You know your rights. When the police ask to come in and search your home, you ask if they have a warrant. They tell you that they do not have one and ask again if they can come in. You tell them no, which you’re legally allowed to do. Unfortunately, the police force...
civil rights
How do you tell the police that they can’t search your vehicle?
Your parents probably raised you to be respectful toward authority figures. That might put you at a disadvantage during an interaction with law enforcement. If a police officer pulls you over and then asks to search your vehicle, your first instinct might be to say...
Do you have to let the police into your home?
The relationship that many citizens have with the police is complicated. The police are supposed to serve the public, but they are also in a position of authority. This authority can lead to the idea that people have to do anything they say at any time. For instance,...
Appeal Victory Paves Way for Trial in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against JFRD
The Sheppard, White, Kachergus, and DeMaggio team won another appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals last week. The case involved race discrimination and retaliation claims against the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Our client, Captain Eric...
Standing up against abuse of prison guard power
Prison guard abuse is an issue many might assume is no longer common in today's society; unfortunately, however, the problem persists in detention centers across the nation. Yet this problem is often a hidden one, making it all the more complex and dangerous. Families...
The all-too-common issue of police brutality
In the immediate wake of the Daniel Shaver shooting in Arizona, many Floridians are left confused and distraught; however, there is one aspect that is certain: police brutality is still a tremendous issue in America today. Unfortunately, there are countless who suffer...
Racial injustice on the road
Over recent years, America has seen a drastic increase in the number of racial profiling incidents, especially on the country's roadways. Despite efforts to maintain and comply with human rights standards, this increase largely involves the apparent divide between law...
I’m Going To Make You Live By The Constitution If I Have The Power To Do It”
William Sheppard and Betsy White were interviewed last week by the Bar Bulletin Staff of the Daily Record about the recently filed complaint against Chief Judge Mahon and Sheriff Mike Williams as it relates to the unfair bail practices against misdemeanants. Read the...
Reviewing the Miranda Rights
Most in Jacksonville have likely heard that famous line "You have the right to remain silent..." on TV or in movies. Many may already know that these are known as "Miranda Rights," yet few may understand what they mean and what protections they may offer suspects when...
Disabled Students Have the Right to Make Meaningful Educational Progress
In 1973, Congress enacted legislation which would later become the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The act gives students with certain disabilities the right to a "free appropriate public education." Each student under IDEA is given an...