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National issues get most of the attention during a presidential election. But there are state issues to consider, too.

Alabama's ballot includes six state constitutional amendments, covering voting; the operation of the state judiciary; racist language in the states 1901 Constitution, and the use of guns in churches in two counties in north Alabama.

In Montgomery, the ballot includes a referendum on raising property taxes to increase public school funding. Elmore County voters will decide whether to renew an existing property tax that funds local schools.

Below, a guide to the Alabama statewide amendments.

People arrive to vote at Goodwyn Community Center on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, in Montgomery, Ala.(Photo: Advertiser file)

Amendment 1 would limit voting in Alabama to citizens of the United States. The measure, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, would change existing language saying "every citizen of the United States" can vote in Alabama to "only a citizen of the United States." It passed the Legislature in 2019.

Federal law already prohibits most non-citizens from voting. No state has allowed general voting by non-citizens in 100 years. A handful of cities, like San Francisco and Chicago, allow all city residents to vote in school board elections, regardless of citizenship status. In New York City, a bill was proposed earlier this year to allow non-citizens who are legal permanent residents or have work authorization to vote in elections there.

Alabamas 1901 Constitution limited voting to every male citizen of this state who is a citizen of the United States and foreigners who had declared their intentions to become U.S. citizens prior to the ratification of the state constitution.

Marsh did not respond to requests for comment. Voting rights experts said the effect of the change may be minimal. Michael Li, a senior counsel with the Brennan Center in New York, said he wasnt aware of any major push to allow noncitizens to vote.

I think its trying to solve a problem that doesnt exist, he said. Out of all the things Alabama has to worry about, the Alabama Legislature giving noncitizens the right to vote is not high on the list.

Embattled Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore testifies during his ethics trial at the Alabama Court of the Judiciary at the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday September 28, 2016.(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)

Amendment 2 represents the first major revision of the state constitutions judicial article since 1973. Among the changes:

The appointment of the director of the Administrative Office of the Courts who oversees the day-to-day operations of the state court system would go from the chief justice and given to the entire state Supreme Court. In addition, the court would have to follow procedures the nomination of the director spelled out by the Alabama Legislature.

Judges would no longer be automatically suspended once the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigates ethical complaints against judges, files a complaint against them. The suspension could only take place if the chief judge of the Court of the Judiciary, which considers cases against judges, approves a complaint saying the judge was physically or mentally unable to perform their duties or posed a substantial threat of serious harm to the public or the administration of justice. Two-thirds of the Judicial Inquiry Commission would have to approve the measure for it to take effect. In addition, the suspended judge could request a review of the action.

The Judicial Inquiry Commission would expand from nine to 11 members. The District Judges Association; the Probate Judges Association, and the Municipal Judges Association will get one appointment each. In addition, the members would be term-limited, serving no more than eight years.

The Court of the Judiciary could suspend a judge found in violation of the Canons of Ethical Conduct with pay. Currently, the court can only suspend without pay.

The Legislature would lose its power to impeach members of the Alabama Supreme Court (the power has never been used).

District courts would no longer have to hold court in cities or towns of more than 1,000 people that lack a municipal court.

Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Justice Scott Donaldson, who served on an Alabama Law Institute committee that met between 2017 and 2019 to consider changes, said the committee chiefly looked at eliminating outdated language and improving court function.

A committee formed by the Alabama Law Institute, which studies state laws and recommends revisions or clarifications, worked for 19 months on the proposed changes. Scott Donaldson, an Alabama Court of Civil Appeals justice who served on the committee, said the goal was to make the law clear and remove redundant or outdated language.

We tried very hard to not make systemic, structural changes, and did not venture into areas that could be seen as partisan or should be left to another day, he said.

Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, the chair of the Senate Judiciary, said in an interview the amendment was a compromise following lengthy negotiations.

Youve got to have better accountability as to whos going to be the court administrator, he said. Thats one of the most important jobs in the judicial branch. It provides more stability. When it comes to removing judges it provides for a clear plan on how thats going to be handled.

Chief justices appoint AOC directors, but no Alabama chief justice has completed a full term in office in 25 years, leading to turnover in an office that oversees2,500 employees statewide, and there needs to be continuity in the position.

From a day-to-day standpoint, trial judges, clerks and employees are much more affected by the person who is the head of the Administrative Office of Courts than who is chief justice, he said. Its an attempt to have continuity and longevity in the position.

