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In It to Win It

(9,620 posts)
Wed Oct 12, 2022, 06:18 PM Oct 2022

Florida lawmakers and staff want to be shielded from testifying in a lawsuit over redistricting

https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2022-10-12/florida-lawmakers-and-staff-want-to-be-shielded-from-testifying-in-a-lawsuit-over-redistricting


Six lawmakers, including House Speaker Chris Sprowls, and legislative staff members have asked a judge for a protective order that would shield them from testifying in a lawsuit about the constitutionality of a new congressional redistricting plan.

Attorneys for the House and Senate late Monday filed a motion in Leon County circuit court seeking to block depositions of the lawmakers and five current and former staff members.

Along with Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, the lawmakers are Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican who is a top lieutenant to Senate President Wilton Simpson; Senate Reapportionment Chairman Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero; Senate Congressional Reapportionment Chairwoman Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island; House Redistricting Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach; and House Congressional Redistricting Chairman Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island. The staff members include House Chief of Staff Mat Bahl.

The motion contends, in part, that the lawmakers and staff members are shielded by “legislative privilege.”

“The legislative privilege — rooted in the Florida Constitution’s separation of powers — protects the legislative process from inhibition and interference and yields only in the most exceptional circumstances,” said the motion filed by attorneys from the Shutts & Bowen and GrayRobinson law firms. “The facts presented in this case do not support the extraordinary intrusion that plaintiffs propose to make upon a co-equal branch of government.”

The lawsuit alleges that the redistricting plan violates a 2010 “Fair Districts” constitutional amendment, which set standards for the once-a-decade reapportionment process. The lawsuit names as defendants Secretary of State Cord Byrd, the Senate and the House, though individual legislators have been dismissed as defendants.

DeSantis contended the redistricting plan would prevent racial gerrymandering. But opponents argued it would diminish the chances of electing Black candidates by making changes such as overhauling a North Florida district that in recent years elected Al Lawson, a Black Democrat.
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Florida lawmakers and staff want to be shielded from testifying in a lawsuit over redistricting (Original Post) In It to Win It Oct 2022 OP
Why?..... Lovie777 Oct 2022 #1
What kind of judicial system exempts people from subpoenas? bucolic_frolic Oct 2022 #2
What kind of system allows for willful violations of the oath of office? unweird Oct 2022 #3
Innocent people don't need to hide what they're doing or saying. onecaliberal Oct 2022 #4

Lovie777

(15,009 posts)
1. Why?.....
Wed Oct 12, 2022, 06:25 PM
Oct 2022

why are they soooooooooo afraid of answering questions, since they claim they never do anything wrong and are always persecuted because they are always the victim.

bucolic_frolic

(47,005 posts)
2. What kind of judicial system exempts people from subpoenas?
Wed Oct 12, 2022, 06:26 PM
Oct 2022

This kind of stuff has gotten way, way, way out of hand.

unweird

(2,961 posts)
3. What kind of system allows for willful violations of the oath of office?
Wed Oct 12, 2022, 06:34 PM
Oct 2022

In Florida the state provided Oath of Office begins: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida
So what’s the penalty for violating that oath of office?

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