Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

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Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga has been re-elected by his colleagues to serve a second two-year term, the first justice to serve two consecutive terms as chief since the end of the Civil War, according to a Friday news release. “It is a privilege to serve the people of Florida,” Labarga said. “My second term will […]

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 RosicaNovember 3, 2015

A measure that would impose term limits on Florida’s appellate-level judges cleared its first House committee on Tuesday. The House Civil Justice subcommittee approved the bill (HB 197) on an 8-5 vote largely along party lines, though one Republican, George Moraitis of Fort Lauderdale, voted against it. State Rep. John Wood, the Winter Haven Republican sponsoring […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 22, 2015

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga has been released from the hospital after successful surgery for kidney cancer, a court spokesman said Tuesday. He’s now resting at home, spokesman Craig Waters told FloridaPolitics.com, but “resting” isn’t the word we’d use. Labarga “has been actively working using remote devices since last Thursday,” Waters said. “I have had […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 18, 2015

A measure filed Friday would limit Florida’s appellate judges and Supreme Court justices to 12 years on the bench. It’s the first formal initiative to come out of House Speaker-Designate Richard Corcoran‘s policy playbook. The joint resolution (SJR 322) was filed by a state senator, Elkton Republican Travis Hutson. State Rep. John Wood, a Winter Haven Republican, filed […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 17, 2015

Dr. John Armstrong, Florida’s surgeon general and Health Department secretary, on Thursday said he has colon cancer and will be undergoing surgery Friday. Armstrong, appointed in 2012, disclosed his diagnosis in a note to department employees. “We all know health is personal, and today I need to share with you how it is impacting my […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 17, 2015

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga “is resting comfortably amid a room full of Florida ‘Gator gifts and balloons from well-wishers” after successful surgery for kidney cancer, a court spokesman said Thursday. Labarga, who got his bachelor and law degrees from the University of Florida, underwent the operation at Shands Hospital in Gainesville this […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 4, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday said it will have the last word on redrawing the state’s congressional district map. In a nine-page order, the court told Circuit Judge Terry Lewis to hear from all sides and “then make a recommendation to (this) Court … as to which map proposed by the parties – or which portions of each map – best fulfills the specific directions […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 4, 2015

Jorge Labarga, chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, on Friday said he has been diagnosed with cancer and is set to have a kidney removed later this month at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. “Doctors tell me that my prognosis is very good after surgery because the cancer was detected early by blood tests during a […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant a writ of mandamus to Senate Democrats seeking to compel the Florida House to return to Tallahassee to finish the 2015 regular legislative session. Five of the seven justices, though, said the House actions violated the state Constitution as Democrats argued. In a unanimous ruling the […]

Tag: Jorge LaBarga

Jorge Labarga to repeat as state’s chief justice

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

Term limits for appellate judges OK’d by House panel

Jorge Labarga “resting” at home? Not exactly

Measure would limit Florida appeal judges to 2 terms

State’s surgeon general says he has colon cancer

Jorge Labarga recovering from cancer surgery

Fla. Supreme Court says it will have final word on redistricting

State’s chief justice has cancer, will undergo surgery

Session over: Court rules against Senate Democrats, but says walkout illegal