Ward said the turnover meant some directors didn't knownhow to work with the Legislature to secure funding.

They were responsible for advocating on behalf of the court during the budget process, Ward said. Sometimes there was a total lack of knowledge of the budget process.

Ward said the changes to the JIC process were part of negotiations with individuals who wanted to do away with the commission entirely.

You had judges being removed merely because a complaint was filed against them, he said. There should be a removal process for judges that do wrong, but merely because a complaint filed shouldnt be enough to remove somebody. There should be due process.

Closeup of gavel in court room(Photo: IPGGutenbergUKLtd, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Amendment 3 deals with state circuit and district judges appointed to fill out the six-year term of a predecessor. The current law requires an appointed to judge to stand for election after serving a year in the position, unless they are facing the end of a term. The new law would push that limit out to two years, unless the appointed judge is facing the end of the term.

The amendment would not apply to probate judges. Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, the sponsor of the amendment, said in an interview the measure was aimed at encouraging attorneys to accept judicial appointments without having to worry about fundraising and campaigning immediately after taking the bench.

"What were trying to do is give good lawyers incentive to take judgeships," he said.

Section 256 of Alabama's 1901 Constitution established a segregated school system: "Separate schools shall be provided for white and colored children, and no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race."(Photo: Alabama Department of Archives and History)

Amendment 4 would authorize a recompilation of the Alabama Constitution that would remove racist language from the document; delete any repealed or duplicative provisions; consolidate existing economic development language and group local amendments by county of application.

If voters approve the amendment, the Legislative Reference Service, a nonpartisan agency of the Legislature, would draft a list of changes for the Legislature to consider in 2021 or 2022. If approved, the changes would go to Alabama voters for consideration in the 2022 general election.

What we want to do with this compilation is bring it into the 21st century and be more reflective of the Alabama we are today, said Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, who sponsored the amendment. We are a more diverse state, of course.

The amendment won unanimous approval in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature in 2019. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, was one of Colemans co-sponsors. McCutcheon said in a statement he "proudly co-sponsored the amendment" and encouraged its passage, saying the state constitution "should be inclusive of all the citizens it represents."

"The Alabama of 2020 is much different than the Alabama of 1901, and passage of this amendment will illustrate the progress we have made within the pages of our state constitution," the statement said.

The Alabama Constitution of 1901, framed to disenfranchise Black Alabamians and poor whites, includes several racist provisions. Section 102 of the Constitution forbids interracial marriages. Section 256 of the Constitution directs the Legislature to set up segregated schools.

Federal court rulings and state amendments have nullified most of its more offensive provisions, but the language remains. Removing it has been difficult, thanks to Amendment 111, added in 1956 amid the white backlash to Brown v. Board of Education, which said Alabama did not recognize any right to education or training at public expense. Coleman said Amendment 4 does not address that language, which has wrecked previous efforts to get racist language out of the Constitution.

In 2004, Alabama voters narrowly rejected an amendment known as Amendment 2, which would have jettisoned the 1956 language along with the 1901 language.

The amendment drew strong opposition from critics including former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who said removing the 1956 language could lead to tax increases and jeopardize private schools. The amendment fell short by 2,000 votes out of nearly 1.4 million cast.

A proposed amendment in 2012 removed racist language but kept the section denying the right to an education. Black legislators and the Alabama Education Association urged the measures defeat, saying retaining the language could complicate efforts to improve public school funding in Alabama. Almost 61% of the states voters voted against it.

Amendment 4 will also reclassify local amendments,which make up most of the 948 amendments to the Alabama Constitution,by the county in which they took effect.

Coleman said she hoped approval of the amendment would send a positive message about Alabama to the world.

It would show the rest of the country of course we have a sordid past, but its not who we are today, she said.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Amendments 5 and 6 are local amendments for Florence and Lauderdale counties in northern Alabama. The amendments allow the use of deadly force to protect a church attendee or employee if the person is at risk of physical harm from someone engaged in a crime involving death, robbery or kidnapping.

The bills are local versions of legislation brought by Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, which failed to advance in the Legislature.

I know in my church weve got several people carrying weapons, Greer said in an interview. I feel better knowing there are people in there with one.

Greer said the amendment would not prevent churches from banning guns on their property. A person could face prosecution for unlawful use of force, or for recklessly or negligently injuring another person by their actions. A pretrial hearing would determine whether the person was justified in the use of force.

