Executive Clemency in Florida-Pardon Power, Restoration Civil Rights including Voting Eligibility After Amendment 4 and Death Penalty Case Review

This course will afford law students with opportunity to observe the governor and Florida Cabinet members--the Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services -- at the Capitol in their capacity as Florida’s Board of Executive Clemency. Law students also will have opportunity to gain perspective from senior level guest speakers. Emphasis will include analysis of the Florida Supreme Court’s recent response to the Governor’s Request for an Advisory Opinion regarding whether the ballot initiative known as Amendment 4 that addressed extensive felony disenfranchisement in Florida and approved by voters in November 2018 contemplates payment of all fines, fees and restitution as a threshold requirement for restoration of voting eligibility. This course is jointly offered by the College of Law with the Colleges of Social Science and Public Policy, and Social Work, although law students constitute a separate section of the course.