Criminal defense attorney and former Florida Bar president Michelle Suskauer recently wrote an opinion piece in the Tallahassee Democrat examining four major changes reshaping Florida’s criminal justice system, from immigration-based penalties to expanded use of artificial intelligence, shifting gun laws, and a surge in executions.
Drawing on more than three decades of experience in Florida courtrooms, Suskauer explained how new immigration laws now allow misdemeanor-level conduct to be charged as felonies based solely on a person’s immigration status, raising serious equal protection and proportionality concerns.
She also addressed the rapid expansion of AI and digital evidence in criminal cases, including facial recognition tools, warning that courts are often allowing these technologies to be used without transparency or meaningful defense review.
Suskauer highlighted Florida’s recent shift to open carry following an appellate court ruling, noting that confusion over restricted locations has already led to increased arrests and inconsistent enforcement across jurisdictions.
Finally, she pointed to Florida’s sharp rise in executions, with the state now leading the nation, and urged lawmakers, prosecutors, judges, and attorneys to carefully consider the long-term consequences of these policies.
As Florida moves into 2026, Suskauer questioned whether the current trajectory is creating a justice system worthy of the people it serves.
Read the full article here in the Tallahassee Democrat.