Critics questioned the need for the bill, noting that many of the provisions of the legislation are already covered by the states Stand Your Ground law, passed in 2006. Moms Demand Action, a group that seeks to reduce gun violence, opposes the legislation. The organization said the measures will make people less safe.

These amendments are both redundant and likely to embolden more Alabamians to shoot first and ask questions later, the group said.

Greer sponsored the Lauderdale amendment; Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, sponsored the Franklin County amendment. Voters in Colbert, Limestone and Talladega counties will consider local versions of the same provision.

Legislators in Jefferson County voted no on a motion that would have limited the vote on Amendments 5 and 6 to the counties where they would take effect,which led to the measures going on the state ballot.

Greer said he plans to revive a statewide version of the amendments in the next legislative session.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brian Lyman at 334-240-0185 or blyman@gannett.com. Updated at 2:47 p.m. Thursday to correct the location of a local amendment regarding guns and churches. It will be in Limestone County, not Lauderdale County.

Read or Share this story: https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2020/10/21/alabama-constitutional-amendments-election-voters-guide-2020-ballot/5966221002/

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A voter's guide to the constitutional amendments on Alabama's 2020 ballot - Montgomery Advertiser

Hello and welcome to Monday.

The daily rundown Between Saturday and Sunday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 2,539 (0.3 percent), to 755,020; active hospitalizations went down 37 (1.8 percent), to 2,009; deaths rose by 50 (0.3 percent), to 15,967.

Do it again Well, here comes Round 2.

Catch a wave As Democrats have racked up a large lead in mail-in ballots in Florida the last few weeks, the message from Republicans has been, Just wait. Today, early voting will start in 52 out of 67 counties and this will be a chance to see the first signs of the red wave President Donald Trump promised last week during a campaign swing through the state.

I know theres an answer Four years ago, Republicans edged Democrats in vote-by-mail while Democrats bested Republicans at early voting. Polls showed this year that most Florida Republicans said they planned to vote in-person, an apparent nod to Trumps invective against mail-in voting (although he later clarified he wasnt talking about this adopted home state). Whatever the reason, more than 1.22 million Democrats have mailed in ballots so far, compared to more than 754,000 Republicans.

Here today One adviser to Joe Biden in Florida noting a surge of Democratic enthusiasm said this about the start of early voting: Lets see if GOP argument of all these [vote-by-mail] holders are just sitting on their ballots because they want to return them in person is accurate. Democrats say that even with their emphasis on vote-by-mail this year they will be ready for early voting. They plan to deploy vans, umbrellas, water and thousands of volunteers. Sen. Kamala Harris will be in the state today, where she is scheduled to be at an early voting drive-in rally in Orlando and a mobilization event in Jacksonville.

I Get Around But Republicans counter that their voters in Florida are fired up and will be mobilized. They point to their massive voter contact efforts, their boat and car caravans, and the GOP narrowing the Democrats' voter registration advantage as proof that they will swamp Democrats again just like they did four years ago. So here we go.

WHERE'S RON? Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

ELECTIONLAND: POLITICO is partnering with Electionland, a ProPublica project that works with newsrooms to track voting issues around the country. The Electionland project covers problems that prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots during the 2020 elections. Were part of a coalition of newsrooms around the country that are investigating issues related to voter registration, pandemic-related changes to voting, the shift to vote-by-mail, cybersecurity, voter education, misinformation, and more. Tell us here if youre having trouble voting.

ITS ABOUT PATRIOTISM Will flag-waving Latinos win Florida for Trump? by POLITICOs Sabrina Rodriguez: President Donald Trump has long known that his reelection hinges on him winning the battleground state of Florida and part of that strategy means getting Cuban Americans in South Florida to the polls in large numbers. But in Hialeah, a working-class, predominantly Cuban city just outside of Miami, a vote for Trump has become about more than just him, or even the Republican Party. Its about patriotism. A drive past the citys biggest intersections shows vendors selling Trump 2020 swag and American flags. And car caravans with dozens of Trump supporters around the city have become a regular occurrence, filled with loud honking and Trump and American flags flung outside windows.

