Courthouse Deputies & Proposed Constitutional Change

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COURT SECURITY:
PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION

• PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE:
  
  The proposal is to remove the authority of Florida’s chief judges to determine whether courthouse security:
  - should or should not be provided
  - in their courthouses by county sheriffs
  - and instead, transfer that authority to Florida's sheriffs
  - thus giving a sheriff the legal right to abdicate the responsibility of providing court security, if he so chooses.
  .
  Here is a link to the proposal:
  https://www.flcrc.gov/Proposals/Commissioner/2017/0026

• DEEPER BACKGROUND POLITICAL EXPLANATION:
  
  Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight removed deputies from court buildings - and completely abandoned security - thus allowing armed civilians (both with and without gun permits) unrestricted access into court facilities. Ironically, Knight also potentially allowed armed terrorists unrestricted access into court buildings. The chief judge ordered Knight to reinstate courthouse security, but Knight refused. However, instead of arresting Knight (for contempt of court), the chief judge sent the issue to an appellate court for a higher legal decision. The appeals court ruled unanimously against Knight, thus forcing Knight to reinstate deputies to court security duties. If the proposed Constitutional change were to be implemented, then it will give Knight (and all Florida sheriffs) the legal authority to abandon court security duties, if he so desires.
  .
  Here is a link to the decided court case:
  http://199.242.69.70/pls/ds/ds_docke...&psSearchType=
  (it’s a slow load)

• PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE:
  
  Here is the verbatim proposed language (as of this writing) to change the Florida Constitution to transfer court authority from chief judges to county sheriffs:
  .
  “Recognizing the importance and authority of the sheriffs and local law enforcement agencies in the prevention of terrorist acts and other crimes in the community, the county sheriff, in consultation with local stakeholders recognized in the Florida Statutes, shall have responsibility for the security of county owned or operated courthouses, court facilities, and court service buildings. The sheriff’s authority shall include decision-making regarding the security of these courthouses, court facilities, and court service buildings, as well as local decisions regarding the administration and operations of the office of the sheriff that affect security and law enforcement.”
  .
  Here is a link to the above proposed text:
  https://www.flcrc.gov/Proposals/Comm.../?Tab=BillText

• COMMENTARY:
  
  A chief judge should remain the legal determiner on whether court security can be legally abdicated by a sheriff – and not a sheriff. The proposed Constitutional change is listed under the guise of combating terrorism, but in reality, it would Constitutionally allow Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight to abdicate court securities, based on his personal discretion. Knight abdicated court security once before, until a chief judge ordered him to reinstate it. The proposal to change the Constitution is motivated by disingenuous and dirty politics that is not good for victims, court personnel, litigants, attorneys or the people of Florida.