The Florida Supreme Court has declined U.S. Rep Alan Grayson’s, D- Orlando, request to halt the foreclosures being handled by three South Florida law firms under investigation by the Attorney General, saying the high court has no jurisdiction.

Grayson’s action would have targeted the law offices of David J. Stern, Marshall C. Watson, and Shapiro & Fishman, which represent about 80 percent of the foreclosure proceedings in the state.

The court’s response, issued Tuesday, said the Florida Constitution and court rules did not give the Chief Justice authority to intercede in pending cases involving attorney misconduct, or to investigate allegations of fraud or misconduct in foreclosure cases. The fraud cases must first be ajudicated in trial courts, according to the response.

  

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Florida has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation.