Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 19, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court is asking for more judges. The high court on Thursday formally asked the state Legislature for 24 new judgeships across the state. The court is asking for one new circuit judgeship in the central Florida judicial circuit covering Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. The justices say the 5th Judicial […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2015

The plaintiffs in the state Senate redistricting litigation filed six versions of a redrawn district map late Wednesday night, according to an email from their spokeswoman. Despite previous directions against drawing districts that cross Tampa Bay in a congressional redistricting case, their plans include areas that ‘jump the Bay.’ The plaintiffs and the Legislature have now filed proposals for […]

Jim RosicaNovember 18, 2015

In the ongoing saga over state Senate redistricting, everything old is new again. The state Senate on Wednesday disclosed its proposed fix for its gerrymandered districts, a mash-up of two previous maps: One was passed by the Senate, another was drawn but not voted on in the recent Special Session. Because lawmakers couldn’t agree, it’s now […]

Associated PressNovember 13, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court is canceling a Dec. 8 hearing scheduled to consider a measure to legalize medical marijuana. The court announced the decision Friday. The move comes a few days after Attorney General Pam Bondi said she will not ask the court to block the latest medical marijuana amendment. The Supreme Court is reviewing […]

Drew WilsonNovember 12, 2015

Anti-gambling group No Casinos Inc. launched a new political committee late last month and jump-started its fundraising with a $195,000 check. Voters in Charge paperwork reached state elections officials Oct. 21 and the contribution followed two days later. The committee is chaired by No Casinos President John Sowinski and Abby Dupree is listed as the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 11, 2015

Of the groups behind two solar-power constitutional amendments competing to get on the 2016 ballot, one currently has more signatures, but the other now has raised gobs more cash. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar has raised nearly $3.8 million, including $2.3 million in October alone, according to online campaign finance reports. The latest disclosures were due […]

Gary FineoutNovember 11, 2015

A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The hope is that the court will soon end three years of lawsuits, court hearings and special sessions by finally endorsing a new map […]

Jim RosicaNovember 10, 2015

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Circuit Judge George Reynolds stuck to his guns Tuesday, saying that pre-trial conference and trial dates for a state Senate redistricting challenge were “carved in stone.” Reynolds held a brief case management conference at the Leon County Courthouse, reiterating that Dec. 1 and Dec. 10 would be reserved for pre-trial, with trial remaining on Dec. 14-18. As he […]

Jim RosicaNovember 10, 2015

Despite questions on many parts of the map, the Florida Supreme Court Tuesday focused on South Florida during the final scheduled oral argument in an ongoing congressional redistricting challenge. That inflamed Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, whose north-south district had been ordered changed by the court to an east-west configuration. That district didn’t get a mention. Brown, wearing […]

Jim RosicaNovember 10, 2015

The outside lawyer for the Florida House of Representatives argued in a legal brief against a set of suggested congressional district boundaries in part by saying there’s no legal requirement “to create the ‘best’ possible districts.” George Meros, a Tallahassee attorney who also represented then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential recount, says the court […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Florida Supreme Court seeks 24 more judgeships statewide

Redistricting plaintiffs come in with six new maps

Senate submits proposed redistricting map

Supreme Court cancels December hearing on medical marijuana

No Casinos jump-starts anti-gambling campaign with $195K check

Utility-backed solar amendment rakes in campaign cash

Supreme Court considers changes to Florida’s political map

Judge holds to dates for state Senate redistricting trial

Corrine Brown lambastes state Supreme Court over congressional redistricting

House lawyer: Congressional districts don’t need to be perfect