A federal appeals court has cleared the way for Florida to enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that a 2023 Florida law and regulations prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to treat children for gender dysphoria and making it harder for trans adults to access care are unconstitutionally discriminatory and were motivated by “animus” toward transgender people.

A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 2023 Florida law that blocked gender-affirming care for transgender minors and severely restricted such treatment for adults.

A federal judge hearing a challenge to a transgender health care ban for minors and restrictions for adults noted that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spread false information about doctors mutilating children’s genitals.

Questions over which side was being more compassionate emerged as a key tension in a federal appeals court, which heard arguments on whether to block transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care in Kentucky and Tennessee.

After the latest wave of legal rulings on restrictions for transgender people, a Texas ban on gender-affirming care for minors is in effect.

A federal judge has struck down Florida rules championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis restricting Medicaid coverage for transgender treatments.

A federal judge is temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

A federal judge is temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

An elected Florida prosecutor who says he was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis for political gain and because he is a Democrat is asking the state Supreme Court to reinstate him.

A federal judge has ruled that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the First Amendment and the Florida Constitution by removing an elected state prosecutor, but that the federal courts lack the power to reinstate him because the case centered on state law.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants a federal judge to throw out a free speech lawsuit filed by a Democratic prosecutor he suspended from office over statements about not pursuing criminal charges in abortion, transgender rights and certain low-level cases.

Two former Oklahoma police officers have been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man in December while responding to a 911 call of an alleged protective order violation.

A federal judge has blocked a new law in Florida that sought to punish large social media businesses like Facebook and Twitter if they remove content or ban politicians.

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Florida can bar ex-felons from voting if they owe court fines or fees associated with their convictions, even if they are unable to pay. The 6-4 ruling by the full 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s ruling blocking the law. Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in the majority opinion that the state law doesn’t constitute a poll tax. Friday’s ruling was the latest high-stakes challenges to a 2019 Florida law requiring felons to pay court-ordered “legal financial obligations” -- fees, fines, costs and restitution -- associated with their convictions to be eligible to vote. President George W. Bush appointed Pryor, and former President Bill Clinton appointed Judge Charles Wilson.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Orlando attorney John Morgan and his firm Morgan & Morgan launched a fundraising campaign Monday to help felons regain the right to vote. As part of an effort to help the Florida Rights Restoration Coalitions Fines and Fees Fund, Morgan announced he will match the first $100,000 in donations to his Voice for Voters campaign. The money is expected to help felons pay court-ordered financial obligations that keep them from completing all terms of their sentences after they are released from prison. More than 65 percent of Florida voters in 2018 approved a constitutional amendment to restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences. Last month, former Miami Heat superstar LeBron James committed $100,000 to the coalition, and Morgan at the time tweeted he was willing to match the effort.

They also argued states are allowed to permanently ban felons from voting as part of the punishment for their crimes, and Florida is not required to reenfranchise felons. Amendment 4 provides an avenue for automatic restoration of felon voting rights in Florida, therefore opening a way for felons to regain the franchise that previously did not exist, the brief said. During Scotts eight-year tenure, he and the clemency board restored the voting rights of about 3,000 of the more than 30,000 convicted felons who applied, according to the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Eighteen states automatically restore voting rights to felons who have served their incarceration time. Another 20 states restore voting rights to most felons who complete prison, parole and probation, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

As is usually customary, the Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for denying a request from voting rights advocates to lift the stay. In his ruling in May, District Court Judge Robert Hinkle ordered the state to allow most Florida felons to vote, regardless of any outstanding legal debts. Circuit Court of Appeals in its entirety agreed to hear the governors appeal and to stay the lower court ruling. The court of appeals has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Aug. 18, the same day as Floridas primary. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, which returned voting rights to most Florida felons who had completed their sentences.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Voting rights advocates asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a stay on a federal judge's ruling that allowed Florida felons to regain the right to vote, regardless of unpaid fines and other financial obligations. The appellate court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Aug. 18, the same day as Florida's primary. The Southern Poverty Law Center, along with other groups representing felons, asked Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Wednesday to set aside the stay. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, which would return voting rights to most Florida felons who had completed their sentences. The court agreed to hear the governor's appeal and to stay the lower court ruling.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A federal appeals court has scheduled oral arguments in a Florida voting-rights case that could open the door for hundreds of thousands of felons to cast ballots in this years elections. Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to hear the case on Aug. 18, the same day as Floridas primary elections, according to an order posted on the courts website this week. Under the process crafted by the federal judge, hundreds of thousands of felons who have completed their prison or jail sentences would be able to register and vote. But this month, the 11th Circuit granted DeSantis request to put a hold on Hinkles order until the appeal is finished. The court also agreed to speed up the case, but, under the law, felons who cant afford to pay outstanding legal obligations wont be able to vote in the primary elections.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A federal appellate court has stayed a lower court ruling that gave impoverished Florida felons the right to vote. The order issued Wednesday disappointed voting rights activists and could have national implications in November's presidential election. Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a stay of Hinkle's ruling and a review of the case by the full appeals court. Todays decision is a setback, said Paul Smith, vice president of Campaign Legal Center, which is representing felons seeking access to the ballot box under Amendment 4, a voter-approved measure that sought to return voting rights to released felons. Under Amendment 4, felons who have completed their sentences would have voting rights restored.

