meandmyself, you are
partly right - but not about the media publishing your name and your face.
Most states prohibit law enforcement officers and court officials from releasing the names of juveniles, and juvenile records are considered confidential. The media and the public are not allowed access to them. In addition, traditionally, juvenile court hearing are closed to the public, and whether to allow media coverage of the hearings is determined on a case-by-case basis. A judge can deny all access.
HOWEVER, Florida state law does NOT PROHIBIT the release of juvenile records if the child is charged with a felony. Also, the media CANNOT be sanctioned in ANY state for revealing information that was legally obtained - including the names, addresses, and photos of juvenile offenders.
One Supreme Court case in particular makes clear that prosecution of the media under state statutes for publishing the names and photos of juveniles is barred by the First Amendment.
In
Smith v Daily Mail Publishing Company, 443 US (1979), the Court said, "If a newspaper obtains truthful information about a matter of public significance then state officials may not constitutionally punish publication of the information, absent a need to further a state interest of the highest order." ANYTHING that qualifies as a "matter of public interest" and that is published by the media is protected by the First Amendment.
Florida Starr v B.J.F, 491 US (1989) addressed the First Amendment issue as it applies to the publication of rape victims' names. Again, the media is protected in publishing truthful information that is a matter of public concern (although, as a note on this case, the publication of the rape victim's name was an inadvertant error - the media will generally not publish a victim's name as an
ethical rule but not because it is a legal requirement).
Some state statutes consider a "minor" anyone under the age of 14 when it comes to releasing records, while other states allow public access to records when the "minor" is over the age of 12 and has committed a felony.
In Carl's state of California, which bars access to juvenile records for the most part, there is public access to juvenile felony hearings which involve gang activity.
Finally, the media may be given permission from the court to attend juvenile hearings, and the media may be given permission from the court to have cameras in the courtroom to film or photograph the proceedings. In a recent Florida case, where a juvenile was accused of murdering his parents, the trial court held that print and broadcast media had the right to attend and photograph the detention hearing, but barred the broadcasting of, and printing the photograph of, the juvenile's face.
So, as everyone pretty much has told you already, you have no grounds to sue. The media has the constitutional right to publish your name, your photograph and the facts of your case. And Florida state law supports the right of the media to publish the names and photos of juveniles who have committed a felony.
For a more complete picture of the Florida statutes on confidentiality as it applies to juveniles, you can go to
http://www.pdmiami.com/cpr/Morrison_Memo_JUV_confidential.pdf.