Our Recent Work
At FJI, we are committed to defending civil rights and advocating for justice in Florida.
Explore the current cases we are passionately pursuing to protect and empower our community.
FJI and SLC Settle Lawsuit Challenging St. Johns County Law That Criminalized Requests for Help
Florida-based legal aid organizations Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) and Florida Justice Institute (FJI) reached a settlement of their federal lawsuit challenging a St. Johns County ordinance passed in May 2023
FJI & Winston File Class Action Lawsuit Over Systemic Failure to Provide Cataract Surgeries in Prison
December 15, 2025 – Miami/Tallahassee. The Florida Justice Institute (FJI), a nonprofit civil rights organization, and Winston & Strawn LLP, an international law firm, have filed a class action lawsuit
Legal fight stalls some panhandling prohibitions in Northeast Florida
By Noah Hertz | November 23, 2025Jacksonville Today Legal challenges have put the enforcement of panhandling prohibitions around Florida into question. In Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says it is
Heat Index Inside a South Florida Prison Hit 119 Degrees, Report Says
By C.J. Ciaramella | November 17, 2025Reason Magazine Prisoners inside a sweltering South Florida prison were subjected to dangerously high temperatures this summer—peaking at a “real feel” of 119 degrees in one
Heat index inside a Miami-Dade state prison hit sweltering 119, says new lawsuit report
By Ashley Miznazi | November 13, 2025Miami Herald A new report filed in a class-action lawsuit shows that conditions inside a South Florida men’s prison were far more extreme than the sweltering
Hillsborough County Sued for Punishing People Who Ask Drivers for Help
The Florida Justice Institute has filed a lawsuit against Hillsborough County against an ordinance that criminalizes panhandling.