A Judge Cannot Deny Your Request to Expunge Your Record Without Giving You a Specific Reason

          In order to get your criminal record sealed or expunged in Florida, there are certain legal requirements that you must meet before a judge is even allowed to consider whether he or she will grant your request to seal or expunge your record.  But if you do meet those requirements, a judge still is not required to grant your request; he or she may deny your request but only if there is a good reason to do so based upon the facts of your individual case. 

A new FAQ article that I posted on my website Florida Criminal Records:  Frequently Asked Questions looks at a case in which the judge failed to provide such a reason.

Does Getting a Pardon from the Governor Automatically Mean That You Can Get Your Record Sealed or Expunged?

A pardon has been defined as “the forgiveness of crime and the penalty associated with it.”  In Florida, it is the governor who has the power to grant pardons.  Assuming you are fortunate enough to obtain a pardon, does that automatically mean that you can get your criminal record sealed or expunged?  That was the question decided by the Florida Supreme Court in the case of R.J.L. v. State of Florida.  An article that I posted on my website Florida Criminal Records:  Frequently Asked Questions discusses that case.

Can Even a Serious Charge Such as Murder Be Expunged?

          According to Florida law, a judge is not allowed to deny an individual’s request to have his criminal record expunged simply because of the seriousness of the charge.  An article that I posted on my website Florida Criminal Records Frequently Asked Questions examines one case in which the judge mistakenly did just that.