The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has hired two more lawyers and is planning to add another to help handle an expected workload increase resulting from the Republican-led Legislature’s recently ended session.
The ACLU, unions and some liberal and nonpartisan groups are gearing up for potential legal challenges to legislation as well as at least one of Gov. Rick Scott’s executive orders. They are reviewing measures that they say violate privacy, free speech, voting, due process, collective bargaining and other constitutional rights and requirements.
“I didn’t realize at the time of the election that when Gov. Scott said, ‘Let’s get to work,’ he was referring to the lawyers in the state, but that seems to be the way it’s working out,” Tallahassee lawyer Ron Meyer said. His clients include the Florida Education Association — the statewide teachers union — which is considering challenges to several measures.
“This legislative session has been maybe the biggest disaster for personal freedoms and human rights, and the list is long,” said Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida’s executive director. House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuits. Calls to Scott and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, were not immediately returned.
Full Article: New Florida laws may face legal challenges | TBO.com.