'Miller' resentencing

Members of the Orange-Osceola Public Defenders Office worked for three years to help Frederick Bradley who was only a teenager when he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder.
The incident occurred 18 years ago.

In late October, the public defenders succeeded in getting Bradley’s sentence changed to 23 years. He is now set for release in 2017.

The lawyers pursued and secured Bradley’s re-sentencing under the U.S. Supreme Court Miller v. Alabama ruling that mandatory life sentences without parole are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders.

End troubling record of arresting children for minor offenses

Public Defender Robert Wesley speaking

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, my office held a press conference to discuss the troubling record of arrests of juveniles for minor offenses in the Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, which covers Orange and Osceola counties. We have more arrests of juveniles – including the 5- to 10-year-old category – than elsewhere in Florida.

During that meeting I also explained that a civil citation is the best way to address these minor offenses and reminded everyone that starting Oct. 1 police will be required to issue civil citations to children, or to justify in writing why a child should be arrested.

Here’s news media coverage of that meeting.

Orlando Sentinel

WFTV

Central Florida News 13

More 5- to 10-year-olds arrested in Orlando than elsewhere in Florida

Orange-Osceola Public Defender Robert Wesley will hold a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 9, to call for police to stop arresting local children for minor offenses.

The 9^th Judicial Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties, arrests more children between the ages of 5 and 10 than Florida’s other 19 judicial circuits. The population of the 9^th Judicial Circuit is the 3^rd largest in Florida -- behind Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Police in many other Florida counties rely on civil remedies to help youngsters accused of minor offenses. Studies show that arresting children pushes them out of school and into the prison pipeline. There are currently 100,000 people in Florida’s state prisons.

The press conference on Wednesday starts at 11 a.m. in the courtroom at the Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University College of Law at 201 Beggs Ave., next to downtown Orlando’s federal courthouse.

Mr. Wesley was elected Public Defender to provide legal representation for needy people in criminal cases; involuntary mental health and addiction commitments and juvenile delinquency cases.

Hospice patient gives thanks

The 61-year-old Orlando hospice patient who was arrested for failing to pay an old fine, thanks the community for its help.

A Go Fund Me account established by a resident raised more than $1,200 to pay Larry Thompson’s fines. Nearly three dozen people contributed to the account.

Mr. Thompson suffers from a terminal pulmonary condition and lives on a limited income. He was arrested for failing to pay court fees associated with a 2010 charge of driving on a revoked license.

We’re appreciative that so many people contributed money to help Mr. Thompson. 

What happened to Mr. Thompson is one example of the thousands of low-value arrests of homeless and destitute people who can't afford to pay fines but pose no danger to public safety. Arresting them wastes police and jail resources.

Orlando Sentinel Editorial

Why waste money arresting hospice patient

Orange-Osceola Public Defender Robert Wesley will meet reporters Tuesday at 11 a.m. to call for an end to “low-value” arrests and large court-ordered fines against the homeless and others who can’t possibly afford to pay.

Last week Larry Thompson, a 61-year-old hospice patient, was arrested on a judge-ordered writ for failing to pay court costs related to a 2010 charge of driving on revoked license. Because of Mr. Thompson’s fragile physical condition the jail would not accept him. Instead Mr. Thompson was sent to the hospital under the supervision of 2 jail guards.

Mr. Thompson’s arrest, and others like it, wastes taxpayers money and resources of the police and the jail. Mr. Wesley’s office represents Mr. Thompson.

This March, in the wake of the federal Department Justice report criticizing heavy-handed court-costs and fees in Ferguson, Mo., Mr. Wesley called on local court, law-enforcement and elected officials to review collection practices in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit. Nothing has happened.

During Tuesday’s press conference Mr. Wesley will detail a common-sense solution to low-value arrests and update reporters on Mr. Thompson’s case.

Press conference location: Plaza in front of the Orange County Courthouse

For more information call David Porter Communications at 407-256-7831

Click to see newspaper article

Snooping on criminal defense lawyers

How would you like it if the prosecution was allowed to eavesdrop on on your lawyer - client conferences in criminal defense case?
That's actually been happening to lawyers assigned to defend people being detained in the U.S. governments secret prisons at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
U.S. Navy Reserve Commander Walter Ruiz, a Judge Advocate General, discussed this and other abuses during a recent presentation for the Central Florida Association of Criminal Justice Lawyers in Orlando.

Click this link to see a video excerpt from that presentation.

Toughest criminal defense job in U.S.

On Wednesday July, 22, I was honored to host lawyer Walter Ruiz at our Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers meeting.

Walter Ruiz being interviewed

Walter, a former lawyer in my office and a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, was assigned to defend "war on terror" detainees who are being held in the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.


The information Walter was allowed to share with us (he is legally bound to keep some information secret) raised disturbing questions about the "war on terror" and fundamental human rights.

In this post I will share links to some excerpts from his presentation.

My introduction of Walter Ruiz

https://youtu.be/KL4e4WfHYlA

Walter Ruiz describing some of the absurd trial rules

https://youtu.be/EasjBCrecfw


Walter Ruiz describing some of the torture detainees were subjected to

https://youtu.be/lZTpgrDPNnA