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In surprise move, Florida GOP opposes Supreme Court justices’ retention in November
Miami Herald ^ | September 21, 2012 | Mary Ellen Klas

Posted on 09/22/2012 4:20:06 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

TALLAHASSEE -- The Republican Party of Florida waded into a traditionally apolitical fight Friday, announcing it will oppose the retention of three state Supreme Court justices on the November ballot.

In a statement released by its spokeswoman, the party said its executive board voted unanimously this week to oppose Justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince in November’s retention elections. The justices do not face opponents, but voters are asked every six years to vote yes or no on whether they should remain on the job.

The party statement singled out a 2003 case by the court as its main reason for its unprecedented decision to oppose the justices. In the case, Quince and Pariente voted with former Justices Harry Lee Anstead and Raoul Cantero to order a new trial for Joe Elton Nixon, who was sentenced to death for the 1984 murder of Jeanne Bickner in Leon County, because of unfair legal representation.......

Nixon, who was convicted of tying Bickner to a tree with jumper cables and setting her on fire, argued during a lengthy appeals process that he never gave his attorney the authority to admit his guilt to the jury, violating his right to a fair trial.

The high court agreed with him in the 5-2 ruling but, in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court voted unanimously to overturn that decision.....

Supporters of the justices accused the state GOP of using the merit-retention vote, and the case, as a subterfuge to try to seize control of the courts. If a majority of voters reject the justices, Republican Gov. Rick Scott will have an opportunity to appoint their replacements.....

....The decision by the state GOP to enter the debate allows the party to use its fundraising heft to steer money into opposition campaigns.......

(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cleaninghouse; courts; fl; florida; votervoice
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To: txrefugee

GOP legislatures should impeach judges. After the GOP wins the Senate and retains the House, they ought to impeach Chief Justice Roberts because of his ObamaCare decision, where he caved into outside pressure. Roberts lacks the judicial temperament. He ought to resign, but he’s a coward. Impeach Roberts.


21 posted on 09/22/2012 5:55:45 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (.Are they stupid, malicious or evil?)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Cincinatus’ Wife.


22 posted on 09/22/2012 5:58:31 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: ImNotLying

“Unfortunately, a number of these liberal judges have been appointed by Republican governors over the years”

You mean Republican governors like Charlie Crist? Bwahahaha!


Try Jeb Bush....


23 posted on 09/22/2012 6:10:15 AM PDT by SeminoleCounty (Egypt wants to execute me.)
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To: Jabba the Nutt

Impeaching Roberts might be the one thing that ends the complicit silence of GWB!


24 posted on 09/22/2012 6:12:50 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
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To: Guenevere

I know what I am talking about. I live and vote in Florida.

Since Bob Martinez became the first GOP guv in Florida in the late 1980s...the GOP has been appointing judges just as bad as the DNC...and not just the FL Supremes....it goes down to Appelate and District Courts.

I vote “no” on every judicial retention vote


25 posted on 09/22/2012 6:14:15 AM PDT by SeminoleCounty (Egypt wants to execute me.)
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To: Delhi Rebels
If the case in question was 9 years ago then why didn’t the Florida GOP oppose them the last time they were up for retention? What’s the real reason for the opposition?

That's only one of the cases, but being the most visible, it was used as an example. The climate has changed over the last 4 years and the time is ripe to implement some justice (sadly lacking in these three) and to help stir up support and enthusiasm in Repubicans (and Conservatives) for November.

26 posted on 09/22/2012 6:15:00 AM PDT by trebb ("If a man will not work, he should not eat" From 2 Thes 3)
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To: spacejunkie2001
pretty sure it has to do with the fact that these 3 justices ruled against nationalized healthcare being on the ballot for the PEOPLE to vote down.

Then why point to a 9 year old death penalty case?

27 posted on 09/22/2012 6:18:42 AM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
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To: SeminoleCounty

Try Jeb Bush....


When did Jeb Bush take office?