Ahead of early voting, dueling campaign caravans parade through Miami-Dade County, by Miami Heralds Bianca Padro Ocasio

THE APPRENTICE Trump jokes hell fire DeSantis if he loses Florida. Ill find a way, by Tampa Bay Times Josh Solomon: The governor introduced the president on stage at Ocala International Airport. Then [President Donald] Trump got some laughs at [Gov. Ron] DeSantis expense from the crowd especially the line where Trump threatened to figure out a way to fire Floridas governor should the president lose the Sunshine State on Election Day. You know if we dont win it, Im blaming the governor, Trump said. Ill fire him somehow. Im going to fire him. I will find a way.

President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally on October 18, 2020 in Carson City, Nevada. | (Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

ON EDGE Voter intimidation looms as a concern. Heres how South Florida will fight it, by Sun Sentinels Lisa J. Huriash: With early voting about to start Monday in Florida, its too early to say which particular problems could surface. Marsha Ellison, a South Florida and statewide NAACP leader, said she fears far-right groups, including those supportive of President Donald Trump, would intimidate Black voters as they head to the polls in predominantly Black communities, all to keep them from voting.

COLLISION COURSE? Will COVID surge before the election in Florida? Everybody wants to know the answer, by Miami Heralds David Smiley and Ben Conarck: Political campaigns in the nations preeminent battleground state are watching two sets of numbers as Election Day approaches: ballot returns and cases of the novel coronavirus. As Floridians begin voting in person Monday and a flurry of political rallies, sporting events and school re-openings bring scores of people together in one of the worst-hit states by the pandemic both epidemiologists and candidates are bracing for the possibility of a pre-Election Day surge. Everybody wants to know the answer to that question: Are we going to see changes in key COVID-19 metrics prior to the election that could influence voting one way or the other? That really remains a big question mark, said Jason Salemi, a University of South Florida associate professor of epidemiology who monitors state and federal COVID-19 data. Youd be unrealistically disconnected not to be paying close attention with all the things that have transpired of late.

At indoor event Florida event, Trump urges seniors to shield themselves from Covid, by POLITICOs Quint Forgey

Byron Donalds tests positive for COVID-19, ahead of Trump event in Fort Myers, by Fort Myers News-Press Amy Bennett Williams

Okaloosa County supervisor of elections and employee test positive for COVID-19, by WEAR

PROXY Puerto Rico, unable to vote, becomes crucial to US election, by Associated Press Danica Coto and Adriana Gomez Licon: The campaigns of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are rallying people in a place where U.S. citizens cannot cast ballots but have the ear of hundreds of thousands of potential voters in the battleground state of Florida. The candidates are targeting Puerto Rico in a way never before seen, with the U.S. territory suddenly finding itself in the crosshairs of a high-stakes race even though Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote in presidential elections despite being U.S. citizens since 1917.

RISK FACTOR Post investigation: These Florida voting machines ripe for Russian hackers, experts say, by Palm Beach Posts John Pacenti: Florida may be ripe for the picking, computer scientists say, because numerous counties rely on voting machines that are drawing fire for their vulnerability to a cyberattack. These computer scientists along with election integrity groups familiar with the model that Palm Beach and 48 other counties use, say there are potentially numerous ways for a foreign entity to alter results. They say that state election officials have accepted wholesale the spin from the manufacturer that these machines which voters at polling places feed ballots into after marking candidates of their choice are secure.

WHATS IN YOUR WALLET? City of Jacksonville expects reimbursement for $153,000 in GOP convention planning costs, by Florida Times-Unions David Bauerlein: The city of Jacksonville expects the 2020 Jacksonville Host Committee will cover about $153,000 the city spent to prepare for the Republican National Convention that was slated for Jacksonville before coronavirus concerns forced its cancellation. Mayor Lenny Curry and his staff had said during the run-up to the convention that local taxpayers would not bear any cost for the convention because the host committee and a federal security grant would foot the bill. Jordan Elsbury, chief of staff for Curry, said Friday the host committee has said it will make a payment to the city.

GETTING READY Trump, Biden muster army of lawyers, poll-watchers for Florida election fight, by Sarasota Herald-Tribunes John Kennedy: Thousands of poll watchers and attorneys are being deployed in Florida and other battleground states as the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns ready for an Election Day unlike any other one already sparking a firestorm of court challenges. With an unprecedented 300-plus lawsuits in various stages across key states over the conduct of the election, both presidential camps are bracing for a Nov. 3 contest whose outcome may not be known for days.

