Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 17, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has approved a proposed constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in the state, according to an opinion released Thursday. The court on Thursday found that the amendment “embraces a single subject” and that the ballot title and summary and financial impact statement passed legal muster. “We therefore approve the proposed amendment and Financial Impact […]

Jim RosicaDecember 15, 2015

Former state Sen. Al Lawson on Tuesday said he will run for the state’s reconfigured 5th Congressional District that now stretches east-west from Jacksonville through Tallahassee to rural Gadsden County. The former state lawmaker said he “will officially announce and file for Congress in January,” according to a news release. “North Florida needs a strong, progressive […]

Associated PressDecember 14, 2015

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Leander Shaw, who served as the Florida Supreme Court’s first African-American chief justice, died Monday after a lengthy illness, the court announced. He was 85. Shaw was appointed to the court in 1983 by then-Gov. Bob Graham, and he retired in 2003, the court said in a news release. He served as chief justice from 1990 […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2015

A plaintiffs’ lawyer on Monday squarely set up his boogeyman for this week’s state Senate redistricting trial: Sen. Bill Galvano, the chamber’s redistricting chair, its Republican leader and a future Senate president. “He made all the significant decisions regarding their map,” said attorney David King in his opening statement. “None of the other senators ever saw […]

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2015

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Circuit Judge George Reynolds is scheduled to begin on Monday a five-day trial to determine the makeup of the state’s 40 senatorial districts. After listening to lawmakers, staff members, expert witnesses and other who will testify, Reynolds will have to pick one of five suggested maps submitted by the plaintiffs and the Legislature. One of […]

Melissa RossDecember 7, 2015

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown is pursuing a federal lawsuit, Brown v. Detzner, in the wake of the Florida Supreme Court’s approval of a redrawn congressional map for the state. Brown, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, argue that the change means “substantial retrogression” for African-American communities, along with significant dilution of the black vote in […]

Jim RosicaDecember 4, 2015

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Days after the state Supreme Court ordered a redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum now is exploring a primary challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, whose seat was redirected toward the Panhandle and Big Bend. A longtime Democratic Party official, though, says Gillum has a tough slog if he thinks he […]

Gary FineoutDecember 3, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court approved a sweeping overhaul of the state’s congressional districts on Wednesday, a move that will upend the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2016 elections. The justices ruled 5-2 in favor of the new boundaries for many of Florida’s 27 districts. The ruling signs off on the map that Circuit Judge […]

Jim RosicaDecember 2, 2015

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee on Wednesday said she was “disappointed” by the state Supreme Court’s decision in a redistricting case that could spell the end of her nascent congressional career. But Graham, elected in 2014, said she hadn’t decided which direction her public service will next take. The court approved a map that redraws […]

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court gave its blessing gave its blessing Wednesday to a congressional districts map that was picked by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis back in October. The high court had ruled in July that the Legislature gerrymandered eight of the state’s 27 congressional districts in violation of the 2012 Fair District amendments. […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court

Fla. Supreme Court green lights medical pot amendment

Al Lawson will run for new North Florida congressional district

Leander Shaw, first black Florida chief justice, dies at 85

Plaintiffs lay blame for redistricting mess on Bill Galvano

State Senate redistricting trial set to begin Monday

Corrine Brown’s federal lawsuit “has very little chance of succeeding”

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum considering run for Congress

Florida Supreme Court approves new congressional map

Gwen Graham staying course despite redistricting decision

Charlie Crist hails Florida Supreme Court’s approval of new congressional map