Parkland

Former Broward School District Attorney Sentenced for Leaking Grand Jury Secrets on Parkland Shooting Case

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A former attorney for the Broward County Public Schools, implicated in the controversial leak of confidential grand jury details related to the 2018 Parkland school shooting, entered a no contest plea to a lesser charge Thursday. Barbara Myrick, the school district’s ex-general counsel, was originally charged with a felony for unlawfully disclosing information from the grand jury but faced a reduced misdemeanor charge of attempted unlawful disclosure of grand jury proceedings. Following her no contest plea, Myrick received a sentence of one year of probation, which a judge declared could end … Read more

Kamala Harris Takes a Stand at Parkland: Calls for Nationwide Adoption of Red-Flag Gun Laws

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PARKLAND, Fla. – Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Parkland on Monday and called on states to adopt red-flag gun laws in an effort to prevent gun violence. Harris, who was accompanied by Democratic Congressional leaders, met with local officials and families affected by the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Speaking at a roundtable discussion, Harris emphasized the need for stronger gun control measures, stating that red-flag laws could be “a heroic act” to save lives. These laws allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed to pose … Read more

Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Former Sheriff’s Deputy in Parkland School Massacre to Proceed

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by families of the victims of the Parkland school massacre can proceed against former sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson, who failed to intervene during the attack. Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips denied Peterson’s motion to dismiss the case before trial, stating that a jury should determine whether Peterson showed a “wanton and willful disregard” for the safety of the students and teachers during the six-minute shooting. Although Peterson was acquitted of criminal charges last year, the standard of proof is lower in a civil lawsuit. … Read more

Former Parkland School Shooter Trial Judge Breaks Silence on Historic Case and Controversial Backlash

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Elizabeth Scherer, the former judge who presided over the death penalty trial for the Parkland school shooter, is now breaking her silence and discussing the historic case and the backlash surrounding it for the first time. Scherer, who served as a Broward County Circuit Court judge for 10 years, is currently working at her family’s law firm specializing in family law. This is a stark contrast from her time in the national spotlight as the presiding judge in the Parkland trial. The trial of convicted shooter Nikolas Cruz, who was … Read more