12/7/22 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: City of Tallahassee, Florida v. Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc., et al. SC21-651

The issue here is whether—in certain instances—the names of police officers involved in use-of-force incidents can be protected from public disclosure per the Florida constitutional provision known as Marsy’s Law. After two separate incidents in which Tallahassee police officers responded to threats against their lives by shooting and killing their assailants, the Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) filed a motion to stop the City of Tallahassee from releasing the officers’ names. The FBPA argued that the officers were victims under Marsy’s Law and thus entitled to anonymity. The trial court denied the motion, but the First District Court of Appeal reversed, finding that nothing in the text of Marsy’s Law prohibits its application to police officers, and that such application does not conflict with Florida law or infringe on the constitutional right of citizens to inspect public records. The City of Tallahassee asks this Court for review.

• 12/7/22 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Pinellas County, Florida v. Gary Joiner, Etc., et al. SC19-1819