Senate Bill sb0174

    Florida Senate - 2007                                   SB 174

    By Senator Geller





    31-237-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to restrictions on the practice

  3         of law; amending s. 454.18, F.S.; clarifying

  4         provisions prohibiting a sheriff or deputy

  5         sheriff from practicing law in this state;

  6         authorizing an attorney to serve with a

  7         sheriff's auxiliary; providing an effective

  8         date.

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10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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12         Section 1.  Section 454.18, Florida Statutes, is

13  amended to read:

14         454.18  Officers not allowed to practice.--A No sheriff

15  or clerk of the any court, or deputy clerk of the court

16  thereof, may not shall practice law in this state, and nor

17  shall any person who is not of good moral character, or who

18  has been convicted of an infamous crime is not be entitled to

19  practice law. A sheriff or deputy sheriff who is an attorney

20  may not engage in the private practice of law or be a member

21  of a law firm; however, an attorney may serve with a sheriff's

22  auxiliary. A But no person may not shall be denied the right

23  to practice law on account of gender sex, race, or color. And

24  any person, whether an attorney or not, or whether within the

25  exceptions mentioned above or not, may conduct his or her own

26  cause in any court of this state, or before any public board,

27  committee, or officer, subject to the lawful rules and

28  discipline of such court, board, committee, or officer. The

29  provisions of this section restricting the practice of law by

30  a sheriff or clerk, or deputy clerk of the court do thereof,

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    Florida Senate - 2007                                   SB 174
    31-237-07




 1  shall not apply in a case where such person is representing

 2  the office or agency in the course of duties as an attorney.

 3         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

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 6                          SENATE SUMMARY

 7    Prohibits a sheriff or deputy sheriff who is an attorney
      from engaging in the private practice of law or being a
 8    member of a law firm. Authorizes an attorney to serve
      with a sheriff's auxiliary.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.