January 5, 2022. Today, the Florida Justice Institute (FJI), in partnership with Brevard County attorney Jessica J. Travis of DefendBrevard.com, filed a lawsuit challenging a Brevard County ordinance that prohibits people on the sex offender registry from attending County Commission meetings at the County Government Center in Viera, Florida. The ordinance prohibits the Plaintiffs, and […]
West Palm Beach Repeals Ordinance Criminalizing Requests for Help, Advocacy Groups Jointly Dismiss Lawsuit
December 14, 2021 WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Advocacy groups and the City of West Palm Beach today jointly dismissed a federal lawsuit in response to a settlement agreement under which the City of West Palm Beach paid damages and repealed its ordinance prohibiting people from asking for donations in certain public spaces. Southern Legal […]
Settlement Reached with FDOC Requires Improved Treatment of People with Disabilities
November 10, 2021, TALLAHASSEE Disability Rights Florida, the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy system for individuals with disabilities, has reached a settlement with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) requiring the FDOC to improve its treatment of incarcerated people with physical disabilities. The settlement resolves a lawsuit, brought with the assistance of attorneys from the […]
Judge rules Florida lawsuit can have all children in solitary as plaintiffs
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The federal judge presiding over the case of G.H. v. Tamayo, a statewide challenge to the Department of Juvenile Justice’s use of solitary confinement, has ruled that the case can proceed as a class action. This means that the 15- year- old plaintiffs, G.H. and R.L., will represent all children who are […]
FJI joins social justice organizations in letter opposing anti-camping ordinance
FJI joins with other organizations calling on the City of Miami Commission to vote against a proposed anti-camping ban that would result in more arrests of people experiencing homelessness. We call on the City to honor the promises it made to the Pottinger court that it would not revert to criminalization.
FJI provides assistance to public defenders to combat the criminalization of homelessness.
As part of its campaign to end the criminalization of homelessness, FJI has provided a letter to the public defenders of Florida and other criminal defense lawyers summarizing recent federal court decisions declaring panhandling ordinances unconstitutional. Although many of these ordinances have been invalidated, cities and counties around the state continue to arrest people—overwhelmingly poor […]
FJI, together with other organizations, submits request to Secretary Inch to withdraw proposed mail rule
The Florida Justice Institute, together with other civil rights organizations, have submitted a formal request to Secretary Inch to withdraw the proposed mail rule change to digitize all incoming physical mail. Here is a copy of the letter. “Abolishing physical mail will harm public safety. FDC reported in 2020 that 86% of people incarcerated in […]
Lawsuit on behalf of three West Palm Beach residents challenges a local ordinance that criminalizes requests for charity
West Palm Beach, Fla. – Southern Legal Counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, the ACLU of Florida Palm Beach County Chapter, and Florida Justice Institute filed a federal lawsuit challenging a West Palm Beach ordinance that prohibits asking for donations in certain public spaces. The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District […]
Federal Court Issues Order Barring City of Fort Lauderdale From Enforcing Its Panhandling Ordinances
FORT LAUDERDALE. Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Roy K. Altman issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the City of Fort Lauderdale from enforcing its two panhandling ordinances, finding that Plaintiffs Mark Messina and Bernard McDonald have shown that the laws are likely unconstitutional restrictions on free speech in violation of the First Amendment. The lawsuit, brought by the […]
FJI Calls for Manatee County to Evacuate Jail to Protect Incarcerated People from Toxic Water
The Piney Point phosphate processing plant is threatening to release 300 million gallons of toxic water throughout Manatee County, causing flooding of up to 20 feet. Residents have been ordered to evacuate, but thus far the sheriff has refused to evacuate the jail, which is within the evacuation zone. FJI, along with numerous community partners, […]
Lawsuit Challenges Fort Lauderdale’s Anti-Panhandling Ordinances as Unconstitutional
FORT LAUDERDALE Today, the Florida Justice Institute (FJI), in partnership with Fort Lauderdale lawyers Mara Shlackman and Frantz J. McLawrence, filed a lawsuit challenging a pair of the City of Fort Lauderdale’s anti-panhandling ordinances as an unconstitutional restriction of free speech. One ordinance prohibits requesting donations in all public parks, parking lots, and transportation centers; and within […]
Court Gives Final Approval to Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit Against Florida Department of Corrections Over Confiscation of Millions of Dollars of Digital Music
MIAMI/TALLAHASSEE/TAMPA BAY – Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle gave final approval to a settlement resolving a statewide class action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) for the confiscation of millions of dollars of digital music from incarcerated people in Florida, the result of a nearly two-year-long legal challenge brought by the Florida […]
Florida Justice Institute and Other Stakeholders Oppose Proposed “Regulations for Street and Public Large Group Feedings” Ordinance
Dear Mayor Suarez, Chair Hardemon, and City Attorney Méndez: We, undersigned ACLU cooperating attorneys, Pottinger Class Representa-tive, the Greater Miami Chapter of the ACLU of Florida, Southern Legal Counsel, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, and other stakeholders, express our strong opposition to the proposed municipal ordinance restricting the public service of food […]
Court Approves Preliminary Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit Against FDOC For Confiscation of Millions of Dollars of Digital Music
MIAMI/TALLAHASSEE/TAMPA BAY – Today, a federal judge preliminarily approved a settlement resolving a statewide class action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) involving the confiscation of millions of dollars of lawfully purchased digital music from incarcerated people in Florida. The settlement requires the FDOC to provide 3.9 million credits for class members to […]
Civil Rights Groups Demand Answers from the City of Miami about the Treatment of People Living under the I-395 Overpass on 11th Street Northwest
We – the Greater Miami ACLU, litigants in Pottinger v. City of Miami, Southern Legal Counsel, and other advocates attempting to protect the rights of our local homeless residents – write to express our outrage at the indefensible and inhumane assault conducted this morning on the personal safety, health, and property of homeless persons under […]
Civil Rights Groups Urge State Officials to Reduce Incarceration and Increase Testing
COVID-19 has begun to spread through Florida’s prisons, and will continue to do so unless dramatic action is taken to stop the impending humanitarian crisis. That’s why we’re asking state officials to do more to protect the health and safety of some of Florida’s most vulnerable residents. In a letter sent yesterday, FJI and other […]
Florida Justice Institute is Second Runner-Up of the 2020 Goldstein-Van Nortwick Award for Excellence
On April 7, 2020, the Florida Bar Foundation announced that the Florida Justice Institute is Second Runner-Up of the 2020 Goldstein-Van Nortwick Award for its exceptional legal advocacy for the Hepatitis C Class Action litigation. A special selection committee was created to review, score, and select the award winners. This year’s Goldstein-Van Nortwick selection committee […]
Civil Rights Groups Demand Precautions for People in Florida’s Prisons and Jails
With the spread of COVID-19 around the world, we know these may be difficult times for many people. That is especially true for people incarcerated in Florida’s prisons and jails. That’s why, in addition to taking steps to safeguard our employees and communities, we are also demanding adequate precautions for those who may be most […]