Florida J.A.I.L. Files Lawsuit Against Florida Bar Association
The suit against the Florida Bar makes four claims. First that the People never delegated to the Judiciary the right to set up a mandatory bar which acts as the "arm" of the Florida Supreme Court engaging -- on behalf of the Florida Supreme Court -- in political activities that the Florida Supreme Court is barred from engaging in. Second, given the monolithic prestige, power and purse of the Florida Bar, it has confiscated the "marketplace of ideas" to such and extent as to deny citizens of this state the fundamental right to petition for redress of grievances. Third, it is unethical for the Florida Supreme Court's arm to engage in political activity when the Justices of the Florida Supreme Court cannot engage in that same activity. Last, Florida J.A.I.L. for Judges has alleged that the Florida Bar is violating Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes by engaging in political activity without registering with the Department of Elections and reporting its expenditures.
The lawsuit in its entirety is posted as a pdf file at the below URL for all to read, http://www.jail4judges.org/PressReleases/PR_2007-02-21.htm