Court disciplines lawyer over campaign conduct
The Court said it was placing future candidates on notice.
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday reprimanded an attorney over criticism of his opponent in a 2018 judicial race and warned that lawyers could face stiffer discipline for future campaign attacks.
Justices approved a referee’s recommendation to reprimand
Bryon Aven, who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Marion County Judge
Robert Landt in an August 2018 primary election. The Supreme Court said Aven violated Florida Bar rules and a canon of the Code of Judicial Conduct, at least in part because Aven’s campaign website included criticism of Landt’s record in criminal cases.
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at allowing people to use recreational marijuana, saying it would be misleading to voters.
Backers of the proposed amendment sought to put it on the 2022 ballot and had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures. But in a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said the proposed ballot summary - wording that people see when they cast ballots - would mislead “voters into believing that the recreational use of marijuana in Florida will be free of any repercussions, criminal or otherwise.”
That conclusion stemmed from marijuana remaining illegal under federal law. The proposed ballot summary said the amendment would permit “adults 21 years or older to possess, use, purchase, display, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana accessories for personal use for any reason.”
Florida Supreme Court Rejects Ballot Initiative Aimed at Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
The Florida Supreme Court on April 22 rejected a ballot initiative (pdf) aimed at allowing people to vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana, saying it would be “misleading” to voters.
In a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said the initiative’s language wording that people see when they cast ballots that it “permits” marijuana use by adults “misleads voters into believing that the recreational use of marijuana in Florida will be free of any repercussions, criminal or otherwise.”
The ruling came after Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody asked the court to advise whether the potential constitutional initiative would be suitable for a future ballot.
Snuffed out. (Elsa Olofsson)
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at allowing people to use recreational marijuana, saying it would be misleading to voters.
Backers of the proposed amendment sought to put it on the 2022 ballot and had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures. But in a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court said the proposed ballot summary wording that people see when they cast ballots would mislead “voters into believing that the recreational use of marijuana in Florida will be free of any repercussions, criminal or otherwise.”
That conclusion stemmed from marijuana remaining illegal under federal law. The proposed ballot summary said the amendment would permit “adults 21 years or older to possess, use, purchase, display, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana accessories for personal use for any reason.”
Recreational Marijuana Amendment Is Misleading, Florida Supreme Court Rules wlrn.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wlrn.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.