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John Morgan (Florida)
| John Morgan | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Morgan & Morgan |
| Role: | Partner |
| Location: | Orlando, Florida |
| Expertise: | Attorney |
| Education: | • University of Florida (B.A., 1978) • University of Florida (J.D., 1982) |
John Morgan is a lawyer and partner at the legal firm Morgan & Morgan, which is based in Orlando, Florida.[1]
Career
Legal career
In 1988, Morgan founded Morgan & Morgan, a law firm based in Orlando, Florida. The mission of the firm is to "protect the people, not the powerful."[2] Morgan & Morgan, which employed three attorneys in 1988, employed 501 attorneys in 13 states in August 2019.[2][3] As of 2019, Morgan had an "AV" rating from the lawyer database and services firm Martindale-Hubbell, which indicated "the highest peer rating standard."[4]
Morgan published two books, You Can't Teach Hungry: Creating the Multimillion Dollar Law Firm (2011) and You Can’t Teach Vision: The Twenty-First Century Law Firm (2015).[2]
Boards and philanthropy
Morgan served on the board of trustees for the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Morgan also served on the board of the Florida Justice Association, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, and the Harmony Institute.[2] He was on the National Finance Committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1996.[5]
In 1986, Morgan established Boys Town U.S.A. Central Florida. The organization, based in Nebraska, was founded to help children in need through support and services.[6][2]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details John Morgan's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for John Morgan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020) | 2020 | Supported |  Approved
|
| Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016) | 2016 | Supported | Approved
|
| Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014) | 2014 | Supported |  Defeated
|
Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020)
John Morgan filed a ballot initiative to increase Florida's minimum wage to $15 over the course of six years. Morgan was the chairperson of the campaign behind the ballot initiative—Florida for a Fair Wage.[7] Morgan, explaining his position on the minimum wage, said, "In life, I think that you’re supposed to do the most, for the most with the least. ... I did [the ballot initiative] in a way that would be business-friendly, and not just throw them in the deep end."[8]
Florida Amendment 2 (2016)
People United for Medical Marijuana collected signatures to place an initiative to legalize medical marijuana on the ballot for November 8, 2016. On the ballot as Amendment 2, the initiative received 71 percent of the vote, which exceeded the state's 60 percent threshold for passage.[9] John Morgan's The Morgan Firm provided $2.74 million to People United for Medical Marijuana in 2015 and 2016.[10][11]
Florida Amendment 2 (2014)
Morgan served as chairperson of People United for Medical Marijuana, a political action committee. In 2014, People United for Medical Marijuana campaigned in support of Florida Amendment 2: Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative. The amendment needed a 60 percent vote to pass but received 58 percent.[9] Morgan said he was involved in the campaign because of his brother Tim Morgan, a quadriplegic. He said, "His pain is unbelievable. At one point, they had him on seven Xanax to control his spasms and pain. But marijuana alleviates the pain, takes care of the spasms, and so in the back of my mind, as I've gone through this whole deal, I keep thinking, 'my brother Tim.'"[12] The Morgan Law Firm provided $3.57 million to People United for Medical Marijuana, and John Morgan provided an additional $250,000.[10]
2020 presidential election
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
John Morgan endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden (D) for president ahead of the 2020 Democratic primaries. Morgan said, "It’s paramount in my opinion that he’s the nominee. He’s the most decent man I’ve ever met in politics."[13]
2018 Florida gubernatorial election
John Morgan endorsed Andrew Gillum (D) in the gubernatorial election on November 6, 2018. He released a video of his endorsement on October 12, 2018, and discussed the implementation of medical marijuana laws. Morgan said, "Even things like the full legalization of marijuana will be championed by this Governor [Andrew Gillum], and people’s lives will not be ruined by being arrested for possession of marijuana, and our police officers can get out and be allowed to do real work, and people’s lives won’t be upended for life over a small arrest for a small amount of marijuana." He also stated, "I am voting for Andrew Gillum because he is the person that will put people first, he believes what I believe and what I believe is that every day our Governor should get up and fight like hell, not for the richest among us, not for the billionaires, but fight like hell for the people."[14]
2016 presidential election
Democratic National Convention, 2016
- See also: Democratic National Convention, 2016
John Morgan, when asked about recent Democratic National Convention and Wasserman Schultz's presence at the convention, said, "[i]f she speaks, she’s going to be booed."[2] Morgan's comments came after emails were leaked regarding Wasserman Schultz's opposition to presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Morgan further stated, "[t]he Sanders people have a right to be angry because these emails convey their worst suspicions—that Wasserman Schultz is to Democratic dirty tricks what Richard Nixon was for Republican dirty tricks."[15]
Noteworthy events
Debbie Wasserman Schultz emails
In 2015, Politico reported that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-23), the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, allegedly offered to change her stance on medical marijuana if John Morgan would cease attacking her. Morgan responded to this offer by stating, "No, she is a bully. I beat bullies up for a living." Morgan then said that he forwarded the email exchange to Politico to demonstrate how transactional it was in nature.[16]
Following this exchange, Wasserman Schultz denied the claim that she offered to change her position in exchange for a cease-fire. She said, "I wouldn't change my position in exchange for support under any circumstances — ever. I'm always very proud to stand in front of my constituents and explain when I have a difference of opinion with them."[17]
Change in partisan affiliation
On November 24, 2017, John Morgan announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent. On Twitter, he said, "I can’t muster enthusiasm for any of today’s politicians. They are all the same. Both parties. I plan to register as an independent and when I vote, vote for the lesser of two evils. And if I ever ran, run as an Independent."[18]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms John Morgan Florida. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)
- Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
- Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Morgan & Morgan, "Homepage," accessed August 7, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Morgan and Morgan, "John Morgan," accessed August 7, 2019
- ↑ Morgan & Morgan, "Who We Are," accessed August 7, 2019
- ↑ Martindale-Hubbell, "FAQs," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Washington Post, "New pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC attracts donors and worries," June 21, 2013
- ↑ Boys Town U.S.A. Central Florida, "About," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "John Morgan Launches Citizens' Initiative to Raise Florida's Minimum Wage," July 23, 2019
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "John Morgan says he has signatures for 2020 minimum wage measure," July 24, 2019
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpol - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Committee Campaign Finance," accessed November 16, 2016
- ↑ CBS Miami, "Fundraising Slows In Medical Marijuana Battle," July 5, 2016
- ↑ WUSF, "FL Supreme Court OKs Medical Marijuana for Ballot," January 27, 2014
- ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "John Morgan praises Jesus, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis," November 10, 2019
- ↑ Florida Politics, "John Morgan posts video endorsing Andrew Gillum, mainly over marijuana," October 12, 2018
- ↑ Politico, "Wasserman Schultz steps down as DNC chair," July 24, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Debbie's damage control," February 19, 2015
- ↑ Sun Sentinel, "Wasserman Schultz disputes claim she offered to shift position on medical marijuana," February 20, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "John Morgan: I'm leaving Democratic party, Nelson should run for governor," November 24, 2017
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