Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 9, 2019

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Barbara Lagoa, chief judge of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami, to be the newest justice and first Cuban American woman on the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis announced his selection Wednesday morning at the Freedom Tower on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard. Her “proven commitment to upholding the rule of law, unparalleled legal […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2019

Rick Scott on Monday evening — just hours before his successor takes office — announced his final judicial appointments as Governor. They include naming his chief deputy general counsel to the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach. Meredith Sasso, 35, of Orlando, received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida, a […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 4, 2019

In what could be his final judicial namings as Governor, Rick Scott announced appointments Friday to the 7th and 9th Circuit and Orange County courts. He appointed Bryan Rendzio as circuit judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit, which includes Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. Rendzio, 43, of Ponte Vedra Beach, is a shareholder of Florida Business and […]

Staff ReportsNovember 17, 2018

Soon to be former Gov. Rick Scott on Friday announced 10 appointments to multiple Circuit and County Courts, according to a news release: — Alexander Bokor to the 11th Circuit Court. Bokor, 40, of Miami, is a Miami-Dade County Judge. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and his law degree from the University of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 9, 2018

Despite a looming legal challenge, nearly 60 people have applied for three upcoming vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court, including Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s former chief of staff. Carlos Muniz, now the general counsel to the U.S. Department of Education, was on a list of names provided to Florida Politics by Gov. Rick Scott‘s office […]

Staff ReportsMay 21, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott announced several judicial appointments late Monday. — Stephen Pitre to the 1st Judicial Circuit Pitre, 46, of Gulf Breeze, is a shareholder at Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond, & Stackhouse, P.A. He previously served as an Assistant State Attorney for the 1st Judicial Circuit. He received his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State […]

Staff ReportsMarch 13, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott appointed four new judges Monday, including the assistant U.S. attorney who helped prosecute a South Florida eye doctor linked in a corruption case to Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Scott named Carolyn Bell to the 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County. She was one of the federal prosecutors to […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is moving to remove Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente from a legal challenge to his judicial appointment power, saying she’s biased against him. Daniel Nordby, Scott’s general counsel, filed a motion for disqualification Monday. Scott’s decision follows Pariente “making disparaging remarks after the conclusion of the oral argument in this case on […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2017

The state’s Senate President and House Speaker could get an indirect say over judicial appointments—including state Supreme Court justices—under legislation filed Monday. The bill (HB 753), filed by Pensacola state Rep. Frank White—also a 2018 GOP candidate for attorney general—would allow the top Senate and House leaders to appoint people to judicial nominating commissions (JNCs), the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 14, 2017

A conservative watchdog says it’s filed a public records request for emails from Justice Barbara Pariente and Chief Justice Jorge Labarga after what it calls “the justices’ overt political bias.” The D.C.-based Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) late Monday released a copy of its request to the Florida Supreme Court. It asks for copies of […]

Tag: judicial appointments

Ron DeSantis picks Barbara Lagoa for state Supreme Court

Rick Scott makes final judicial appointments

Rick Scott makes what could be his last judicial appointments

Governor appoints 10 to circuit, county courts

Florida Supreme Court openings get dozens of applications

Rick Scott names four to circuit, county benches

Rick Scott names four new circuit judges

Rick Scott moves to throw Barbara Pariente off judicial appointments case

Legislative leaders could get influence over judicial appointments

Right-leaning watchdog now wants judicial emails after ‘hot mic’