JudgeDonnaMiller.com - Educational articles on the law

JUDGE MILLER RULES: Educational Articles on the Law

"Judges are encouraged to educate the public about the law and the court system. This can be done by teaching, public speaking or by writing articles for publication. These articles must not violate the Judicial Code of Conduct. Judges cannot give legal advice and these articles are not and were not intended to give legal advice. These articles were written for educational purposes only and any examples used herein are based on actual closed cases. All future cases that come before me will be judged entirely upon their own facts and applicable circumstances. That said... enjoy!"

-- Judge Donna F. Miller

Click on a red link to read / see six articles at a time, or click on a numbered line to see a specific topic.

Articles 1-6:

     - 1. THE JUDGE RULES: Costs
     - 2. THE JUDGE RULES: Landlord/Tenant
     - 3. THE JUDGE RULES: The Court Structure
     - 4. THE JUDGE RULES: Appointed vs. Elected
     - 5. THE JUDGE RULES: New Laws
     - 6. THE JUDGE RULES: Small Claims

Articles 7-12:

     - 7. THE JUDGE RULES: Recuse
     - 8. THE JUDGE RULES: Search and Seizure
     - 9. THE JUDGE RULES: Jury Selection
     - 10. THE JUDGE RULES: Shoplifting
     - 11. THE JUDGE RULES: Taxpayers Pay
     - 12. THE JUDGE RULES: Dependency Court

Articles 13-18:

     - 13. THE JUDGE RULES: Statute of Limitations
     - 14. THE JUDGE RULES: Venue
     - 15. THE JUDGE RULES: Service of Legal Papers
     - 16. THE JUDGE RULES: Dissolution
     - 17. THE JUDGE RULES: BUI (Boating Under the Influence)
     - 18. THE JUDGE RULES: Bad Checks

Articles 19-24:

     - 19. THE JUDGE RULES: Petition Cards
     - 20. THE JUDGE RULES: Replevin
     - 21. THE JUDGE RULES: Garnishment
     - 22. THE JUDGE RULES: Property Rights
     - 23. THE JUDGE RULES: Your Legal Name
     - 24. THE JUDGE RULES: Attorney Fees

Articles 25-30:

     - 25. THE JUDGE RULES: Jury Trial
     - 26. THE JUDGE RULES: Sealing Records
     - 27. THE JUDGE RULES: Pre-trial Intervention
     - 28. THE JUDGE RULES: Restitution
     - 29. THE JUDGE RULES: Up-to-Date Documents
     - 30. THE JUDGE RULES: Contracts

Articles 31-36:

     - 31. THE JUDGE RULES: Domestic Violence
     - 32. THE JUDGE RULES: Teen Laws
     - 33. THE JUDGE RULES: Notary Public
     - 34. THE JUDGE RULES: Homeowner’s Association
     - 35. THE JUDGE RULES: Special Rules for Judges
     - 36. THE JUDGE RULES: Attorney Complaints

Articles 37-42:

     - 37. THE JUDGE RULES: Seatbelt and Child Restraint Laws
     - 38. THE JUDGE RULES: Arrests and More
     - 39. THE JUDGE RULES: Legal and Illegal Representation
     - 40. THE JUDGE RULES: Power of Attorney
     - 41. THE JUDGE RULES: Health Care Surrogate
     - 42. THE JUDGE RULES: Ownership by Couples

Articles 43-48:

     - 43. THE JUDGE RULES: Property Disputes
     - 44. THE JUDGE RULES: Drivers - Did You Know?
     - 45. THE JUDGE RULES: Bicycle Law
     - 46. THE JUDGE RULES: Government Ethics (Sunshine Amendment)
     - 47. THE JUDGE RULES: Pets (Law Pertaining to Animal Ownership)
     - 48. THE JUDGE RULES: ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles)

Articles 49-54:

     - 49. THE JUDGE RULES: Organizations and Taxes
     - 50. THE JUDGE RULES: Driver's License
     - 51. THE JUDGE RULES: Possession and Ownership
     - 52. THE JUDGE RULES: Self-Defense and Defending Others
     - 53. THE JUDGE RULES: Class Action Lawsuits
     - 54. THE JUDGE RULES: Appeals (Appealing a Ruling)

Articles 55-60:

     - 55. THE JUDGE RULES: Constitutional Rights and Amendments
     - 56. THE JUDGE RULES: Asset Distribution upon Divorce
     - 57. THE JUDGE RULES: Unemployment Compensation
     - 58. THE JUDGE RULES: Unattended Vehicles and Running Motors
     - 59. THE JUDGE RULES: Confessions of Criminal Activity
     - 60. THE JUDGE RULES: Sex Offenders and Sexual Predators

Articles 61-66:

