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On November first, we reported on a case at the Supreme Court that could reshape the court itself, depending on who gets to appoint three justices in early January. Now as Mike Vasilinda tells us, a conversation on the bench after the case was over is creating a Supreme controversy.

As lawyers were leaving the Supreme court after arguing about the Governors power to appoint future justices.  Chief Justice Gorge Labarga leaned over to Justice Barbara Pariente, not knowing his microphone was still open.

“He can’t be there. Panuccio.” Larbarga is heard to say.

The audio then tape goes silent, and comes back, as Labarga is again heard saying:

“Izzy Reyes is on there. He’ll listen to me.”

While the audio is not clear, the two appear to be discussing a list on nominees to the Judicial Nominating Commission… That’s the commission that will name potential replacements for the judges retiring in January.

“He can’t be there. Panuccio.”

The reference to Panuccio is to Jesse Panuccio, a former lawyer for the Governor.

“Izzy Reyes on there. He’ll listen to me.”

Izzy Reyes is a member of the nominating commission.

The Governor this week asked for the documents and the audio recording.

“Lets find out what was going on. We expect our judges to be impartial, we expect simply do their job.  And we’ve done a records request to see what document were they talking about, what were they talking about, so its incumbent everybody to understand what was being discussed” Scott told reporters.

Q:”What do you think happened?”

“We’ll find out once we see the documents.”

We asked several high ranking lawmakers for their opinion, but nobody wanted to touch this supreme controversy.

The Governor could ask the judges to disqualify themselves from the case. A spokesman for Rick Scott said “Our office is evaluating the best path forward and all available options.” .

All of the material the Governor requested has been provided to his office according to an email from the Supreme Courts Public Information Officer.

A lawyer for embattled State Senator Jack Latvala today released results of a polygraph which purports to show Latvala answered truthfully when he denied sexually harassing employees in the State Senate. At least on formal complaint has been filed. Lawyer Steve Andrews has yet to receive the complaint, which he says puts his client at a disadvantage.

“So I don’t know what else the Senator can do. He’s denied it. He’s voluntarily taken a polygraph. And everything we could identify from the Politico article  he was polygraphed on at his insistence. So, I don’t what else we can really do. I would hope the Senate, in the rules procedure, say any complaint witness should be recommended to give a polygraph” says Andrews.

Q:”So you’d like who ever is complaining to also take one?”

“It would seem to be fair.”

The Senate today, also selected selected Jackson Lewis, a nationwide employment law firm, to conduct the investigation.

A formal complaint has now been filed, charging embattled State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Jack Latvala with sexual harassment. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Clearwater Senator has hired a law firm.

The Andrews Law firm is know for it’s scorched earth, win at any cost policies. Attorney Steve Andrews has written the Senate President, asking for retired law enforcement to investigate claims of sexual harassment and a retired judge to determine probable.

“I’m concerned about a fair shake for anybody because this is a spear thrown at the heart of our electoral process. Because if you can influence a campaign without some accountability or investigation, its a sinister thing” says Andrews.

Andrews first questioned the Senate’s opening an investigation over the weekend based on  a report by the political website Politico. That issue is now irrelevant.

Q:”Have you received a sworn complaint.”

“Yes, yes I have” Senate Rules Chairman Lisbeth Benacquisto told us.

We asked for a redacted copy of the complaint. We were told it could only be made public at this stage under Senate rules if Latvala were to ask for its release.

Earlier this spring, state lawmakers passed a bill exempting personal information about state employees who come forward with sexual harassment  complaints. the idea was to make sure more people would come forward.

With the complaint, Latvala’s lawyers say they now know who they are fighting.

“We can confront an accuser” says Andrews.

We asked Rules Chairman Lizbeth Benacquisto about a timetable.

“Can it be wrapped up before the start of session. we asked.

“Certainly that is our desire so we can be singularity focused on the work that is before us” says the Senator.

Latvala was in his Senate office Wednesday, behind closed doors. The Senate expects to select a law firm by next week.

150 women donned red shirts and rode busses to the State Capitol Wednesday to fight for tougher background checks and other gun laws. Gay Valimont came from Gulf Breeze. She’s the mother of a five year old and she worries the state isn’t doing enough to arrest felons who try to buy guns.

