In a move that may anger some conservatives but will please black supporters, Gov. Charlie Crist has named Circuit Judge James Perry of Sanford to the Florida Supreme Court. ...more

March 11, 2009

The county on Tuesday tabled plans to proceed with a new $18.6 million judicial center, opting to wait until the economy improves. ...more

March 11, 2009

A former local lawyer and Chicago police officer received a 10-year federal prison sentence Friday for sending threatening letters to his estranged wife and others while in state prison. ...more

March 7, 2009

One of five teenage girls charged in the beating of another teen was sentenced today to three years of probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. Circuit Judge Keith Spoto also sentenced Mercades Nichols to 100 hours of community service and ordered that she pay restitution to victim Victoria Lindsay. ...more

March 6, 2009

A Winter Haven man was spared the death penalty Thursday for his role in the 2006 slaying of a Polk County drug dealer. ...more

March 6, 2009

Prosecutors today formally filed their intent to seek the death penalty for Vincent Brown, charged in the kidnapping and killing of Jennifer Johnson, the mother of his 2-year-old daughter. ...more

March 5, 2009

One of five Polk County teens accused of beating a classmate last March was sentenced this morning to one year of probation. Britney Mayes was sentenced as a juvenile by Circuit Judge Keith Spoto at the Polk County courthouse in Bartow. ...more

March 5, 2009

On March 30, 2008 six teenage girls confronted 16-year old Victoria Lindsay about trash-talking about them online and in cell phone text messages. The six girls took turns punching and kicking Lindsay while they video tape the beating. Two teenaged boys stood watch outside the Lakeland home to warn the girls inside. Here are the events that followed. ...more

March 5, 2009