DISPATCH FROM DORAL The rise of Magazolano and the battle for the Venezuelan vote, by POLITICO Magazines Jesus A. Rodriguez: Many of these voters are not just Trump supporters but impassioned fans of the president. The most fervent among them call themselves magazolanos, a portmanteau of MAGA and the Spanish word for Venezuelan. Online, magazolanos sometimes go to extremes to defend the presidents record, including embracing conspiracy theories about Democratic nominee Joe Biden and others in his party. As Trump fell ill with Covid-19 in early October, members of a Facebook group called Venezolanos con Trump 2020 posted prayers for his recovery, and one user said the president was the anointed son of God. One recent video posted on the groups page called the Black Lives Matter movement a Marxist group and alleged that the George Floyd protests had been pre-planned to destabilize the country. Nonetheless, the magazolano worldview offers a glimpse into Trumps appeal in the decisive state of Florida: With almost two weeks until the election, this new crop of highly engaged voters just might help deliver the state to the incumbent.

2020 BY THE NUMBERS So far, 2,497,514 vote-by-mail ballots have been cast for the November election, according to the latest information on the state Division of Elections website. Of those, 1,222,436 have come from Democrats and 754,346 have come from registered Republicans. Overall, there are nearly 3.3 million mail ballots requested but not yet returned. Of those, nearly 1.37 million are held by Democrats and nearly 1.05 million are with Republicans.

ITS A SECRET Mystery donor spends $180k on Florida political mail, by POLITICOs Matt Dixon: It calls itself The Truth, but little else is known about a new Florida political committee, its seemingly untraceable donor, or $180,000 in mail it funded just days after its formation.

WHAT WILTONS WATCHING The battle for eyes and votes: Unprecedented air war over Panhandle state senate seat, by Tallahassee Democrats James Call: The campaign for a North Florida state Senate seat has produced a wave of political television advertising an "air war," as some consultants call it unlike anything Tallahassee has recently experienced. To be sure, the thousands of commercials aired in the race to succeed term-limited Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, offer few new policy proposals from either candidate. [Marva] Preston went on the air first, with an introductory ad about attending the first desegregated high school in Wakulla, then launched an offensive questioning [Loranne] Ausley's ethics, family wealth and ties to the Democratic Party. Once Ausley responded to Preston's attacks, the two began funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy air time. This Monday closes out a three-week run which aired 2,793 spots on the ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates (Sept. 28-Oct. 19).

11TH HOUR Late guidance from Floridas elections chief could affect counties plan for mail ballot drop boxes, by Tampa Bay Times Allison Ross: Late guidance this week from the Florida Department of State on mail ballot drop boxes has forced many county elections officials to reconsider their plans only days before the start of early voting in the 2020 general election. Vote-by-mail drop boxes must be staffed at all times they are in use by either an elections employee or a sworn law enforcement officer, according to a Wednesday memo from the departments general counsel, Brad McVay, to Floridas 67 supervisors of elections.

Floridas election may hinge on mail ballot signatures: The hanging chad of 2020, by Miami Heralds Mary Ellen Klas

Ad claims defense attorney Kagan, in HD 29 race against Plakon, is on the criminals side, by Orlando Sentinels Annie Martin

Brother weighs against Scott Plakon in HD 29 battle with Tracey Kagan, by Florida Politics Scott Powers

Trump flotilla, complete with tribute barge, flows from Jupiter to Mar-a-Lago, by Palm Beach Posts Hannah Winston

Ivanka Trump to attend fundraiser in Naples on Wednesday, by Naples Daily News Devan Patel

Burt Bacharach, singing and rallying Florida seniors for Biden, doesnt hold back on Trump. I cant stand this man, by Sun Sentinels Anthony Man

Donald Trump Jr. holds campaign rally for father, GOP in West Palm Beach, by Palm Beach Posts Julius Whigham II

We have lost a lot: James Clyburn, Al Lawson make rural pitch for Joe Biden, by Florida Politics A.G. Gancarski

BROKEN SYSTEM Florida took thousands of kids from families, then failed to keep them safe, by USA Today Networks Michael Braga, Pat Beall, Daphne Chen and Josh Salman: Six years ago, Florida lawmakers embraced a tough new approach to stop parents from abusing their children. They approved millions of dollars to hire more child welfare investigators and rewrote rules to make it easier to seize children from their parents. Then they told investigators to rewire their thinking. Instead of looking for every way possible to keep families together, they had a new priority: protect children at all costs. The plan, signed into law by then-Gov. Rick Scott, was widely embraced as a historic stand against child abuse, a crucial rethinking of philosophy that had made regulators soft on abusers. But there was a problem. No one had figured out where to put all the children. In a matter of months, the foster care system found itself drowning in hundreds of new cases.

