BCLC Represents Clients in U.S. Federal and State Court Systems

Q. What is the difference between Federal and State Court? Who can practice in which? And what’s the benefit of having a case go to one versus the other?

All Florida attorneys can practice in the State Courts of Florida. However, not all Florida attorneys are admitted to practice in the Federal Courts. In the United States, there are two separate and parallel court systems that have jurisdiction over legal issues which affect people and entities (corporations, partnerships, LLCs, etc.). These two judicial systems, which exist side-by-side, are:

• The Federal Court system, which enforces Federal laws, rules and regulations, and applies and interprets the Constitution of the United States, where applicable; and

• The State Court system, which enforces the laws, rules and regulations of a given State (i.e. Florida) and interprets the State’s own Constitution.

The Law Firm of Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman and its attorneys are able to represent clients in both the United States Federal and State Court systems. In addition to Florida, BCLC attorneys have practiced in Federal Courts in other states, including New York, Louisiana, Colorado and Georgia, through special admissions granted by each specific Federal court. The advantages of trying a case in Federal Court vary depending on the matter, the parties, and whether or not Federal statutes and/or constitutional issues are implicated.

Specifically, the attorneys at BCLC are admitted to the following courts:

Southern District Court of Florida

• J. Michael Burman
• Robert D. Critton, Jr.
• Mark T. Luttier
• Gregory W. Coleman
• Bernard A. Lebedeker
• Dean  T. Xenick
• Stephen E. Walker
• Rita H. Budnyk

Middle District Court of Florida

• Mark T. Luttier
• Gregory W. Coleman
• Bernard A. Lebedeker
• Dean  T. Xenick
• Stephen E. Walker
• Rita H. Budnyk

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal

• J. Michael Burman
• Robert D. Critton, Jr.
• Gregory W. Coleman
• Bernard A. Lebedeker
• Dean  T. Xenick

Supreme Court of the United States

• J. Michael Burman
• Robert D. Critton, Jr.
• Mark T. Luttier
• Gregory W. Coleman

Learn more by contacting a BCLC attorney directly at 561-842-2820.