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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
Public defender offices are underfunded both absolutely and in comparison, to better-funded prosecutor offices. Despite this, public defenders do the best job they can advocating for defendants who cannot afford private representation.
Research suggests that public defenders can be as effective as privately retained lawyers in terms of producing outcomes for defendants, if sufficiently staffed.
But, therein lies the problem. Public Defenders offices are not sufficiently staffed and therefore the defendants don’t always get proper legal representation.
As a defendant, taking proactive steps can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Here are nine crucial actions you should take as soon as possible:
Read more: 9 Essential Actions You Must Take to Help Your Public Defender Get Your Case Dismissed
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
When responding to a domestic violence situation, for instance, law enforcement officers are expected to arrest any person who commits a crime related to domestic violence as defined by law, unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to arrest, such as self-defense or lack of probable cause, after a comprehensive investigation to identify the predominant aggressor.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) defines “predominant aggressor” as “the individual who poses the most serious, ongoing threat, which may not necessarily be the initial aggressor in a specific incident”.
To determine the predominant aggressor, police officers may evaluate each person individually and consider a number of factors such as who uses threats and intimidation in the relationship, who has a history of violence, who has caused the most damage, and who has the most to gain from the incident.
Mandatory arrest laws, while originally-well intentioned, resulted in a greater number of arrested women in domestic violence cases. Victims may utilize violence to pre-emptively avert an attack from the aggressor or in self-defense. However, law enforcement may improperly assess or document these situations, or even allow incidents to go unacknowledged.
Read more: How do police determine whom to arrest in a domestic violence situation?
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
By Lawrence A Robinson
Law enforcement officers are often trained to prioritize de-escalation and maintaining peace. Their primary goal is to prevent further harm or violence. They will turn over their findings to the State Attorney's Office to evaluate and press charges if deemed warranted.
The mission of the State Attorney’s Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit is to promote public safety by using data-driven methods to hold offenders accountable, provide restorative justice for victims, and redirect children and people in need of services, in an effort to build stronger, safer communities. They try to achieve the highest standards of ethics and competence in order to promote a fair and equitable legal system.
The police came to my home in response to a shoving incident. My stepdaughter's fiancé, Jason Aybar, had been told not to enter into certain areas of my home because my wife was recovering for major surgery and too much stress could trigger a serious breathing attack.
Read more: What is police responsibility when there is an incident in your home?
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Written by Staff Writer
Orlando, FL — In late May 2021, a Florida jury awarded Kenyan native, Dr. Baiywo Rop, $2.75 million in his racial discrimination suit against AdventHealth, formally known as Florida Hospital. The verdict was a historic civil rights victory in the central Florida area.
Then one week later, late on a Friday afternoon, Judge Kevin Weiss overturned the jury's verdict and declared AdventHealth the winner.
Unbeknownst to Dr. Rop at the time was that prior to serving on the bench, Judge Weiss represented the hospital and/or its affiliates in multiple cases. Both he and the hospital failed to disclose this fact during the entire litigation.
Read more: Why is the Florida Bar Trying to Silence These Two Civil Rights Attorneys?
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
By Lawrence A Robinson
'A political consultant who was recently identified as a target of Miami prosecutors investigating Florida's "ghost" candidate scandal was also involved in a major ad campaign to oust then-Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh in 2020.'
Longtime Democratic fundraiser Dan Newman is being investigated for "possible violations of Florida elections laws and campaign finance laws," according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
So starts the article in Friday's, (3/8/22), Orlando Sentinel.
Read more: Were Amy Mercado and Disney in Cahoots To Destroy Rick Singh and Defraud Tax Payers?
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
Florida Rep. Bruce Antone, Lawanna Gelzer and others announce the formation of a Community task force on police use-of-force and accountability to residents. Rep. Antone opening comments focused on continuing his failure to represent the community and how he and Lawanna Gelzer will maintain the status quo.
Read more: Rep Bruce Antone and Lawanna Gelzer Are Aggressively Pursuing Failure
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Written by Lawrence A Robinson
When I am speeding 34mph in a 30mph no passing zone and someone is riding by bumper honking their horn and waving the finger at me, I will generally slow down to about 25mph, just to get them a little more pissed off. Who the hell are they, that I should alter my agenda for them?
Read more: Lawanna Gelzer, TJ Legacy and Mayor Buddy Dyer, Rushing to Nowhere