Tried to keep it a secret DCF and the nonprofit agencies in charge of foster care repeatedly tried to prevent USA TODAY from obtaining information about foster parents and the allegations against them. They would not provide a list of parent names and demanded $50,000 for search and copy fees for disciplinary records. In reaction to one USA TODAY records request, DCF officials pressed legislators to pass a law making foster parent names secret from the public an effort that ultimately failed. In a January statement, DCF Secretary Chad Poppell said many problems in Floridas system stem from the decision to privatize foster care in the early 2000s, putting decision-making in the hands of 17 nonprofits across the state.

Florida officials investigate malicious activity in state business regulation system, by Miami Heralds Ana Ceballos

TEAR IT DOWN? Developer makes offer on Jeffrey Epsteins Palm Beach house with plans to raze it, by Palm Beach Daily News Darrell Hofheinz: Developer Todd Michael Glaser has made an offer to buy the Palm Beach home of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with plans to raze it and build a house there on speculation, Glaser has told the Palm Beach Daily News. But any sale is still in the early stages and not yet finalized. Glaser has put down an initial deposit on the property, but he wouldnt disclose the amount or how much he has offered to pay for the house.

CORCORAN TIME Fla. education chief moves to strip license from principal in Holocaust furor, by Palm Beach Posts Andrew Marra: Floridas education commissioner inserted himself into the roiling controversy over the reinstatement of a Palm Beach County principal who declined to call the Holocaust a fact, directing his administration to strip the principal's educator certificate. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said Friday that former Spanish River High School Principal William Latson took advantage of his position of trust and that state officials had a duty to remove the certificate that authorizes him to educate public school students.

YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM Woman who gave birth in in jail cell: They just wanted to see how much pain I could endure, by Sun Sentinels Rafael Olmeda: The woman who recently gave birth to her baby boy in a Broward jail cell says she begged in vain for anyone to come help. She says she was terrified of having a miscarriage left alone until minutes before her child was born. Stephanie Bretas, in an exclusive interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, on Friday gave a harrowing account of delivering her son in jail, describing squalid conditions and decrying the indifference of nurses and detention deputies who failed to help her until it was nearly too late.

DISMISSED Judge cites Stand Your Ground, drops charge against Broward deputy in rough teen arrest, by Miami Heralds Charles Rabin: A judge on Friday cited the states Stand Your Ground law in dismissing a battery charge against a Broward sheriffs deputy who was involved in the rough arrest of a Black teen in early 2019 that made national headlines.

SECRETS OF THE VAULT Big banks entrusted money to GardaWorld. I secretly lost track of millions, by Tampa Bay Times Bethany Barnes: Brian Newell had been a manager at one of GardaWorlds armored truck branches for about a year when a high-ranking supervisor called in 2018 with a bizarre order: Load all the coins stored at his branch in Connecticut onto a truck bound for Massachusetts. Auditors from Bank of America were coming to Gardas Dedham, Mass., branch to count money that Garda was being paid to protect. And some of it was missing.

Hundreds march in Fort Lauderdale to support equal rights, maximum voter participation, justice for all, by Sun Sentinels Wayne K. Roustan

Call to action: Hundreds demonstrate in downtown Fort Myers, We are seeing these rights threatened, by Fort Myers News-Presss Kaitlin Greenockle

Orange Circuit Judge Alan Apte accused of molestation, governors order says, by Orlando Sentinels David Harris and Monivette Cordeiro: Orange Circuit Judge Alan Apte has been accused of molestation, according to an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The order, signed Wednesday, assigns the case to Daytona-based State Attorney R.J. Larizza because Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala has a conflict of interest as Apte is a judge in her circuit and used to work for the State Attorneys Office.

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Ramon Alexander State Rep. Brett Hage (Was Sunday) State Rep. Amber Mariano former Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) is 6-0 .... CBS Caitlin Conant (h/t husband Alex) Dara Kam, senior writer/editor with the News Service of Florida ... Richard Lobo, former director of International Broadcasting Bureau Alma Gonzalez, former general counsel at AFSCME Valerie Soto Orama (Was Saturday) Mark Hollis, associate state director communications and outreach at AARP Texas and former comms director for Florida House Democrats ... Scott Randolph, Orange County tax collector and former legislator

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Florida has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Sunshine State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause youre promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: [emailprotected].