77. Barbara J. Pariente (Palm Beach) Dec. 10, 1997 Appointed .. On ballot 2012

78. R. Fred Lewis (Dade) Dec. 7, 1998 Appointed .. On ballot 2012

79. Peggy A. Quince (Hillsborough) Dec. 8, 1998 Appointed .. On ballot 2012


28 posted on 09/22/2012 6:27:47 AM PDT by deport
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To: Guenevere

bttt


29 posted on 09/22/2012 6:33:14 AM PDT by Matchett-PI ("A right can't come at the expense of another" ~ Walter Williams)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
It's time to consider non-attorneys as judges

certainly couldn't do any worse and might bring some common sense to the bench

.

30 posted on 09/22/2012 6:34:33 AM PDT by Elle Bee
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Howsabout we go after the chief “justice” of the suprime court?
HUH??
(caps locked out deliberatly.)


31 posted on 09/22/2012 6:53:54 AM PDT by Flintlock (-THE TRUTH--It's the NEW hate speech.)
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To: deport

And for those of us with long memories:

Anstead, Pariente, Lewis and Quince concurred with

“The Petition of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney for Stay of this Court’s Order Pending Review of Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court is hereby denied.”

see:

http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/election/index.shtml

I’ve been voting against them since 2000.


32 posted on 09/22/2012 6:56:54 AM PDT by NelsTandberg
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To: Delhi Rebels

Because the news to these idiots is that the FL GOP is getting behind ousting them and the Miami Herald had to point to ‘something’ that was causing it :)


33 posted on 09/22/2012 7:02:37 AM PDT by spacejunkie2001
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To: deport

Bush took office in 1999. These are Dem Lawton Chiles appointees.


34 posted on 09/22/2012 7:53:25 AM PDT by chuckee
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

“Supporters of the justices accused the state GOP of using the merit-retention vote, and the case, as a subterfuge to try to seize control of the courts.”

No, actually, it’s called holding them ACCOUNTABLE. If they don’t like it, there’s always life on the outside.


35 posted on 09/22/2012 8:04:37 AM PDT by BobL (You can live each day only once. You can waste a few, but don't waste too many.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I’ll take it. I have voted against every one of the Kangaroo Court Florida Black Robed Donkeys every election since their 2000 attempt to change the law to suit Al Gore.

Besides, Obamugabe has taken on the entire Supreme Court in his State of the Union Lie Fest...so this is nothing for the libs to bitch about.


36 posted on 09/22/2012 8:05:16 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: Delhi Rebels
What is the real reason?

...uh...to get more conservatives to come out to vote in Florida. The issue will get more visibility with them bringing it up. Gives people like us one more reason to get out and vote.
37 posted on 09/22/2012 9:04:18 AM PDT by AdamBomb
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To: Guenevere
Most of you have no idea what you're talking about!

Excuse me? Who the H are you to be telling me that since you have no idea in what I have been telling people for years to vote no automatically for all Judges? As far as I am concerned, there may be a few good ones out there but until those few figure out a way to clean up their own swamp, I'll still use the dragnet approach to clean out the swamp. Same goes for Muslims.

You had better get your estrogen in check before flying off the handle like that. Civility has long since left the station so if you meant it in another direction, you had better revise and extend your remarks before the flames really start to shoot.

38 posted on 09/22/2012 9:16:59 AM PDT by mazda77 ("Defeating the Totalitarian Lie" By: Hilmar von Campe. Everybody should read it.)
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To: muawiyah

“The judiciary and justice are best served with a high turnover rate on the bench! “

Amen! And so are the people....This should become a PERMANENT(Res Judicata) part of the Republican Party platform.


39 posted on 09/22/2012 9:46:11 AM PDT by firefox ((Vote Democrat...Its Easier Than Thinking!))
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To: JulieRNR21; kinganamort; katherineisgreat; floriduh voter; summer; Goldwater Girl; windchime; ...

Florida Freeper


40 posted on 09/22/2012 10:34:56 AM PDT by Joe Brower (Sheep have three speeds: "graze", "stampede" and "cower".)
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