     - 61. THE JUDGE RULES: Motor Vehicles, Motorcycles, Mopeds, and Scooters
     - 62. THE JUDGE RULES: Forfeiture of Property
     - 63. THE JUDGE RULES: Search Warrants and Unlawful/Lawful Searches
     - 64. THE JUDGE RULES: Objection! (Trial Objections)
     - 65. THE JUDGE RULES: Domestic Violence, Injunctions and No-Contact
     - 66. THE JUDGE RULES: Burden of Proof and Judicial Notice

Articles 67-72:

     - 67. THE JUDGE RULES: No Attorney and Self-Representation
     - 68. THE JUDGE RULES: Contempt of Court
     - 69. THE JUDGE RULES: Hunting Laws
     - 70. THE JUDGE RULES: Objection: Hearsay
     - 71. THE JUDGE RULES: Liable or Not Liable
     - 72. THE JUDGE RULES: Examples of Objections

Articles 73-78:

     - 73. THE JUDGE RULES: Driving Rules for Funeral Processions and Emergency Vehicles
     - 74. THE JUDGE RULES: Authority and Jurisdiction
     - 75. THE JUDGE RULES: Law on Negligence
     - 76. THE JUDGE RULES: The Right to Remain Silent and When You Can't
     - 77. THE JUDGE RULES: Custody of Children
     - 78. THE JUDGE RULES: Volunteer Bailiffs and Volunteer Mediators

Articles 79-84:

     - 79. THE JUDGE RULES: Frequent Requests: Tree Column
     - 80. THE JUDGE RULES: Homeowner's Associations - Updated
     - 81. THE JUDGE RULES: Custody and Parental Responsibility
     - 82. THE JUDGE RULES: Grandparent's Rights and Legal Standing
     - 83. THE JUDGE RULES: Child Support
     - 84. THE JUDGE RULES: Guardian Ad Litem

Articles 85-90:

     - 85. THE JUDGE RULES: Car Accidents and Legal Responsibility
     - 86. THE JUDGE RULES: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP)
     - 87. THE JUDGE RULES: "Experiencing" a Witch Trial
     - 88. THE JUDGE RULES: The Bill Of Rights
     - 89. THE JUDGE RULES: The Right to Privacy and Florida's Constitution
     - 90. THE JUDGE RULES: Self-Defense and Defending Others (Updated)

Articles 91-93 Plus 3 Extra:

     - 91. THE JUDGE RULES: More on Laws Pertaining to Trees
     - 92. THE JUDGE RULES: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
     - Extra THE JUDGE RULES: Authority and Duty of National Guard Members
     - Extra THE JUDGE RULES: State of Emergency
     - Extra THE JUDGE RULES: Martial Law
     - 93. THE JUDGE RULES: Adoption

Articles 94-99:

     - 94. THE JUDGE RULES: New Judges and the Judicial Nominating Committee
     - 95. THE JUDGE RULES: Mediation, Arbitration, and Avoiding Court
     - 96. THE JUDGE RULES: Courtroom Technology and Appearance by Phone
     - 97. THE JUDGE RULES: Wage Garnishment and Exemptions
     - 98. THE JUDGE RULES: Delayed Birth Certificates
     - 99. THE JUDGE RULES: Animal Public Safety Partners

Articles 100-105:

     - 100. THE JUDGE RULES: Computing Time and Due Dates
     - 101. THE JUDGE RULES: Child Curfew and Time of Day Constraints
     - 102. THE JUDGE RULES: Libel, Slander and Defamation of Character
     - 103. THE JUDGE RULES: Copyright and Patent Law
     - 104. THE JUDGE RULES: Medical Malpractice and Negligence
     - 105. THE JUDGE RULES: Motorized Vehicles

Articles 106-111:

     - 106. THE JUDGE RULES: Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices
     - 107. THE JUDGE RULES: Motorized "Scooters" and More
     - 108. THE JUDGE RULES: Windshields and More
     - 109. THE JUDGE RULES: Changes in Traffic Laws
     - 110. THE JUDGE RULES: Search and Seizure
     - 111. THE JUDGE RULES: Securing Children in Vehicles

Articles 112-117:

     - 112. THE JUDGE RULES: Interpretation of Words
     - 113. THE JUDGE RULES: Trials by Jury and Bench
     - 114. THE JUDGE RULES: Traffic Stop Passengers
     - 115. THE JUDGE RULES: Roadblock/DUI Checkpoints
     - 116. THE JUDGE RULES: Drivers and Licenses
     - 117. THE JUDGE RULES: Children's Best Interest

The above articles were published in The Daily Commercial newspaper (usually on Sundays). Judge Miller wrote articles for the Daily Commercial for more than two years, beginning in 2004. Not every published article is above (just the ones she's given this webmaster to add:).