In a 35-page brief filed Wednesday, the states lawyers argued that the 2019 law should not be overturned. The state also asked the appellate court to fast track the case, which the court agreed to do. Lawyers for DeSantis and Secretary of State Laurel Lee in the Wednesday brief argued that the state law properly carried out the intent of what appeared as Amendment 4 on Floridas November 2018 ballot. Hinkles ruling thwarts the peoples wishes, as it allows individuals to register and vote who are not eligible under Amendment 4, the states lawyers wrote. The federal judges decision would allow hundreds of thousands of felons who are ineligible to vote under Florida law to cast ballots, they argued.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Accusing Florida officials of ignoring the harsh reality of the pandemic, left-leaning groups are asking a federal judge to move forward with legal challenges to state vote-by-mail restrictions. In one of the lawsuits, Priorities USA and other plaintiffs want the judge to extend a deadline for mail-in ballots to be returned and require free postage for the ballots. Theyre also challenging a provision in Florida law restricting paid workers from collecting mail-in ballots. Under current law, supervisors of elections must receive mail-in ballots by 7 p.m. on Election Day. that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent.

That part of the order addresses people who had court-appointed lawyers, were deemed indigent or whose court-ordered financial obligations were converted to civil liens when they were convicted of felonies. Many defendants financial obligations, such as restitution, are converted to civil liens, when they are deemed indigent or are sentenced to prison or jail. But those who are unable to pay restitution and fines can register and vote, the judge ordered. In October, Hinkle ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny the right to vote to felons who are genuinely unable to pay court-ordered financial obligations. Hinkles ruling alleviates the fear of prosecution for other returning citizens who want to vote but are unable to pay court-ordered financial obligations, Leicht said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. A Florida law requiring felons to pay legal fees as part of their sentences before regaining the vote is unconstitutional for those unable to pay, or unable to find out how much they owe, a federal judge ruled Sunday. It involves a state law to implement a 2016 ballot measure approved by voters to automatically restore the right to vote for many felons who have completed their sentence. If there's no response within three weeks, then the applicant should not be barred from registering to vote, the ruling said. Hinkle said the requirement to pay fines and restitution as ordered in a sentence is constitutional for those who are able to pay if the amount can be determined. The court recognized that conditioning a persons right to vote on their ability to pay is unconstitutional.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement that calls for the state to pay $15.5 million in a class-action lawsuit alleging discrimination in the controversial "Best and Brightest" teacher-bonus program. He will hold what is known as a "fairness" hearing in March, after which he could give final approval to the settlement. The lawsuit has focused on a decision by state lawmakers to partly base Best and Brightest bonuses on teachers' scores on SAT and ACT college-admission exams. Under the settlement, money will go to black and Hispanic classroom teachers who were rated as "highly effective" but did not receive Best and Brightest bonuses since the program took effect in 2015. The settlement creates a formula for determining the amount of payments to black and Hispanic teachers who are eligible.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee has sent a memo to county elections supervisors with direction about complying with a federal judge's ruling on felons' voting rights -- but questions remain about how the state will move forward. The Legislature this spring passed a law to carry out the amendment, but the law drew federal court challenges because it requires felons to pay "legal financial obligations," such as restitution, fines and fees, to get their rights restored. Hinkle disputed the characterization of a poll tax, but his ruling said Florida cannot deny the right to vote to felons who have served their sentences and are "genuinely unable" to pay legal financial obligations. Until Florida establishes this process, all other returning citizens who owe legal financial obligations are left waiting." Justices are slated to hear arguments Nov. 6, and Hinkle's ruling left resolution of that issue to the state court.

