Florida Bar Journal articles from November 2006

Florida Bar Journal archives from November 2006

Florida's legal community: gatekeepers to democracy by advancing civics and law-related education.
November 1, 2006... It was a simple line in the massive 160-page education bill that passed the Florida Legislature in its just-ended regular session. On page 40 of HB 7087, in the midst of a list of courses that middle school students must take, is this prosaic...

A call to justice: the importance of civic education.
November 1, 2006... Before attempting to engage in a discussion of the importance of civic education, it is necessary to understand just what the concept encompasses. The word civic originates from the Latin word civis, meaning citizen. (1) At the heart of civic...

Education for democracy: a responsibility of the legal profession.
November 1, 2006... "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment."--Robert M. Hutchins Reports published over the last decade document the American...

Walking in their shoes: the 2006 Justice Teaching Institute.(Florida)
November 1, 2006... The Florida Justice Teaching Institute is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation and The Florida Bar with in-kind assistance from the Supreme Court of Florida and the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. Teachers then return to their...

A balancing act.(separation of powers)
November 1, 2006... "If citizens have respect for the work of their courts, their respect for law will survive the shortcomings of every other branch of government; but if they lose their respect for the work of the courts, their respect for law and order will...

Revitalizing civic education: a case study.(Florida)
November 1, 2006... "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be"--Thomas Jefferson Forty state constitutions mention the importance of civic literacy among citizens, and 13...

The Florida Supreme Court dulls the edge of Rule 1.420(e).
November 1, 2006... The Florida Supreme Court recently reinforced its position that the primary policy of the courts should be to see that cases are decided on their merits and not dismissed due to "mere technicalities." (1) In making this strong statement, the...

Relationship dissolution planning.(Nuptial Agreements, part 1 )
November 1, 2006... The divorce rate in the U.S. is astronomical. Nearly half of recent first marriages end in divorce.(1) In addition, the rate of domestic partner relationships is increasing. With the increase in such relationships, there is a concomitant rise...

The Supreme Court takes exception to the "probate exception": Mrs. Smith goes to Washington.
November 1, 2006... The U.S. Supreme Court issued two notable opinions in 2006 affecting federal jurisdiction. Wachovia v. Schmidt, 126 S. Ct. 941 (2006), was decided on January 17, 2006. The Supreme Court held, for purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction,...

Modification actions for decrease or elimination of periodic alimony.(part 2)
November 1, 2006... The Inquiry Pat and Mike were boyhood friends growing up in the late 1940s in a gloomy, industrial, but sports-oriented town in northeastern Ohio. Sensing the economic decline which would occur with the loss of great manufacturing centers...

Take the constitutional pop quiz challenge.(President's page)
November 1, 2006... Much of this issue is devoted to the premise that improved civic education is critical to the preservation of American democracy. Chief Justice Lewis and several contributors have masterfully recounted Florida's renewed efforts in the area of...

Law-related education: 30 years of dedication and vision.(Florida)
November 1, 2006... As we celebrate the upcoming anniversary of The Florida Bar's Law Related Education Program, we reflect on 30 years of dedication and vision among countless legal professionals who believe they have a unique duty to educate citizens about the...