Longtime Florida Supreme Court spokesman Craig Waters, who became the court’s public face during the 2000 presidential recount, is retiring.

Florida courthouses are relaxing some coronavirus restrictions while others remain in place.

But no such protection exists in neighboring Pinellas County, where about 190 evictions have been filed since DeSantis order. It suspends the requirement to issue writs of possession to county sheriffs through May 29, though in practice it stays in effect as long as DeSantis order does. In other instances, landlords have filed motions for judgments against renters who didnt respond quickly enough (those motions have not been granted in cases that fall under DeSantis order). Tenants and landlords can check their address to see if a property is covered under the CARES Act at www.florida.evictionprotection.org. The tenants were charged late fees of $50, plus $5 for every day the rent was late.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, in conjunction with Chief Justice Charles T. Canady, on Friday hosted part four of the Attorney Generals Mental Health and Criminal Justice Round Table Summer Series. Earlier roundtables focused on mental health issues within law enforcement ranks and treating people with diagnosable disorders before and after they are arrested. We all know, sitting around the table, and everyone involved in the mental health courts will tell you, the treatment works." While mental health courts already in existence may be built around the needs of a particular community, Moody said they can provide a template for other counties. Fourteen out of our 20 (judicial) circuits have mental health courts and judges that are specifically focused on that, along with 24 out of our 67 counties.