“Right now in Florida, if you are a convicted felon, and you fail a background check, you are not reported to local authorities. those people will go on to buy guns illegally and commit crimes” says the volunteer chapter leader.

The moms are also telling lawmakers not to make it easier to carry a gun on a college campus, or to allow suits against businesses that prohibit concealed carry on their premises.

State Senate leaders say they are looking for ways to make sure employees who come forward with sexual harassment or other claims do not face retaliation. At the same time, advocates for women and several House members called the highly charged political environment was ripe with abuse of women. Representative Amy Mercado of Orlando says the latest accusations are nothing new.

“There are real problems here concerning harassment and treatment of women. Do not be fooled. this is not new or an isolated incident this year. these issues ingrained in the political culture here.”

Ina addition to policies protecting women, the advocates another way to end harassment in the process is to elect more women.

Police in the state Capitol are continuing to interview people surrounding the death of a 20 year old FSU Student after a night of drinking last Friday. As Mike Vasilinda tells us,  charges could come sooner than later.

Four days after 20 year old Andrew Coffey, a Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pledge was found unresponsive, Tallahassee Police released a highly redacted 8 page report. It shows four initial interviews. Neighbors have told us that 5 people lived at the property. Police have since conducted more than 50 interviews and more are planned.

A tour guide told parents: “on the other side of…”

Dozens of high schools students were touring the campus Tuesday morning with their parents. None of the parents said the death would deter them from sending their child to FSU. Dana Andrews and her daughter came from Oviedo, Fl.

“I feel like it can affect any school anywhere. Any home. Any family” said Andrews.

Victor Krasynskyy came with his daughter from Cape Coral.

“I hope that my daughter has better judgement” said the confident father.

University President John Thrasher says a temporary ban all greek activity on the campus was the right thing to do.

“I didn’t see another way getting attention, their attention, without doing that. We want to take a pause and try to figure out what to do as a community, FSU community, Greek community, FSU at large to try and solve these problems” Thrasher told us in a one on one interview.

Fraternity and sorority members we asked about the ban had one response.

“I can’t comment.”

“No Comment”

Even the President here admits to going through a ritual when he joined a fraternity back in the 1960’s.

Most non Greek students, including Jacob Son of Miami were glad some action was taken.

“We can’t just let innocent children die. Some response is a good response. I think less drinking is a good response” the Graduate Student told us.

The President said he was hopeful the investigation would be complete by weeks end or early next week.

FSU made their second drug trafficking arrest today. A member of the same fraternity as the student who died, Pi kappa Phi, 22 year old Daniel Charles Martin was charged with a second degree felony sale of a controlled substance. The undercover operation was underway before Friday’s death.

Legislation allowing the Governor to suspend local officials who pass laws ordering police not to cooperate with federal immigration officials cleared a key committee in the State Capitol today by a vote of 11 to 7. Sponsor Larry Metz told members he expected the Governor to be cautious in taking action under the bill.

“The removal provision is discretionary with the executive office of the Governor and the Governor himself, ultimately. So, they would have to do an investigation of any complaint official, public official violating the rule of law adherence act” Metz told Committee members.

More than 70 people signed up to speak at the committee. Mary Lopez was near tears as she voiced her frustration at new conference following the vote.

“I have a sibling. I am the oldest of four. and I have a sibling that has Autism, and I shouldn’t be worried that that my parents may be deported, may be stopped, because of this” she told reporters.

Violating the terms of the bill, if it becomes law, would prohibit violating communities from receiving state grants for five years.

Governor Rick Scott is offering up the smallest tax cut in his 7 years in office. Instead orbit cuts this year, he is pushing big increases for environmental spending and for teachers.

“I’ve got a big agenda. I think I have 425 days to go and I’m gonna fight everyday. I’m still want to end up where this state is the best place to get a job, your kids a better education here, and people are safe here” said Scott at a gaggle following the Cabinet meeting.

The push for more spending means Scott won’t be able to abolish the Corporate Income tax he has sought to end since taking office.