Norm Kent
Encyclopedia
Norman Elliott Kent. (born 18 October 1949 in Brooklyn, New York) is a South Florida criminal defense attorney, publisher and radio talk show
host.
The founder and publisher of The Express, in 1999, and the newly inaugurated South Florida Gay News.com, Florida's largest gay and lesbian
weekly newspaper
, Kent was previously the morning drive talk show host for WFTL-1400 AM from 1989-1997. As an attorney, Kent has brought suit against local governments in Florida on behalf of civil rights
such as Freedom of Speech
many times. A frequent guest lecturer at colleges and in community forums, Kent has published numerous articles advocating civil rights protections for the LGBT community and for Decriminalization of cannabis in the United States. He has authored 'The Pot Warriors Manifesto.'
After surviving a bout with lymphoma
, he had another stint at the new WFTL-850 AM from 2002-2005 as a daily talk show host, though in the interim periods he hosted 'Weekend Legal' on various local radio stations. He currently publishes SouthfloridaGayNews.com, the Broward Law Blog, and contributes columns to the Counterpunch political newsletter.
He is a life member of the National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and has appeared on Dateline, Court TV
, Fox News and Friends, as well as CNN
Live as a political and legal commentator. As a constitutional rights attorney, he has represented juveniles in a class action against detention centers, and sued to enjoin the State of Florida from illegally spraying paraquat
on marijuana fields.
A graduate of both Hofstra University
in 1971 and the Hofstra School of Law in 1975, Kent relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
in 1976, where he has maintained a law practice for over 30 years.
for marijuana law reform, he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), has contributed articles to High Times Magazine, and has, during his law career, successfully represented clients who defended marijuana use based on medical necessity
.
In 2007, his defense of marijuana decriminalization led to a national debate with a former classmate at Hofstra University, now a former U.S. Senator, Norm Coleman
from Minnesota
. Kent published a stinging letter at celebstoner.com, outing Coleman's contemporary positions on marijuana law reform, comparing it to his days as a user when he was a college student and fellow classmate. Norm Kent and Norm Coleman
were college roommates and the letter from Kent revealed the hypocrisy of Coleman's "war on drugs
" position considering the way they used to "tape the doors shut and burn incense" during their college days together. This became an unfortunate talking point during Coleman's 2008 campaign against Al Franken
.
to be a part of their larger umbrella of national gay media sources. It was then re-titled The Express and then The South Florida Blade. On November 16, 2009, all publications under Window Media management were shut down because of the financial status of its parent company, Window Media and its majority stockholder, Avalon Equity Partners
. Retaining most of the staff at first, South Florida Blade was then re-opened once again by Mark Haines as The Agenda.
At the same time, Norm Kent started a new LGBT Newspaper and Website called South Florida Gay News, which is today, Florida's most widely read LGBT news source.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host.
The founder and publisher of The Express, in 1999, and the newly inaugurated South Florida Gay News.com, Florida's largest gay and lesbian
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
weekly newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, Kent was previously the morning drive talk show host for WFTL-1400 AM from 1989-1997. As an attorney, Kent has brought suit against local governments in Florida on behalf of civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
such as Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
many times. A frequent guest lecturer at colleges and in community forums, Kent has published numerous articles advocating civil rights protections for the LGBT community and for Decriminalization of cannabis in the United States. He has authored 'The Pot Warriors Manifesto.'
After surviving a bout with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, he had another stint at the new WFTL-850 AM from 2002-2005 as a daily talk show host, though in the interim periods he hosted 'Weekend Legal' on various local radio stations. He currently publishes SouthfloridaGayNews.com, the Broward Law Blog, and contributes columns to the Counterpunch political newsletter.
He is a life member of the National Academy of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and has appeared on Dateline, Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
, Fox News and Friends, as well as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Live as a political and legal commentator. As a constitutional rights attorney, he has represented juveniles in a class action against detention centers, and sued to enjoin the State of Florida from illegally spraying paraquat
Paraquat
Paraquat is the trade name for N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Paraquat, a viologen, is quick-acting and non-selective, killing green plant tissue on contact. It is also toxic to human beings and animals...
on marijuana fields.
A graduate of both Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in 1971 and the Hofstra School of Law in 1975, Kent relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
in 1976, where he has maintained a law practice for over 30 years.
Marijuana Legalization Advocacy
A long time advocateAdvocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
for marijuana law reform, he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), has contributed articles to High Times Magazine, and has, during his law career, successfully represented clients who defended marijuana use based on medical necessity
Medical necessity
Medical necessity is a United States legal doctrine, related to activities which may be justified as reasonable, necessary, and/or appropriate, based on evidence-based clinical standards of care. Other countries may have medical doctrines or legal rules covering broadly similar grounds...
.
In 2007, his defense of marijuana decriminalization led to a national debate with a former classmate at Hofstra University, now a former U.S. Senator, Norm Coleman
Norm Coleman
Norman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Kent published a stinging letter at celebstoner.com, outing Coleman's contemporary positions on marijuana law reform, comparing it to his days as a user when he was a college student and fellow classmate. Norm Kent and Norm Coleman
Norm Coleman
Norman Bertram Coleman, Jr. is an American attorney and politician. He was a United States senator from Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Coleman was elected in 2002 and served in the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses. Before becoming a senator, he was mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1994 to 2002...
were college roommates and the letter from Kent revealed the hypocrisy of Coleman's "war on drugs
War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...
" position considering the way they used to "tape the doors shut and burn incense" during their college days together. This became an unfortunate talking point during Coleman's 2008 campaign against Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
.
LGBT Advocacy & Newspapers
Norm Kent began Express Gay News in South Florida in 1999 - the very first credible LGBT newspaper in Broward County. Four years later it was sold to Window MediaWindow Media
Window Media was a gay press publishing holding company that acquired and operated gay and lesbian newspapers and magazines in the 2000s. It is not to be confused with Windows Media...
to be a part of their larger umbrella of national gay media sources. It was then re-titled The Express and then The South Florida Blade. On November 16, 2009, all publications under Window Media management were shut down because of the financial status of its parent company, Window Media and its majority stockholder, Avalon Equity Partners
Avalon Equity Partners
Avalon Equity Partners is a New York, New York-based investment group that invested in media, communications and information services industries...
. Retaining most of the staff at first, South Florida Blade was then re-opened once again by Mark Haines as The Agenda.
At the same time, Norm Kent started a new LGBT Newspaper and Website called South Florida Gay News, which is today, Florida's most widely read LGBT news source.