FLORIDA EXECUTION The U.S. Supreme Court denied the request of an execution stay in the case of a Florida death row inmate. The convicted murderer alleged that he had a neurological condition related to being exposed to alcohol before birth, which contributed to his behavior. Donald Dillbeck was executed by lethal injection on February 23rd, the first Florida execution since 2019. Governor DeSantis has since signed a death warrant for the April 12th execution of Louis Bernard Gaskin, convicted of killing a Flagler County couple in 1989.
STOP WOKE INJUNCTION UPHELD A U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected the request by the state to enforce its “Stop WOKE” law championed by Governor DeSantis, maintaining a block on some of its provisions while challenges play out in court. A district court judge temporarily blocked some provisions in the law — which restricts discussions of race, gender and inequality — from being enforced in public colleges and universities.
DON’T SAY GAY LAW For the second time, another federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. The revised lawsuit filed by students, parents and teachers argued the law is unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the plaintiffs had not “alleged sufficient facts” to show they had legal standing to challenge the law.
ELECTED OFFICIALS LOBBYING A federal judge struck down Florida’s law prohibiting elected officials from performing paid lobbying services. This constitutional amendment was approved by voters during the 2018 election and became enforceable on January 1st. The judge determined the amendment infringes on the plaintiff’s First Amendment rights to collect money in exchange for trying to influence other elected officials. The judge let stand the other major part of the new law that imposes a six-year ban on certain lobbying activities by former government officials once they leave office.