What does the shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent unrest in Ferguson have to do with the doctrine of qualified immunity? When a citizen wants to sue a police officer for excessive force, the first thing that person must overcome is the judicially created doctrine...
In the News
United States Supreme Court Holds Warrantless Search of Cell Phone is Unlawful
Today, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled unanimously that search and seizure of the contents of a cell phone during an arrest is an unreasonable search and seizure and is, therefore, unlawful. Riley v. California, 573 U.S. ___...
Film Produced by Bill Sheppard Earns Local Award
The film, "Conversations on Catfish, Courtrooms and Change," about the life and career of Judge Henry L. Adams, Jr., has been selected by the Jacksonville Historical Preservation Commission as one of their 2014 Preservation Award recipients. The preservation program...
Sheppard, White, Kachergus & DeMaggio Wins Case Against St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office
Sheppard, White, Kachergus & DeMaggio recently defended a man whose Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the St. John's County Sheriff's Office, when they illegally recorded a conversation between Joel Studivant and his attorney, inside the St. John's County...
Bill Sheppard and Samuel Jacobson Challenge Florida Laws Refusing to Recognize Same-sex Marriages
Our firm was recently in the news: Attorneys Bill Sheppard and Samuel Jacobson have filed the challenge on behalf of a same-sex couple who got married in Canada and live in Tallahassee. The lawsuit filed late Friday in the Northern District of Florida names Gov. Rick...
Driving While Stoned
With what appears to be the imminent legalization of medical marijuana in Florida, questions have begun to arise as to what may happen in the event Officer Friendly believes that a citizen is driving under the influence of marijuana. In Florida's an officer's request...
Florida’s First Integrated Law Firm
As one of the founders of Florida's first integrated law firm, William J. "Bill" Sheppard has been highly regarded as a prominent criminal defense and civil rights attorney during his tenure practicing law. Throughout his career, he has argued cases at every level of...
Bill Sheppard and Betsy White Published in the Florida Historical Quarterly
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida was established in 1962. During its existence, numerous important civil rights and constitutional cases have been litigated in its courtrooms. Bill Sheppard and Betsy White have been fortunate to be...
Capital Sexual Battery and the Statute of Limitations
If Woody Allen lived in Florida, could he be prosecuted for an alleged sexual offense which occurred over 21 years ago? If his actions constitute capital sexual battery, the answer is yes. Under the express language of §775.15(1), Fla. Stat. (2013), a prosecution for...
Medical Marijuana Coming to Florida? Only if You Sign the Petition by February 1, 2014
If organizers are successful, Floridians will have the opportunity to vote to amend the Constitution of Florida to allow ill Floridians legal access to medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. United for Care, a grassroots organization, is currently...