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Early voting starts today in Florida Will Latinos win the state for Trump? Florida's broken child welfare system Developer wants to tear down...

President Donald Trumpis taking his campaign and the coronavirus to the Florida city where in 2012 the shooting of Trayvon Martin made headlines.

Trumps campaign Friday said the president will appear at 7 p.m. at Orlando Sanford International Airport.

The event will come 10 days after his originally scheduled rally was canceled because he and First Lady Melania Trump received a diagnosis of COVID-19.

The rally will come a little more than three weeks before the Nov. 3 election, with Trump widely viewed as needing to win Florida if he is going to win re-election.

The location is intended to signal Trumps most controversial supporters in the white supremacy movement as well as the one Hispanic group that Trump is doing well with: Cuban-Americans.

George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old man of mixed race, followed, provoked a physical altercation with and then fatally shot Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old African-American high school student whose father lived in the neighborhood.

Zimmerman was told to stop following Martin when he reported his suspicions to the Sanford Police Department but he was not charged at the time.

Police said there was no evidence to refute Zimmermans claim of self-defense, and that Floridas stand your ground law prohibited them from arresting him.

After national media focused on the incident, Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried, but a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013.

Following Martins death, rallies, marches and protests were held across the nation.

A petition calling for a full investigation and prosecution of Zimmerman garnered 2.2 million signatures and media coverage surrounding Martins death became the first story of 2012 to be featured more than the presidential race, which was underway at the time.

A task force eventually recommended against repealing the stand-your-ground law, saying that Florida residents had a right to defend themselves with deadly force without a duty to retreat if they feel threatened.

In July 2013, a movement opposing the frequent injustice resulting from the death of African Americans began with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media after the acquittal of Zimmerman.

Trump comes to Sanford today bringing nothing but reckless behavior, divisive rhetoric, and fear mongering, said Vice President Joe Biden. But, equally dangerous is what he fails to bring: no plan to get this virus that has taken the lives of over 15,000 Floridians under control, no plan to protect Floridians health care amid his attacks against the ACA, and certainly no plan to mitigate the economic impact the pandemic is having on families across Central Florida.

Trump has been criticized for downplaying the dangers of COVID-19, including taking his mask off after arriving back at the White House to film a campaign ad and working at the Oval Office during the week despite still being infectious.

Thousands of workers across this state were required by their employers, rightfully so, to show a COVID negative test before they return to work, said Florida state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith. Why? Because we dont want to spread a deadly virus that will get people killed. And Donald Trump wont show us that hes COVID negative?

At least 29 people connected with the White House have been infected, including White Huse staff, journalists, housekeeping staff and debate preparation partners.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people with COVID-19 refrain from being around others for 10 days after symptoms first appear, including 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Critics have also rebuked Trump for holding large, sometimes indoor rallies amid the pandemic, including an event in Tulsa in June that local health officials said contributed to a spike in coronavirus cases.

At least nine cases have been linked to a Minnesota rally from mid-September, including two hospitalizations and one in intensive care.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, agreed, saying Hispanic support for Trump particularly among Puerto Ricans is abysmal, and any claim by the Trump campaign to the contrary is simply untrue.

They have to be kidding themselves, said Soto, who is Puerto Rican. Trump failed our island in ways that have left an indelible scar on the souls of Puerto Ricans. He also opposes statehood, while Biden supports statehood.

Every other nation has shown they were able to handle it better than the U.S., said Cecelia Gonzalez, a 21-year-old woman whose family moved to Florida from Venezuela. The U.S. has the best resources for health and economy and we have the highest mortality rate. As an immigrant, I feel devastated.

She said Trumps lack of concern for the physical and economic health of the country mirrors his lack of concern for the environment another important issue for Hispanics, she said.

I want a sustainable planet where I can breathe and drink the water and go for a walk, she said. The way president Trump is handling it, I dont think Im going to have a sustainable planet where I can raise my kids.

Patty Mahany, one of the citys commissioners who became well known for vocally defending the citys police chief when it came to the controversial handling of Martins case and a 2016 Trump voter, said she planned to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

It could be absolutely fine, nothing could happen, Mahany said of the rallys likely crowd. Or it could end up a superspreading event.

