chandler is scheduled to be executed at the Florida State Prison at 4 p.m. today, and he's already submitted the request for his last meal.According to Florida Department of Corrections spok ... More >>

Oba Chandler's Last-Ditch Effort at Appealing Death Sentence Denied

via WFTS-TampaOba Chandler appealing his death sentence in 1994.​The last legal challenge standing between pentobarbital, pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride, and Oba Chandler's veins has been denied.Department of Corrections spokesman Jo Ellyn Rackleff just sent over the order from the United ... More >>

Jakaris Taylor, Sentenced to Life at 17 for Role in Gang Rape, Now Resentenced to 60 Years

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeMug shot of Jakaris Taylor taken yesterday.​Jakaris Taylor, one of up to 10 people who took part in a West Palm Beach gang rape of a 35-year-old woman in 2007, as well as the beating of both the woman and her 12-year-old son, was resentenced today to 60 years ... More >>

Oba Chandler's Supreme Court Arguments Canceled; 12 Days Until Scheduled Execution

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die in 12 days.​Arguments before the Florida Supreme Court in the appeal of triple murderer Oba Chandler's death sentence that were scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled, according to a filing from the clerk's office released just mi ... More >>

First Amendment Right to Blast Music to Be Considered by Florida Supreme Court

inquisitr.comThe Florida Supreme Court will decide whether this is your First Amendment right.​The issue of whether it's the First Amendment right of Florida drivers to blast obnoxious music from their cars way louder than anyone needs to will be heard before the Florida Supreme Court.The court sc ... More >>

Manuel Valle Execution Draws Florida Supreme Court Petition From Irish Neurologist

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, sheduled to die tomorrow at 4 p.m.​The execution of convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been petitioned in the Florida Supreme Court yet again over issues with the new lethal injection drug, this time with the objection of a Northern I ... More >>

Florida Supreme Court Quickly Dismisses Latest Manuel Valle Appeal

​Well, that was quick. Less than an hour ago, the Florida Supreme Court released a ruling saying the court will not hear the latest petition over issues with the new lethal injection drug to be used in Manuel Valle's execution.Yesterday, Northern Irish neurologist Dr. David Nicholl asked the court ... More >>

Manuel Valle Denied Stay of Execution by Florida Supreme Court; Death Date Remains

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, scheduled to die on September 28.​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.Valle's lawyers filed th ... More >>

Manuel Valle's Lawyers File Another Petition With the Florida Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​The lawyers for South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle have filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court over clemency proceedings for Valle and have asked the court to stay Valle's scheduled execution... again.Valle, 61, has been given a date to die ... More >>

Manuel Valle Gets His Third Date With Death: September 28

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 28.​For the third time, convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been given a date to die.This time, it's been scheduled for September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, according to ... More >>

Scott Rothstein's Impending Deposition Will Not Be Videotaped Due to "Security Risk"

Scott Rothstein, who can't be seen on film because of reasons that are "unusual in nature."​A deposition for Ponzi-schemer extraordinaire Scott Rothstein scheduled to be held in December will not be videotaped, a federal judge ruled earlier in the week.Rothstein is slated to be deposed on Dece ... More >>

Manuel Valle's Execution Gets the Go-Ahead From Circuit Court Judge

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 1.​Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jacqueline Hogan Scola cleared one more roadblock to the lethal juicing of South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle.After a hearing ordered by the Florida Supreme Court to decide the effectiven ... More >>

Florida's Drug Laws Ruled Unconstitutional; People Need to Know Their Drugs Are Illegal

irishcentral.comThis is what-caine?​The case of cocaine delivery man Mackle Shelton -- who received an 18-year sentence for practicing his trade in 2005 -- sparked a federal judge to rule part of Florida's drug laws unconstitutional yesterday.Judge Mary S. Scriven of Federal District Court, in a 4 ... More >>

Westboro Baptist Creeps Planning Florida Funeral Protest in Response to Proposed Bill

thegatewaypundit.comWestboro Baptist weirdos.​It looks like the Westboro Baptist "Church" is interpreting State Rep. Pat Rooney's military funeral buffer-zone bill as an invitation.The Kansas crazies haven't placed it on their public schedule yet, but the Palm Beach Post reports the "Thank God for ... More >>

Florida Judge Kills Matching Funds; Money is Considered Free Speech in Political Campaigns

illinoisstate.edu​Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court found Arizona's matching-funds campaign law unconstitutional, a Florida federal court judge halted a similar provision in this state.The issue, unsurprisingly, was brought up in a lawsuit by then-candidate Rick Scott, who said his right ... More >>

Judges Meet, Expect Florida Court Crisis To Soon Hit Broward

Outgoing Chief Judge Victor Tobin called a closed-door meeting of all 90 Broward judges this afternoon to discuss a budget shortfall that is threatening to shut down courthouses across the state. During the meeting, the idea was raised to "call the bluff" of Rick Scott and the Florida House and ... More >>

Fantasy Voter Fraud

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was dissed by Russell Pearce over Prop 200's dismissal.

