Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Michael MolineOctober 31, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has asked the Florida Supreme Court to reconsider allowing him to begin screening replacements for three of its justices, arguing the court may have “misapprehended” his arguments that he holds that authority. The court issued an order Oct. 15 declaring that only the next Governor has the authority to replace Justices R. Fred Lewis, Peggy A. […]

Danny McAuliffeSeptember 20, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott may have acted beyond his constitutional authority last week when he jump-started the Judicial Nominating Commission’s process of vetting potential justices to fill three soon-to-be vacancies on the state Supreme Court, new legal action contends. In a writ of quo warranto filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday, Common Cause and the League […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 12, 2018

The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission on Wednesday announced it would start accepting applications to fill three upcoming vacancies. Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, and Peggy A. Quince face mandatory retirement on the same day that term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Scott will leave office. Under the state constitution, judges and justices face mandatory retirement at […]

Jacob OglesAugust 11, 2018

Once U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney wraps up his final term in Washington, he may have a spot waiting on the bench instead. The Palm Beach County Bar Association reports Rooney among the list of applicants for a county court vacancy created by Dana Santino’s removal from the bench in July. “I’ve been thinking about this […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 17, 2018

Two veteran prosecutors are among the six finalists that Gov. Rick Scott will choose from to fill an open judicial seat for the Tallahassee region. The Second Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), after interviewing 12 applicants Tuesday, now sends their list to Scott. He has 60 days to make a decision. The finalists, according to […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 9, 2018

A panel that vets applicants for judgeships has set interviews to fill a vacancy on the 2nd Judicial Circuit in north Florida. The circuit’s Judicial Nominating Commission will meet at 9 a.m. on Jan. 16, at the Leon County Court House Annex, 1920 Thomasville Road, Room 213, Tallahassee. Commissioners will interview the following applicants for the opening, created by the retirement of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2017

When it comes to applying for a judgeship, the third time could be a charm for Alan Abramowitz. Abramowitz, executive director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Office, is one of 12 applicants for a Tallahassee-area circuit judge seat opening because of the retirement of Charles A. Francis. Abramowitz has applied to become a judge […]

Martin DyckmanMay 9, 2017

When the Florida Constitution Revision Commission was debating the election of judges 20 years ago, I sat in the gallery to hear my own words used to attack something that my editorials and columns consistently had supported. The issue was whether all trial judges should be chosen exclusively by appointment, without elections, in the same […]

Jim RosicaNovember 7, 2016

Patricia Strowbridge, appointed a trial-court judge by Gov. Rick Scott just last year, has become the third applicant for the upcoming vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court. Her application was received over the weekend, said Jason Unger, chair of the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, on Monday morning. Strowbridge, with a long background in adoption and family law, […]

Tag: Judicial Nominating Commission
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Carlos Muñiz makes short list for Florida Supreme Court

Rick Scott seeks another shot at screening Supreme Court nominees

Rick Scott’s coordination with justice nominating panel unconstitutional, groups argue

Apply within: Panel starts process to replace Supreme Court justices

Tom Rooney applies for county judgeship in Palm Beach

Six finalists picked for open Tallahassee judgeship

Interviews set for open Tallahassee judgeship

Open Tallahassee judgeship gets a dozen applicants

Martin Dyckman: Judges are not politicians, nor should they play politics

Patricia Strowbridge latest applicant for Supreme Court