OUR BLOG
The Rich Man
In the practice of family law I have encountered many different sorts of people. It is even possible to witness the transformation of a person. This is a reflection upon such an event. The Rich Man In my possessions I forgot my struggle But in having it...
Judge Jerri Collins Told to Take Anger-Management Course
I have written previously about Seminole County Judge Jerri Collins who, in July, sentenced a domestic violence victim to jail because she did not appear in court to testify against Miles Brennan, the father of her 1-year-old child. The Florida Supreme court has...
NO ALIMONY REFORM THIS TERM
Governor Rick Scott recently vetoed a proposed major overhaul of alimony law.1 The law would have also allowed for a premise of equal time-sharing of child custody matters. Senator Tom Lee of Brandon expressed his disappointment. Representative Ritch Workman said...
GENDER BIAS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION
A recent survey by the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar reveals gender bias in the legal profession.1 The survey respondents reported being mistaken for court reporters and being referred to as “blondie” and “little lady”. Ramón Abadin, President of The...
MINDFULNESS IN FAMILY LAW
The April issue of The Florida Bar Journal is devoted to the issue of mindfulness. Mindfulness involves intentionally bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment. It can be developed through the practice of...
MERRICK GARLAND’S PATH TO THE SUPREME COURT
It is a curious fact that what occurs in the Supreme Court of the United States affects the private practice of family law in Pinellas County, Florida. This became clear last year when the court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the country. With the untimely...
SENATOR TOM LEE’S JOURNEY OF DIVORCE REFORM
In a recent editorial, the Tampa Bay Times suggested that Governor Rick Scott should veto the legislature’s latest attempt to overhaul Florida’s divorce laws. The newspaper criticized the legislation in the following respects: with regard to alimony, the proposed...
ALIMONY CHANGES REST WITH GOVERNOR
Last week, lawmakers sent legislation to the Governor that binds together alimony reform with a new formula for determining child timesharing arrangements. Senate Bill 668 would alter the manner in which alimony is decided in Florida. It provides for a formula for...
IN CHINA, MARRIAGE BREAK-UPS ARE SOARING
According to The Economist Magazine, divorce rates are rising quickly across China. Previously, China was for centuries a place where marriage was universal and mostly permanent (though convention permitted men to take concubines).1 The trend reflects profound...