Sarasota Sheriff challenges Chief Judge's order
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  1. #1
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    Sarasota Sheriff challenges Chief Judge's order

    This is in today's paper:

    Author: Lee Williams

    Snip:A showdown is looming between Sheriff Tom Knight and Chief Judge Charles Williams in the 12th Judicial Circuit.

    Knight removed deputies from all non-courtroom facilities — such as the Clerk of Court's Office. Knight's legal advisors believe that screening visitors for weapons could be in violation of the state's preemption statute, which allows only the Florida Legislature to regulate firearms.

    Williams ordered the Sheriff in a letter to return deputies to screening stations at court facilities buildings. Williams gave Knight until 5 p.m. Monday to announce when he would be in "full compliance" with the order.

    Knight can appeal the order or seek an injunction from another judge.

    If the sheriff ignores the judge's order, he could face contempt charges and be sent to the county jail.

    Knight made it clear to the judge that he will not comply and that he has no plans to return deputies to court facilities.

    It all began when Senator Greg Steube was denied entry into the Clerk of Court building because he had a weapon, even though he has a permit to carry it. Steube said that:

    • Only concealed weapon permit holders are restricted from carrying concealed in a "courthouse" pursuant to 790.06
    • but it says nothing about "Court Facilities."

    In his order, Williams defines "court facilities" as...


    Full story:
    http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20...sota-officials

  2. #2
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    Colonel Kurt Hoffman is Sheriff Tom Knight's attorney. In this pic, Hoffman is shaking hands with a CCW permit holder who believes that guns should be allowed inside court facilities (Hoffman is the shaved one and in uniform). Hoffman is using Knight as a test case, to see if CCW holders can legally enter court facilities while armed. However, if the chief judge arrests Knight for contempt of court, then Knight may want to consider hiring a different attorney. Just a thought...

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
    Senator Greg Steube is proposing to change Florida law to allow CCW permit holders to wear their guns throughout all courthouse facilities that do not have hearings or judges chambers in them.

    SB616:
    https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bil.../616/ByVersion
    You have to read the small print to understand what's going on with Senator Steube's proposal to change the gun law. If you only read the large print that is posted at the Senate website, it reads as follows:

    • Authorizing a concealed weapons or concealed firearms licensee to temporarily surrender a weapon or firearm if the licensee approaches courthouse security or management personnel upon arrival and follow their instructions, etc.

    However, if you read the fine print in Steube's proposal to change the law, he is attempting to statutorily redefine the definition of what a "courthouse" is, which will allow CCW permit holders to wear their guns into courthouse facilities and into Clerk of Court buildings if hearings and judges chambers are not present.

    Here is the backstory on this statutory proposal: Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight refused to obey the chief judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit:

    • The statute currently allows judges to bar CCW permit holders from wearing their guns into "court facilities" where "judicial operations" are happening.
    • Senator Steube's proposal is to change the definition of what a "courthouse" is so that CCW permit holders will be allowed to wear their guns (on their person) throughout all "courthouse facilities" if there are no hearings or judges chambers present.
    • Steube is doing this as a personal favor for Sarasota Sheriff Tom Knight, due to the recent fiasco when:
      1. A deputy refused to allow Senator Steube to carry a weapon into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      2. Steube complained to Knight, stating that weapons are statutorily allowed inside.
      3. Colonel Kurt Hoffman advised Knight that Steube was correct (but Hoffman and Steube were wrong).
      4. Knight immediately removed all deputies from security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      5. The chief judge of the entire 12th Judicial Circuit ordered Knight to put deputies back into the Sarasota Clerk of Court building -- or be arrested for contempt of court.
      6. Knight refused to obey the judge.
      7. Instead of arresting Knight, the judge allowed the controversy to go to the appellate court.
      8. Knight and Hoffman quickly learned that the statute allows the judge to bar CCW permit holders from wearing their guns throughout the Clerk of Court building. Sheriff Knight and Colonel Hoffman panicked and complained to Senator Steube.
      9. As a favor to Knight, Steube attempts to "amend" the statutory definition of a "courthouse" (in SB616). It's in the small print and you have to search for it. If Steube can change the law, then:
      a) Knight will not be forced to return deputies to security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      b) The chief judge will not be able to arrest Knight for contempt.
      c) CCW permit holders will be able to legally wear their guns throughout the Sarasota Clerk of Court building.
      10. Senator Anitere Flores (a Miami Republican) is refusing to allow Steube to amend the courthouse law. She wants to keep guns out of courthouse facilities. Flores says that guns don't mix well in courthouse buildings that have in-progress judicial operations.
      11. Senator Steube says otherwise.

    Prediction: Sarasota Sheriff Knight will be forced to return deputies to security checkpoints inside the Sarasota Clerk of Court building to prohibit CCW holders from wearing their guns throughout the courthouse facility.

    Time will tell.

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