After hearing testimony and arguments over two days, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the law created an "administrative nightmare.'' It was enacted despite a constitutional amendment overwhelmingly passed by voters last fall that restored the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete their sentences. With Florida's record as a key political battleground, the case's outcome -- and the outcomes of other Florida voting rights disputes -- will attract widespread interest as the nation gears up for the 2020 presidential elections. Voting rights advocates suggested that relying on the state clemency board would be too onerous and time consuming, and the panel might not be able to handle the volume of requests. An attorney for the Florida Secretary of State's Office, Mohammad Jazil, would examine the host of issues brought up by the judge.

Jason Morrison/FreeImages.comTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A federal judge in Tallahassee has turned down Gov. Ron DeSantis' request to put on hold a challenge to a new state law carrying out a constitutional amendment that restored voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Republican governor and Secretary of State Laurel Lee this week asked U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to put the federal lawsuit on hold while the Florida Supreme Court considers a related case. The plaintiffs in the case allege the state law imposes an unconstitutional "poll tax" and violates a number of other constitutional rights. The state court is slated to hear arguments in the case on Nov. 6.

Ron DeSantis and his administration want a federal judge to put on hold a challenge to a state law carrying out a constitutional amendment that restored voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. The Republican governor and Secretary of State Laurel Lee on Tuesday asked U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to put the federal lawsuit on hold until the Florida Supreme Court rules in a related case. Voting rights advocates and civil rights groups filed the federal challenge shortly after DeSantis signed into law a measure (SB 7066) that requires felons to pay "legal financial obligations," such as restitution, fines and fees, to be eligible to have their voting rights restored. The terms of sentence include financial obligations ordered by courts, the defendants maintain. If the amendment requires payment of financial obligations, that provision "can easily be severed" from the remainder of the amendment, the lawyers wrote.

The plaintiffs argued, among other things, that linking payment of financial obligations with voting rights amounts to an unconstitutional poll tax and discriminates on the basis of wealth. But lawyers for DeSantis and his administration asked U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle to dismiss the case, arguing that the dispute should be resolved in state --- not federal --- court. In the midst of the federal court fight, the governor asked the Florida Supreme Court to weigh in, hoping that the federal court would defer to the state court's interpretation of what Amendment 4 requires. If the amendment requires payment of financial obligations, that provision "can easily be severed" from the remainder of the amendment, the lawyers wrote. A federal court decided that, while the amendment could not limit the amount of time federal elected officials spent in office, the term limits affecting state legislators and Cabinet members could remain intact.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A federal judge added a new twist Thursday in the legal battle over whether convicted felons whove served their time behind bars should be required to pay court-ordered financial obligations before voting rights are restored. Ron DeSantis, felons have to pay all financial obligations ordered by courts as part of sentencing -- including fees, fines and restitution -- to be eligible to have their voting rights restored. The law passed this spring by the Legislature makes clear that a plaintiff cannot vote until the plaintiff has satisfied all the financial obligations, Hinkle said during the hour-long hearing. The requirement to pay financial obligations would prevent about 80 percent of them from having their voting rights automatically restored, the lawyers argued. The judge said he routinely sees records related to Florida convictions, which must be taken into account when sentencing defendants in federal court.

But plaintiffs say they need more time to gather evidence in their challenge to a state law requiring people convicted of felonies to pay legal financial obligations before they can register to vote. The law, passed during this springs legislative session, is aimed at carrying out a constitutional amendment that automatically restores voting rights to felons who have completed the terms of their sentences. Voting-rights groups and civil-rights advocates allege the linkage between finances and voting rights amounts to an unconstitutional poll tax, a vestige of Jim Crow-era policies aimed at preventing blacks from voting. But backers of the measure estimate that it affects more than 1 million potential voters who lost their voting rights after being convicted of felonies. Unfortunately, the demographic breakdown of those who lose their voting rights shows obvious racial disparities and income inequality, Jacquet, who is black, said in a prepared statement announcing the filing of the legislation.

The investigation factored into last years gubernatorial race between former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis, the eventual winner. The FBI investigation, however, resulted in indictments for Maddox and his longtime aide and former business partner, Paige Carter-Smith, who on Tuesday also pleaded guilty to the same three charges as Maddox. Hinkle has scheduled a November trial for a third defendant in the case, Tallahassee businessman J.T. Your honor, I want to plead guilty, Maddox said after a short discussion with his lawyer, Stephen Dobson. Informing Maddox and Carter-Smith of the maximum sentences associated with the charges, Hinkle noted that the government can impose lower sentences based on substantial assistance from defendants.