Supreme Court turns down Crist’s request for statewide grand jury
by Dara Kam | November 30th, 2009The Florida Supreme Court rejected Gov. Charlie Crist’s request for a statewide grand jury to look into corruption.
Crist’s request did not meet the “minimal requirements” necessary to determine that a grand jury is needed, the high court ruled today, by failing to specify what crimes or wrongs occurred and where they took place.
Crist last month petitioned the court to empanel a statewide grand jury to focus on public corruption in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties and the judicial circuit that includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.
The assignment – that the panel investigate public corruption from bribery to other seemingly unrelated crimes such as child pornography and drug offenses – sets forth a “monumental task” so broad as to possibly be untenable, former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald Kogan, a veteran of anti-corruption efforts in Miami-Dade County, said when Crist filed the petition.
In Palm Beach County, three county commissioners and two West Palm Beach city commissioners have been convicted on corruption charges in the past four years.
Crist’s proposal prompted criticism from some officials who said it could duplicate recommendations already being implemented based on the findings of a local grand jury.
Tags: Charlie Crist, corruption, Florida Supreme Court, Gerald Kogan, Palm Beach County, public corruption, statewide grand jury
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Just when you think you have heard it all, they come up with something else.
In other words, the public corruption is so deep and broad in the state of Florida that investigating and arresting and trying the criminals would be a monumental task. What in the heqq is wrong with Crist just putting the FDLE to work along with the make believe attorney general (wanta be governor) and stop hindering them from doing their jobs. From where I am it looks like the FBI is making a dent in the Broward corruption. The problem is they need help working their way north up through Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. Plenty of proof of corruption has been provided to the FDLE, McCollum and Crist. They turn their heads and look the other way.
Maybe this was only an attempt by Crist to get the Feds to slow down their Broward investigations. Since when has the highest elected law enforcement office of the state got to ask an annointed bunch of brain dead supreme court members permission to investigate corruption and any violations of the law? This don’t make sense!
November 30th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Crist will re-apply — Crist should have the power, NOT the Supremes… Cmon…
CORRUPTION? NO — NOT IN PALM BEACH or BROWARD COUNTIES —-
WAKE UP! FLORIDA SUPREME COURT – GUESS MOST ARE POLITICAL HACKS—-
November 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
just look at the police officer in riviera beach that was attacked by 2 masked men .if that wasnt 2 other police officers trying to silence the one who is obviously cooperating in the federal investigation that is ongoing into the riviera beach police department then why hasnt there been an arrestt in this case ?why has there not even been a follow up in the paper ?lets make all law enforcement officers pass a lie detector test or loose there jobs,benefits and face prosecution.i bet some of them would make cute wifes for bubba whos already doing life because of fabricated evidence by some of our public servants.i bet alot would resign before they would take a lie detector test.then we could find out who the honest ones are.