Florida Courts

A federal appeals court Wednesday said a former Florida Gulf Coast University student cannot remain anonymous in a lawsuit he filed against the school after being disciplined for sexual harassment.The former student filed the lawsuit against the university as “John Doe” and argued that an investigation into allegations that he had non-consensual sex with another student was a “sham” and that he was a victim of discrimination, according to arguments filed by his attorneys at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In a case that could have far-reaching implications for the state’s public-records laws, an appeals court heard arguments Tuesday in a challenge to a judge’s ruling that “executive privilege” shields Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration from releasing records.The appeal stems from a public-records request, filed by someone identified in court documents as J. Doe, seeking information from DeSantis’ office about people involved in discussions about appointing Florida Supreme Court justices. In a subsequent lawsuit, Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey rejected the public-records request on a series of grounds, including executive privilege.

A Florida appeals court has effectively opened a loophole in the state's long-standing law against recording telephone conversations without the permission of both sides of the call, ruling that law enforcement officers performing their official duties can be secretly recorded because they have no expectation of privacy.The court's decision — involving a citizen who accused the Citrus County Sheriff's Office of misconduct — is the latest to provide new mechanisms for civilian oversight of law enforcement, even as others were curtailed in recent days by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature.

Seeking a final ruling before the legislative session starts in January, both sides in a battle over a congressional redistricting plan have asked an appeals court to fast-track the case to the Florida Supreme Court.

A committee appointed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz will hold its first meeting Friday to begin looking at consolidation in the 20-circuit system. Muniz issued an order June 30 appointing the committee after receiving a request from Renner.

Tallahassee’s federal courthouse has been renamed to honor the state’s first Black supreme court justice, Joseph Woodrow Hatchett.

**Update: On March 24, 2020, the Florida State Supreme Court issued a new administrative order suspending jury trials until April 17, 2020.In an effort to…