About Florida Bar Watch:
FloridaBarWatch was created in 2004 by Frank Lawrence, Jr., who is committed to educating the public about the dishonesty and bias within the Florida attorney licensing system.
No one disputes that lawyers, as well as any licensed professionals, should possess good character. However, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners uses its unbridled discretion to punish those who complain of constitutional infirmities in the system. Since the Board is authorized to deny admission for "any other conduct which reflects adversely upon the character or fitness of the applicant" (Rules of the Supreme Court Relating To Admissions To The Bar, 3-11(n)), no one can legitimately dispute that the Board has been vested with unbridled discretion.
When FloridaBarWatch founder Frank Lawrence complained of such infirmities in a Petition for Review in the Florida Supreme Court, the Court denied Lawrence a license to practice law in a three-sentence order. By failing to provide any justification for its decision, the Florida Supreme Court is shielding its admissions decisions from federal review. This is similar to the brazenly corrupt behavior that the Florida Supreme Court engaged in during the Bush v. Gore litigation, wherein the Supreme Court of the United States stated:
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Six years after Bush, the Florida Supreme Court is still issuing decisions where "there is a considerable uncertainty as to the precise grounds for the decision" in cases where it fears the possibility of federal review. The Florida Supreme Court Justices obviously do not learn from their mistakes.
FloridaBarWatch is actively trying to curtail the widespread dishonesty and bias exhibited by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and the Florida Supreme Court. If you have information or a story that you would like to share, please feel free to contact us.