Controversial Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch, intensely dislikes the "Stand
Your Ground" concept. He ruled the legislature does not have to
power to regulate the "Stand Your Ground" law.
The Florida legislature passed a reinforced "Stand Your Ground" law in 2017. The new law stems from prosecutorial abuses, where people who are clearly justified in using force for self defense, are put through the criminal justice system, even though the chance of a conviction in the courts is slim.
People charged with a crime faced years of court costs and uncertainty. It is punishment by process. The legislature removed power from the prosecutors and gave it to judges, to prevent this kind of abuse.
"Stand Your Ground" laws have been popular. Two thirds of the States have similar law. The elimination of a requirement to retreat in the face of deadly force has long precedence in the United States, starting with a Supreme Court ruling in 1895.
Judge Hirsh' decision cites English precedence to the effect that there is a requirement to retreat, and some American cases, but completely ignores the 120 years of precedence in the Supreme Court that supports the Stand Your Ground law. It shows Judge Hirsch' bias. From miamiherald.com:
Hirsch found that the changes to the law were “procedural,” meaning only the Florida Supreme Court has the right to make them.The ruling cites this part of the Florida Constitution, and makes the claim that the Legislature is changing a rule of the court, rather than making a law. From Ballotpedia.com:
Text of Section 2:A former prosecutor and current member of the legislature, Senator Rob Bradley, disagrees. He is the author of the law. He believes the appeals court will overrule Judge Hirsch. From usf.edu:
Administration; Practice and Procedure
(a) The supreme court shall adopt rules for the practice and procedure in all courts including the time for seeking appellate review, the administrative supervision of all courts, the transfer to the court having jurisdiction of any proceeding when the jurisdiction of another court has been improvidently invoked, and a requirement that no cause shall be dismissed because an improper remedy has been sought. The supreme court shall adopt rules to allow the court and the district courts of appeal to submit questions relating to military law to the federal Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces for an advisory opinion. Rules of court may be repealed by general law enacted by two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the legislature.
But, Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island)—the new law’s author—disagrees.If the courts rule that the Florida Legislature overstepped its authority in this case, an alternative would be to reform the law by making it similar to law in Washington state. In Washington, if a defendant is found not guilty after a self defense claim is made, the state pays the court costs and legal fees of the defendant. This would be another check on the power of prosecutors to punish defendants with process costs.
“I would be surprised if it were upheld on appeal,” he said.
©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
Gun Watch
That judge is telling the truth but he has no jurisdiction to rule on the case. No state legislature has the authority to make second amendment laws. the US supreme court has no authority to change the second amendment. the US congress has no authority to change the second amendment. the only way to change the second amendment is by a ratified amendment to the constitution ratified by the people. Shall Not Be Infringed is as clear of a prohibition as the English language can make it. read article three of the constitution No judicial officer has the authority to interpret the constitution or any part of it. Not a word not a punctuation mark can be added or changed without an amendment. Only the actual words written can be enforced and are required to be enforced as written. the second amendment is national reciprocity without any limitations or qualifiers. If it is not written it does not exist. the second amendment is a guaranteed right the federal government is required to enforce, any time any where in all US territory. Your guaranteed rights are with you where ever you are. 24/7
ReplyDeleteBetter still would be to make Prosecutors who insisted on bringing a self defense case to trial, and lost, pay the court costs themselves.
ReplyDeleteClearly Judge Milton Hirsch has step far over the line for his authority, he knows, and he doesn't care. He needs to go.
ReplyDeleteDammit Dean, this is not per se about "stand your ground". That's the MSM media's obfuscation.
ReplyDeleteThis is about the new law's requirement that the prosecution prove by "clear and convincing evidence" at a preliminary hearing that the defendant claim of self defence did not meet the requirements for justifiable homicide instead of the other way around, making the accused prove their innocence.
As the American standard of law states, "innocent until proven guilty" solution hang the legislator upside down and gut him like the fascist Mussolini. let him make all the laws he wants to in hell. who elects these incompetent creeps.
ReplyDelete