From the looks of the Florida Supreme Court docket during the coming week, justices have their hands full in trying to sort out death-penalty cases. The court will hear appeals involving six Death Row inmates who were convicted in murders stretching from St. Lucie County to Holmes County.
Also, during the next several days, expect Gov. Rick Scott to continue signing bills. He’s already acted on the budget and some other high-profile legislation, but dozens of bills still wait for his signature or veto.
A preview of the week’s events courtesy of the News Service of Florida.
MONDAY
JUSTICES HEAR DEATH PENALTY, EVIDENCE CODE ARGUMENTS: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in two death-penalty appeals and consider changes to the state evidence code. The death-penalty cases involve Richard Johnson, who was convicted in a 2001 murder in St. Lucie County, and Johnny Calhoun, who was convicted in a 2010 murder in Holmes County. (Monday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)
GOVERNOR HONORS STUDENTS, LIMO DRIVER: Gov. Rick Scott will honor 21 Broward County high-school students and limousine driver Danny Izzi for helping save seven people from an overturned vehicle. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Western High School, 1200 SW 136th Ave., Davie.)
SCOTT TOUTS MONEY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS: Gov. Rick Scott will hold a news conference to discuss money in the 2013-14 state budget that will help Boys and Girls Clubs. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, Rick and Rita Case Club, 7525 NW 33rd St., Davie.)
PUTNAM TO BRIEF REPORTERS: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will meet with the news media to talk about statewide topics. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Capitol.)
TUESDAY
SCOTT AND CABINET TO MEET: Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet will have what appears to be a light agenda. Presentations are scheduled from Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Julie Jones, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Jerry Bailey. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet Meeting Room, the Capitol.)
HIGH COURT HEARS DEATH PENALTY, ARBITRATION CASES: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in two death-penalty appeals and in a case that involves the validity of an arbitration agreement in a new-car contract. The death-penalty cases involve Mark Poole, who was convicted in a 2001 murder in Polk County, and John Kalisz, who was convicted of murdering two women in 2010 in Hernando County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)
HEARING ON PRISON KOSHER FOOD: U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz is scheduled to hold a preliminary-injunction hearing in case in which the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to ensure that religiously observant Jewish prisoners have access to kosher food in Florida prisons. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Federal Justice Building, 400 North Miami Ave., Miami.)
MEDICAID FAMILY PLANNING DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about its attempt to continue receiving federal approval for a program that extends family-planning services to women who have lost Medicaid coverage. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Medicaid Area Office 6, 6800 North Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 220, Tampa.)
BRIEFING ON FCAT, END OF COURSE EXAMS: The Florida Department of Education will hold a media briefing about FCAT reading, math and science results for grades 4 through 10 and end-of-course assessment results in U.S. history, Biology 1, Algebra 1 and geometry. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. Call-in number: 888-339-2688; pass code: 593 635 01. Online link: https://floridacolleges.webex.
NURSING HOMES SEEK GOLD SEALS: The Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care will consider applications for nursing homes to be awarded “Gold Seal” designations. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration Medicaid Office Area 6 training room, 6800 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.)
BILL ACTIONS DUE: Gov. Rick Scott faces a June 4 deadline for signing or vetoing several bills, including a measure that would tighten expert-witness standards (HB 7015) in lawsuits and the proposed repeal of a renewable-fuel law (HB 4001).
WEDNESDAY
TWO DEATH CASES ON THE DOCKET: The Florida Supreme Court will hear appeals from two Death Row inmates. The cases involve Jermaine Lebron, who was convicted in a 1995 murder in Osceola County, and Thomas McCoy, Jr., who was convicted in a 2009 murder in Walton County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)
PAROLE COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Parole Commission will consider dozens of cases. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 4070 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
GREENWAYS AND TRAILS DISCUSSED: The Florida Greenways and Trails Council will meet. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg Street, Palatka. Dial-in number: 888-670-3525; passcode: 6790547274#.)
BILL ACTIONS DUE: Gov. Rick Scott must make decisions by June 5 on a few bills, including a measure (SB 534) that would make clear the state isn’t liable for financial shortfalls in local-government retirement plans. Another measure (SB 1844) would seek to bolster the Florida Health Choices program, including providing $900,000 to the online health-care marketplace.
THURSDAY
JUVENILE BAIL CASE GOES TO SUPREME COURT: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case about whether a juvenile charged with attempted murder should have been entitled to pre-trial bail. The case stems from the 2010 Broward County arrest of Wayne Treacy, who was 15 at the time. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)
MEDICAID FAMILY PLANNING DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about its attempt to continue receiving federal approval for a program that extends family-planning services to women who have lost Medicaid coverage. (Thursday, 2 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee.)
FRIDAY
BOARD OF MEDICINE: The Florida Board of Medicine will take up series of disciplinary actions involving physicians. (Friday, 8 a.m., Wyndham Tampa Westshore, 700 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa.)
ETHICS COMMISSION: The Florida Commission on Ethics will consider a series of cases involving state and local officials. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., Room 37, Senate Office Building, Tallahassee.)
PUTNAM AT ORLANDO TIGER BAY: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is slated to speak to the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. (Friday, noon, Sheraton Orlando Downtown, 400 West Livingston St., Orlando.)
