Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 24, 2016

The head of the state’s child advocate program has lost a second bid to sit on the judicial bench. Alan Abramowitz, executive director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Office, was a finalist to replace retiring Circuit Judge George Reynolds III in Tallahassee’s 2nd Judicial Circuit. On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott instead appointed Robert E. Long Jr., the general counsel […]

Peter SchorschApril 19, 2016

Kudos to Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis. As detailed in an article in the Ocala Star-Banner, Lewis took the time to speak to students at Ocala’s Trinity Catholic High School. He did so as part of the court’s Justice Teaching Initiative, which he founded in 2006 to help Florida’s K-12 students understand the state’s laws and justice system. It’s a free program […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2016

In a decision that could signal the end of Republican domination of the Florida Legislature, a circuit judge last week approved a new map for 40 state Senate districts. Judge George Reynolds‘ ruling rejected boundaries for Senate districts drawn up by a top Republican. Reynolds instead signed off on a map drawn by a coalition of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2015

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Florida’s election supervisors are asking the courts to resolve the state Senate redistricting saga by March 15 to protect the “quality and integrity of the (voting) process.” The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections filed its notice Wednesday with Circuit Judge George Reynolds, who is in the process of deciding how to redraw the state’s 40 […]

Associated PressDecember 16, 2015

The state senator in charge of a new political map says that the Senate proposal was not drawn in a way to aid fellow Republicans or incumbents now in office. Sen. Bill Galvano was in charge of the Senate committee that was responsible for drawing a map for state Senate districts. The Bradenton Republican testified […]

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 […]

Associated PressDecember 7, 2015

A Florida judge is upholding two of the state’s main private school voucher programs. Circuit Judge George Reynolds on Monday ruled against a request by parents and education advocacy groups to shut down state-created programs that pay to send children to private schools. One of the programs provides private school tuition to children with disabilities […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

Mindful of time constraints, the judge in charge of the state Senate redistricting case said he’ll likely have to just pick one of the many proposed new maps rather than, say, combining elements of different ones. Circuit Judge George Reynolds held a pretrial hearing in the case on Tuesday, with trial set to begin 9:30 […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

The plaintiffs in the state Senate redistricting case could call 21 witnesses – and possibly more – at this month’s 5-day trial, according to filings in the case released Monday night. The plaintiffs, including the League of Women Voters of Florida, released a list of five “will call” witnesses: State Sen. Bill Galvano, the head of the […]

Tag: George Reynolds

Alan Abramowitz loses bid for circuit judgeship

Justice Fred Lewis addresses Catholic high school students

5 Florida pols screwed by the redistricting ruling

Elections supervisors to court: Decide Senate redistricting by March 15, please

State Senate district map is not partisan, Bill Galvano tells court

Plaintiffs lay blame for redistricting mess on Bill Galvano

State Senate redistricting trial set to begin Monday

Florida judge upholds state’s 2 main voucher programs

Judge in redistricting case says he may just “pick a map”

Judge to hold first pre-trial hearing for Senate redistricting