In Florida, one attorney had their license revoked, two had it suspended, and one was reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court. The disciplinary counsel has a deadline to request a rehearing before the court's order becomes final.

Legal firms from all throughout the state are represented by the attorneys. After being disbarred, a lawyer must repeat the Bar test, undertake a thorough background check, and wait five years before they may reapply for admission, as the Palm Beach Post reported.

In order to get their licenses back, attorneys whose suspensions were for 91 days or more must show that they have been rehabilitated. Revocation of a license is essentially the same as disbarment.

The Attorneys in Question

Illeana Maria Almeida received a public reprimand and was referred to Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc. in Fort Lauderdale.

Almeida, who was admitted to practice in 1993, allegedly failed to provide diligent representation and reasonable client communication in three distinct matters.

In Miami. Mrs. Maria C. Delgadillo was suspended for 18 months. Delgadillo, admitted to practice in 2000, misled the court and opposing counsel to get a continuance of the hearing. She ignored repeated court orders for fines and costs and neglected client problems.

Two other attorneys, Leroy G. Lee of Miami, and Jason A. Penrod of Lake Wales also experienced reprimands by the state Supreme Court.

Other Florida Legal Suspensions

Florida judge John B. Flynn was suspended from his position, which he's held as a Polk County, Florida judge since 2022.

This move by the Florida Supreme Court followed an investigation that uncovered campaign violations and the crossing of judicial canons, the rules that govern a judge’s public and private conduct.

“It’s the job of the impartial judge to look at each defendant individually and each case individually,” said Jason B. Blank, a Broward County attorney who serves as president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Blank said the judge's campaign statements eroded public trust in his fair trial.

The Judge's Actions

Since jurors are instructed to treat police testimony similarly to that of any civilian witness, Blank saw no reason to challenge the broad assertions in favor of the police.

“We would hope that they testify truthfully as every citizen would and should. A statement of support for law enforcement has to be balanced with the fact that not every defendant is guilty.”

Following his election, Flynn was given the responsibility of supervising civil cases.

From Flynn's Representation

No one answered when reporters tried to reach Flynn's lawyer, who appeared before the qualifications commission on his behalf.

In addition to reprimanding Flynn publicly, the Supreme Court suspended him for 25 days without pay and made him appear before the judges of the court. The suspension and reprimand dates are still up in the air.