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Demanding Equal Justice Since 1977 |
February 2017 |
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SLC Celebrates 40 Years of Impact
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| Southern Legal Counsel celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year. When SLC was founded in 1977, our initial board members recognized that lasting social change is only possible by leveling the playing field in the courts. SLC promises that access to justice does not depend on a person’s power, wealth or privilege. Our clients may not have access to power, wealth, or privilege, but they are willing to fight for years in pursuit of changes to laws and reforms to systems on behalf of those who suffer similar injustices. Justice takes time, dedication, money and above all perseverance. We know, as is evident from our storied history, that though the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends toward justice. Join us in celebrating this history throughout the year as we remember our past victories, celebrate those who make this work possible, and look toward the future. |
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March 1 – March 31
SLC is the Satch Cash recipient for the month of March. ATM fees from the Satchel’s Pizza ATM will be donated. So eat great pizza and support SLC.
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"Becky's New Car" - Hippodrome Community Partners Night
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March 9, 6 pm Reception, 7pm Show
Join Southern Legal Counsel for our Community Partner Night Performance of “Becky’s New Car.” Beginning at 6 pm, join us for free tastings from First Magnitude Brewing. Show tickets will be discounted to $25, with $10 of each purchase going to SLC. When you purchase your tickets on the phone or at the Hipp Box Office make sure to mention SLC. Tickets are also available
online - just use the code HIPPCPN to get the special Community Partner Night rate.
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March 29-30
Support North Central Florida non-profits and donate to SLC through the
Amazing Give, a 24-hour online fundraising effort sponsored by the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. |
Food Fight: SLC files briefs in First Amendment appeal before Eleventh Circuit
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| Photo of Stanahan Park courtesy of Fort Lauderdale Food Not Bombs |
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| When the City of Fort Lauderdale arrested more than a dozen individuals for sharing food with homeless individuals in city parks, it sparked an
international outcry. SLC filed a
federal lawsuit on behalf of political advocacy group Fort Lauderdale Food Not Bombs, alleging violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments against the City. The group shares food in a centrally located downtown Fort Lauderdale park as an expression of the political message that hunger and poverty can be ended if society’s resources are redirected from the military and war to, instead, providing food as a human right for all. In September of last year, the District Court
ruled against the group, holding that food sharing is not protected under the First Amendment. FNB appealed to the Eleventh Circuit and SLC recently filed its
Initial Brief, arguing that that the District Court erred in failing to recognize the significant history of food sharing as a form of symbolic communication and expressive conduct. FNB argues that this message, and the use of food sharing to convey this message, should find protection under the First Amendment. FNB chapters from across the country filed an
amicus brief in support of this argument because this case has the potential to impact similar activities in Florida and around the country. A second
amicus brief, filed on behalf of legal scholars, focused on the significance of the First Amendment issues raised by the appeal. |
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First Amendment Foundation files amicus brief in Sunshine Law case
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Florida’s Sunshine Law is a series of statutes requiring open government and access to public meetings. SLC filed
suit on behalf of a citizen activist to challenge amendments to a City of St. Petersburg ordinance, alleging that the decision to amend the ordinance improperly took place at an attorney-client meeting closed to the public. The circuit court agreed that the City failed to provide notice to the public of the first reading of the ordinance and
voided the amendments to the ordinance for this violation of Florida law. The City
appealed, and our client
cross-appealed the portion of the court’s order that found the City did not exceed its legal authority when it discussed amending the ordinance during the closed session. The First Amendment Foundation, the state’s premiere open government organization, filed an
amicus brief urging the court to hold that the City exceeded its statutory authority by engaging in deliberations to amend the ordinance at a closed meeting.
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SLC Presents Free Legal Workshop for Transgender Community
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| SLC Attorney Simone Chriss presents at legal workshop hosted by the Pride Community Center. |
Imagine that every time you had to produce identification you faced harassment, discrimination and potentially violence. Such is the reality for transgender individuals every time they have to produce a legal ID with a name, gender marker, or outdated picture that do not match their expressed gender. To address this important unmet legal need, SLC presented a Transgender Identification Documents Workshop & Legal Clinic on January 28 in partnership with the local Pride Community Center, a network of medical providers including event sponsor ITM Group, pro bono lawyers, law students from the University of Florida, the Eighth Judicial Circuit Clerk of Court and the Circuit’s Family Law Self-Help Center. More than 45 people attended this successful event. SLC is in the process of replicating this project statewide.
