Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Controversial Florida Judge Claims Legislature does not Have Power to Make "Stand Your Ground" Law
Gun Watch ^ | 5 July, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 07/12/2017 2:24:01 PM PDT by marktwain



Controversial Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch, intensely dislikes the "Stand Your Ground" concept. He ruled the legislature does not have to power to regulate the "Stand Your Ground" law.

The Florida legislature passed a reinforced "Stand Your Ground" law in 2017.  The new law stems from prosecutorial abuses, where people who are clearly justified in using force for self defense, are put through the criminal justice system, even though the chance of a conviction in the courts is slim. 

People charged with a crime faced years of court costs and uncertainty.  It is punishment by process. The legislature removed power from the prosecutors and gave it to judges, to prevent this kind of abuse.

"Stand Your Ground" laws have been popular. Two thirds of the States have similar law.  The elimination of a requirement to retreat in the face of deadly force has long precedence in the United States, starting with a Supreme Court ruling in 1895.

Judge Hirsh' decision cites English precedence to the effect that there is a requirement to retreat, and some American cases, but completely ignores the 120 years of precedence in the Supreme Court that supports the Stand Your Ground law. It shows Judge Hirsch' bias. From miamiherald.com:
Hirsch found that the changes to the law were “procedural,” meaning only the Florida Supreme Court has the right to make them.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article159394094.html#storylink=cpy
The ruling cites this part of the Florida Constitution, and makes the claim that the Legislature is changing a rule of the court, rather than making a law. From Ballotpedia.com:
    Text of Section 2:

    Administration; Practice and Procedure

    (a) The supreme court shall adopt rules for the practice and procedure in all courts including the time for seeking appellate review, the administrative supervision of all courts, the transfer to the court having jurisdiction of any proceeding when the jurisdiction of another court has been improvidently invoked, and a requirement that no cause shall be dismissed because an improper remedy has been sought. The supreme court shall adopt rules to allow the court and the district courts of appeal to submit questions relating to military law to the federal Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for an advisory opinion. Rules of court may be repealed by general law enacted by two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the legislature.
A former prosecutor and current member of the legislature, Senator Rob Bradley, disagrees.  He is the author of the law.  He believes the appeals court will overrule Judge Hirsch.  From usf.edu:
But, Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island)—the new law’s author—disagrees.

“I would be surprised if it were upheld on appeal,” he said.
If the courts rule that the Florida Legislature overstepped its authority in this case, an alternative would be to reform the law by making it similar to law in Washington state. In Washington, if a defendant is found not guilty after a self defense claim is made, the state pays the court costs and legal fees of the defendant. This would be another check on the power of prosecutors to punish defendants with process costs.

 ©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; florida; selfdefense; standyourground
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
If the legislature does not have the power to shift the burden of proof, they have the power to require reimbursement for lawyers fees and court costs if a self defense claim prevails in court.
1 posted on 07/12/2017 2:24:01 PM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Whole lot of “judges”, could surely use a good dragging behind a pick up


2 posted on 07/12/2017 2:26:32 PM PDT by Joe Boucher (President Trump makes obammy look like the punk he is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Related...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3566283/posts


3 posted on 07/12/2017 2:26:48 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (MAGA!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

He’s right, actually. No one has any rightful authority over other people. So he doesn’t, either.


4 posted on 07/12/2017 2:32:27 PM PDT by sourcery (Non Acquiescit: "I do not consent" (Latin))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Too bad dip wad

You will be shown different


5 posted on 07/12/2017 2:32:46 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch, IDIOT
6 posted on 07/12/2017 2:34:03 PM PDT by jazusamo (Have YOU Donated to Free Republic? https://freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Because every liberal knows only judges can legislate.


7 posted on 07/12/2017 2:35:27 PM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Who’s got the power to impeach rogue judges like Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch?


8 posted on 07/12/2017 2:40:18 PM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

A judge does not have the power to legislate from the bench. He should be impeached for crimes against the state’s constitution. Do that a few times and judges will straighten up and fly right.


9 posted on 07/12/2017 3:03:29 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fella

Aww now, he’s just mad that his parents named him Milton.


10 posted on 07/12/2017 3:09:00 PM PDT by myerson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Rather than trust judges I would prefer requiring a decision to prosecute be reviewed by a three or four person panel or prosecutors and require unanimous assent of same to approve.

There may be States where a preponderance of officials are anti-gun rights but such places probably don’t have SYG laws anyway.

Naturally, loser pays (especially if it’s the State) is all good, though many people could run out of funds long before they ever won to get reimbursed.

I would go further, on general principal, and eliminate any form of civil liability unless there is actually a conviction for a crime. That way there would be no “wrongful death” lawsuits brought as a further form of legal harassment.

(I normally bring up this last in relation to asset forfeiture)


11 posted on 07/12/2017 3:12:30 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
Legislatures MAKE LAW .... judges don't.

Pound sand, judge.

12 posted on 07/12/2017 3:13:22 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe Boucher

Milton Hirsch? Hmmmm.


13 posted on 07/12/2017 3:17:09 PM PDT by Bonemaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: \/\/ayne

Not much of a scalp there...have to make do with the beard.


14 posted on 07/12/2017 3:19:31 PM PDT by Bonemaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Joe Boucher

“Controversial”....euphemism for a WORLD CLASS PRICK!


15 posted on 07/12/2017 3:23:38 PM PDT by Bonemaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

I am so fed up with liberal judges legislating from the bench. The American judicial system is worthless. Judges like him should be disbarred


16 posted on 07/12/2017 3:49:16 PM PDT by JayElBee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JayElBee

Tarred and feathered would be better!


17 posted on 07/12/2017 3:56:48 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation ("You can't fix America without pissing off the people who broke it".....Bill Mitchell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The bill that became law https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/128/BillText/er/HTML

Analysis by Cmte on Judiciary https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/00128/?Tab=Analyses

Approved by the governor http://laws.flrules.org/2017/72

The law prior to the bill http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0776/0776.html


18 posted on 07/12/2017 4:43:51 PM PDT by Ray76 (DRAIN THE SWAMP)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: knarf

From what I understand, a previous congress vested authority in the courts to determine procedural rules on these cases, and the legal ruling is actually grounded in existing law. It may be debatable, but is not as clear as identified here.


19 posted on 07/12/2017 4:50:23 PM PDT by MortMan (Adoption is God's grace in human action.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

“Hanging Judge” needs to take on a new meaning.


20 posted on 07/12/2017 5:15:43 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson