Rep. Mike Gottlieb

HB 71, the measure offering greater protection to defense counsel and enhancing the penalties for anyone who attacks any court-appointed counsel or defense counsel acting in their capacity, has cleared its second committee hurdle.

On February 22, the House Justice Appropriations Committee reported the bill favorably by a 13-1 vote. Rep. Michael Gottlieb, D-Davie, who also voted no during the bill’s first committee stop in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on February 9, renewed his objection that the bill doesn’t address those defendants with mental-health issues.