Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 5, 2019

Removing party affiliation from several Hillsborough County elected positions might still be in play after a Florida Supreme Court decision upends what was once thought to be a done deal. Late in June, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 5-2 to hold a referendum asking voters whether candidates for constitutional offices like Sheriff and Property appraiser should […]

Scott PowersJanuary 4, 2019

On Friday, Florida’s Supreme Court upheld an Orange County charter amendment to make the county’s constitutional officers nonpartisan, a decision that could open partisan and nonpartisan debates in other counties. By a 4-3 vote, the court quashed a lower-court ruling that had kept Orange County’s elections partisan for the constitutional offices of sheriff, tax collector, […]

Staff ReportsDecember 27, 2018

Grab your iPhones Xs, Pixels and Galaxy Notes: The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday debuted its first ever “smartphone-friendly” website. “We were one of the first courts in the world to use the web starting in 1994,” Chief Justice Charles Canady said in a statement. “Our new site continues a long heritage of transparency and openness […]

Phil AmmannDecember 13, 2018

Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis’ looming appointments of three Florida Supreme Court justices brings into stark relief the urgent need to institute a fair, nonpartisan and merit-based selection process for judicial nominations in our state. The process for nominating state judges has become increasingly politicized in recent years, threatening the independence and impartiality of our courts. This […]

Ryan NicolDecember 11, 2018

State Sen. Perry Thurston has filed a new bill (SB 138) which would alter the makeup of judicial nominating commissions (JNC) starting in 2019. The bill would reduce the Governor’s control over the commissions, reverting the nominating process to the one that existed before 2002. Currently, the Governor is allowed to make five appointments to […]

Ryan NicolNovember 30, 2018

In light of news the Florida Supreme Court will be without a black justice for the first time in 36 years, Democrats in the state Senate are pushing to reform the state’s judicial nominating panels. “The latest nominations submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) to the incoming governor underscore how politicized the process has […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 29, 2018

Pinellas County taxpayers are officially off the hook for a $16.5 million claim from a developer who says it was wrongfully denied rezoning permits to build a 246-unit luxury apartment in Safety Harbor. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday denied hearing an appeal from the Richman Group of Florida, the project developer, in a case […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2018

Carlos Muñiz, former chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, is on the list of 11 finalists for three openings on the Florida Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), which met privately to go over the 59 applicants, released its list Tuesday afternoon. Muñiz, now the general counsel to the U.S. Department of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 26, 2018

Earlier this year, Gov. Rick Scott said he wanted to appoint Duval County Judge Lester Bass to succeed Judge Robert Foster on the 4th Judicial Circuit bench. On Monday, the outgoing Governor and now Senator-elect got his wish. Bass’s appointment to the 4th Circuit came after considerable legal wrangling regarding whether Scott had the right to appoint at all. Jacksonville lawyer David Trotti […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2018

The body that licenses and regulates the state’s nearly 107,000 lawyers is looking for a non-lawyer to be a member of its governing board. “A screening committee of The Florida Bar Board of Governors has been appointed to review the applications for the public member position, conduct final interviews and make recommendations to the Bar’s […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court could put Hillsborough nonpartisan races back in play

Supreme Court upholds Orange County’s nonpartisan elections law

Florida Supreme Court launches smartphone-friendly website

Trelvis Randolph: Justice in jeopardy – the reshaping of Florida’s Supreme Court

Perry Thurston files bill to reform Judicial Nominating Commission

Senate Democrats push to overhaul judicial nominating process

Supreme Court halts Pinellas’ pricey battle with developer

Carlos Muñiz makes short list for Florida Supreme Court

Case closed: Lester Bass appointed (finally) to 4th Circuit court

The Florida Bar seeks non-lawyer board member