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| University of Florida law students Katherine Johnson and Joshua Padilla volunteer at registration table for workshop. |
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SLC human rights report about homelessness results in U.N. inquiry
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SLC co-wrote a
shadow report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture in 2016 with the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Coalition for Homelessness. The report prompted the U.N. to
inquire about U.S. criminalization of homelessness practices as part of its review of U.S. treaty obligations under the Convention Against Torture. The report details how homeless people are criminalized “for essential human functions and behaviors they have no choice but to perform in public due to lack of available housing or shelter space.” The U.S. will respond in writing and oral hearings in 2018.
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Board chair receives pro bono service award
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| Peg O’Connor was presented the Pro Bono Service Award by Florida Bar President Bill Schifino in a ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court. |
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SLC Board Chair Peg O’Connor was presented with The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award representing the Eighth Judicial Circuit at a ceremony in Tallahassee on January 19, 2017. Peg was recognized for her work with SLC’s Ask-A-Lawyer project, which serves the local homeless population by answering any legal questions they have. This advice is an indispensable resource to the homeless community, who often encounter problems finding employment, resources, and housing. She has so far met with more than 30 clients through this project to assist with legal issues. Peg has been on the board of SLC for four years. Peg volunteers in and out of the courtroom, including helping a 73-year-old federal inmate file for clemency and partnering with the ACLU to sue the Florida Department of Corrections for mistreating inmates at the Suwannee Correctional Institution. Throughout her time as Board chair, Peg has always been willing to help in any way she can, and recently volunteered at SLC’s name change clinic to assist transgender persons obtain necessary legal documentation. "My work with Southern Legal, both as a board member and currently as chair, aligns perfectly with the other volunteer activities I participate in, such as the Ask-a-Lawyer program," Peg said. "I want to ensure that all citizens have their legal needs met, especially those who do not have the means to retain private counsel. Southern Legal’s mission is to obtain equal justice for Floridians who may not otherwise have access to the court system. Together, we make a great team.”
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SLC Attorney Simone Chriss publishes article in law journal
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Simone’s
article, "The Case for Trauma-Informed, Gender-Specific Prevention/Early Intervention Programming in Reducing Female Juvenile Delinquency in Florida," published in the Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy, was co-written with University of Florida law professor Joan Flocks and is about reducing female juvenile delinquency in Florida through trauma-informed, gender-specific prevention and early intervention programming.
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| SUPPORT SLC'S WORK |
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To maintain our independence in order to challenge institutional inequities, SLC does not accept federal, state or local government funds.
We really need your help to ensure that SLC has the resources to continue to provide legal and policy advocacy in public interest cases across the state of Florida. SLC is eligible to receive your $350 pro bono contribution.
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SLC's monthly giving program is the easiest way to give and ensure that SLC recieves your ongoing support.
Your recurring donation or one-time gift means, together, we will help people in need.
To sign up, visit southernlegal.org and click "Donate Now," or click the "Donate" button above.
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| BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Peg O'Connor, Chair
Elizabeth L. Bevington
Bennett Brummer
Raul A. Cuervo
Karen C. Dyer
William S. Graessle
Tim D. Haines
Berta Hernández-Truyol
Jack Hickey
Dr. Vivian L. Hobbs
Philip Kabler
Dr. Harry Krop
Tiffani G. Lee
Barbara Bolton Litten
D. Ross McCloy, Jr.
Robert A. Rush
Tom Scarritt
Robert F. Spohrer
The Hon. William A. Van
Nortwick, Jr.
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| ATTORNEYS |
Jodi Siegel,
Executive Director
Kirsten (Clanton)
Anderson
Andrea Costello
Simone Chriss
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| INTERNS AND CLERKS |
Karina Bohorquez
Lindsey Breneman
Caitlyn Burnitis
Nicole Dan
Carrie Hartnett
Mallorie Head
Brooke Henderson
M'Isha Hughes
Melissa Milford
Teagan Murphy
Landon Myers
Sabrina Rubis
Tristan Worthington
Nicholas Young |
| THANK YOU TO SLC'S 2017 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS |
Erin Carr
Neil Chonin
Deb Cupples
Eric Lindstrom
Tim McLendon
Alice K. Nelson
Peg O'Connor
Lauren Richardson
Mara Shlackman
Nancy Wright
ECJBA volunteers for Ask-A-
Lawyer
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Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a Florida statewide not-for-profit public interest law firm that is committed to the ideal of equal justice for all and the attainment of basic human and civil rights. SLC primarily assists individuals and groups with public interest issues who otherwise would not have access to the justice system and whose cases may bring about systematic reform. SLC uses a range of strategies to achieve its goals, including litigation, policy advocacy, and training and technical assistance to lawyers, lay persons and organizations.
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SOUTHERN LEGAL COUNSEL, INC., A NON-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION, IS REGISTERED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION, #CH13498, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. SLC IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION.
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