Florida Supreme Court

Justices unanimously upheld decisions that the Florida Public Service Commission made in 2022 to approve what are known as “storm-protection plans” for Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Co. and Florida Public Utilities Co.

The court could decide a legal dispute stemming from a high-profile move by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials in 2022 to target alleged voter fraud by people who have been convicted of a felony.

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments about the constitutionality of a congressional redistricting plan that Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through the Legislature in 2023, with Chief Justice Carlos Muniz pointing to potentially far-reaching future effects of the court's decision.

A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected Attorney General Ashley Moody’s arguments that her office had the power to enter settlements that would effectively trump lawsuits by local agencies.

The Supreme Court decision rejected a series of arguments, including claims related to abuse Cole suffered as a teenager at the state’s notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

The 6-1 ruling rejects arguments from the committee promoting the measure after months of legal wrangling. The revised financial statement will appear on the ballot with Amendment 4.

Marion County Circuit Judge Robert Hodges on Thursday refused to vacate Cole’s death sentence.

The Supreme Court issued orders that said it has “expedited” proceedings in the cases, which involve a battle between Floridians Protecting Freedom and state officials about the financial impact statement.

The Floridians Protecting Freedom committee filed a petition contending that House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, did not have the authority to direct a panel to revise the statement after a circuit judge rejected an earlier version.

Part of the law says, “A person arrested for a dangerous crime may not be granted nonmonetary pretrial release at a first appearance hearing if the court has determined there is probable cause to believe the person has committed the offense.”

Peaceful protesters are not threatened by a measure that Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature passed in 2021 to crack down on violent demonstrations.

Three Florida Supreme Court justices contend if voters approve a November ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the state Constitution, it likely would not end legal battles about the issue.