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Trump campaigns where Trayvon Martin died - NJ TODAY

"I don't understand at all why they would be knocking on her door unless it was a mistake," Kenneth Walker said during his interview the night of the shooting.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Nearly five months ago, the commonwealth's attorney Tom Wine, dismissed charges of attempted murder of a police office without prejudice against Kenneth Walker. That means Walker could be charged again as more facts are released.

Just a few days ago, LMPD released their public integrity unit's investigation to the night Breonna Taylor was killed. Thousands of pages of documents and hours of video, take us minute by minute through the aftermath of the shooting. But there is still no video evidence of what happened before she was killed.

"I don't understand at all why they would be knocking on her door unless it was a mistake," Kenneth Walker said during his interview the night of the shooting.

Videos like this interview with Walker, are part of the thousands of pages, and hours of videos released. Wine's office says they will not be making any decisions on further charges until they review all of that material, or until the FBI and other federal agencies complete their investigations.

The lengthy report also cites text messages alleging that Walker was trafficking marijuana and prescription medication in the months prior to the shooting.

Walker's attorney Steve Romines sent this statement:

"It is both pathetic and unsurprising as it completely consistent with the coverup that began that night and continues up to today. And it reflects the fact that several months into the investigation of Breonna Taylors death, LMPD is more interested in including unsupported allegations to smear Kenny Walker than it is in actually finding the truth and charging anyone for her murder. The only thing surprising is they did not claim that they confirmed this information with the US postal inspector as well."

Walker recently filed a lawsuit seeking compensation from the city and LMPD, and immunity under Kentucky's stand your ground law. That protects anyone acting in self defense.

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Will Kenneth Walker face more charges now that LMPD has released their public integrity investigation? - WHAS11.com

Kenneth Kenny Walker, boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, is suing for immunity from charges related to the warning shot he fired during the botched police raid that left the 26-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, woman shot to death in her apartment this past March.

Walkers legal team filed a lawsuit against several parties on Tuesday, reported WLKY. The defendants include state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, 13 Louisville police officers, former police Chief Steve Conrad and interim police Chief Rob Schroeder, and the Louisville metro government.

Taylor died in March after Louisville Metro Police stormed her apartment. The police showed up to the apartment around midnight to execute a no-knock warrant related to a drug case surrounding Taylors ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover.

On Monday, WDRB reported a plea deal offered to Glover named Taylor as a co-conspirator in his organized crime syndicate. It was widely reported the admission would give him a shot at freedom but Scott Barton, Glovers lawyer, told NPR that wasnt true. Every deal presented to Glover included a 10-year prison sentence but the lawyer noted his client immediately rejected anything with her name in it.

It wasnt like there was an incentive Barton stated. Like if Glover puts her name in there, then well give you a better deal. It was the same deal regardless.

Taylor and Walker were in bed watching a movie when the police arrived at the apartment complex. When they heard someone at their door, the court papers state, Taylor asked who was at the door three times but she did not receive a response.

The couple started walking out of the bedroom when the front door flew open in the darkness, the lawsuit read. Kenny immediately reacted by firing a single shot to scare away the intruder or intruders.

One officer was hit in the leg and the police responded with gunfire. Taylor was hit five times but Walker was unharmed. He was taken into police custody and charged the next day with attempted murder. The charges were later dropped without prejudice, meaning there is a possibility Walker could be charged again.

The lawsuit argues Walker had a right to fire his weapon under Kentuckys stand your ground law, which protects all Kentuckians who seek to protect themselves of loved ones in self-defense. Kentuckians have no duty to retreat or submit to force.

Walker and his attorneys announced the lawsuit during a news conference on the day of the filing.

I was raised by a good family. I am a legal gun owner and I would never knowingly shoot at a police officer, he said during the conference.

Walker believes the police charged him with attempted murder to silence me and cover up Breonnas murder.

For her and those that I love, I can no longer remain silent, he added.

Steven Romines, one of Walkers lawyers, tied the Glover deal to Walkers plight.

It is still six months later, and theyre trying to determine what happened in that apartment. They arrested Kenny for what they say happened after about three hours, Romines said. The reason why is because that fit their narrative and using the criminal justice system to try to justify shooting of Breonna Taylor is what this complaint is about. And were watching it in real time every day. What we saw yesterday with the Glover plea is the same thing.

Read more:
Breonna Taylor's Boyfriend Argues 'Stand Your Ground' Law In New Lawsuit, Seeks Immunity from Possible Charges Related to Warning Shot He Fired At...