Litigation

FL Court Proposals Spark Pushback

By Peter Hardin

Just how sweeping are legislative proposals to overhaul the Florida Supreme Court and merit selection of judges?

Answers columnist Howard Troxler of the St. Petersburg Times about these and related proposals:

“It is revolution. It is constitutional usurpation. It is practically a whole new form of government.

“But I’ll tell you what it ain’t. It ain’t ‘conservative.’”

In addition to criticizing a proposal for an expanded, and then split-up, high court (see Gavel Grab), Troxler also tees off on other proposals. He sums them up this way:

“A totally political nominating system with no check on the governor’s choices. Appeals judges subject to being removed on the spot if the Legislature doesn’t like a ruling. The Legislature controlling the rules of evidence, of procedure, and operation of the judicial branch.”

His column is entitled, “Legislature seeks to saw off the judicial branch.” It notes that if the legislature advances the proposals, voters would be asked to sign off on most of them in 2012.

A Palm Beach Post article looks in more depth at some of the proposals. It is headlined, “Split the Florida Supreme Court? Republican lawmakers say it would speed up justice.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on March 21, 2011 (boomark / email).