Judge Strikes Down Voter-Backed Term Limits

On a day when voters are going to the polls to show their power, a Broward County Circuit judge has decided to take it away from them. Broward Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips has struck down term limits for Broward County commissioners as unconstitutional after voters went to the polls in ov ... More >>

Howard Steven Ault's Claims That an Abnormal Brain Caused Him to Kill Rejected by High Court

Ault may be brain damaged, but he's still going to spend his life in prison.​Howard Steven Ault has an abnormal brain. Defects in areas that process memories and emotions make him incapable of taking in data the way most people do -- common problems among fellow pedophiles. And so, his attorneys h ... More >>

[UPDATED] Election Was a Campaign Consultants' Battle Royal; So Who Are Winners and Losers?

Flickr: eschipul​In the months before yesterday's election, Broward candidates lined up behind campaign rainmakers who possessed extraordinary powers for rounding up votes. Of course, they would share these powers only if the price was right. Since incumbents could outraise their challengers, incu ... More >>

Meek to Use Elena Kagan to Siphon Moderate Votes from Crist

​The hard part of being the independent in a three-way race is that you can't always play it down the middle politically. Likely Democratic candidate for Senate Kendrick Meek is trying to force Charlie Crist's hand: Does Crist support the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan or not?In his Washi ... More >>

Suit Filed in West Palm Against Chiquita; Banana Company Accused of Paying Colombian Terrorists

Flickr: Jennifer I.​In a filing that's been anticipated for months, a group of Colombian families have sued Chiquita Brands International in West Palm federal court over reports that the banana company paid a terrorist group that then kidnapped and murdered relatives of those families.The suit, in ... More >>

Justice Stevens Chooses Fort Lauderdale Home Over Supreme Court Bench

Photo: WikipediaJustice John Paul Stevens​Make room in Broward for one more bowtie-wearing senior. Justice John Paul Stevens announced this morning his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court, just 11 days shy of his 90th birthday.As Juice reported in October, Stevens is a snowbird, migrating every ... More >>

Scott Rothstein's Work as Mafia Rat May Help Him in Ponzi Case

Supreme Court Has Stoner Conversation About Florida Beaches

Flickr: USA TODAY / H. Darr BeiserMaybe the Supreme Court needs to spend a day at the beach before they give their ruling.​These are the nation's most eminent legal minds? Read this article in today's New York Times, about the U.S. Supreme Court's debate over whether to allow the state to claim be ... More >>

Sotomayor Confirmed for Supreme Court

As was widely expected (and dreaded, in conservative quarters) the U.S. Senate gave its approval to Barack Obama's appointment for U.S. Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor. Florida's Sen. Mel Martinez was one of just nine Republicans to cast a vote in favor of the appointment. That's because he fell head ... More >>

For Supreme Court, Two South Florida Judges Coulda Been Contenders

Photo courtesy Official White House PhotostreamSotomayor and ObamaDuring the 2000 presidential campaign, Gov. George W. Bush vowed that if elected, he would nominate a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. It certainly didn't hurt his popularity in Florida's Latin American community, and that was a race c ... More >>

Boom Times For Bogenschutz

As the economy goes further into the tank, there's at least one guy in Broward County whose business appears to be thriving like never before: David Bogenschutz, the go-to defense attorney for ethically challenged judges, indicted politicians, and just about anyone else with a high pr ... More >>

True Justice On "False Light"

Jack Don't Know Jack

Why will the right-wing crusader likely lose his license? Swastikas are just the start.

The Wasserman-Schultz Cult

Too Dumb to Die

Kevin Moore's case raises questions about executing the mentally disabled

United States of Jesus

The folks who are "reclaiming America for Christ" are pushing an agenda for a Taliban-like state where Scripture is law

Indian War

A Hollywood man has spent the past decade trying to pry open the Seminoles' accounting books -- without much success

Best Judge's Decision

Barry Seltzer's dismissal of Fred Shotz

Minority Madness

Wisecracking Democrats in Tallahassee were steamrollered during the presidential contest. But they didn't take it lying down.

Lobbying Under the Influence

There's nothing wrong with having a few drinks before you drive. So says David Heilman, Mr. Anti-DUI.

Dead Man Waiting

Billy Elledge brutally raped and murdered a woman in Hollywood 25 years ago. He has sat in prison since then, evidence that Florida's death penalty isn't working.

Undercurrents