Posted on 08/28/2008 8:47:54 AM PDT by Happy Valley Dude
TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Lakeland Judge Charles Canady to replace retiring Justice Raoul Cantero on the Florida Supreme Court, bringing the number of Hispanic justices back to zero.
Canady, 54, sits on the 2nd District Court of Appeal, where he was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002. A former Republican congressman, Canady was one of the floor managers in President Bill Clinton's impeachment attempt in 1999. The graduate of Yale Law School served in the Florida House between 1984 through 1990 as a Democrat. He changed his registration when he ran for Congress in 1992.
''He's a faithful servant in the truest sense of the word,'' Crist said.
Crist was heavily lobbied to pick Canady by members of the Christian right and former Bush staffers.
Crist said the appointment was ''one of the most important decisions I will make as governor,'' and he ``had taken such care in choosing a justice.''
But the Canady pick came less than 24 hours after the governor interviewed all five candidates for the job.
Canady, who is from Lakeland, served as general counsel to Gov. Jeb Bush from 2000 to 2002 and defended Bush's school voucher program, which gave tuition vouchers to children from failing public schools to attend private schools at taxpayer expense. The Supreme Court ruled 5-2 in 2006 that the program was unconstitutional.
Canady will replace Cantero on Sept. 6, three days after the court hears two expedited cases on the constitutionality of two constitutional amendments on the November ballot. The Sept. 3 hearing will address Amendment 9, which ties a proposal to reverse the court decision on vouchers with a mandate that schools spend 65 percent of their funds on the classroom, and Amendment 5, which asks voters to replace one third of all property taxes used for education with sales taxes and other revenues.
Canady will serve in the court's at-large position. On Wednesday, Crist also interviewed Judge Kevin Emas, 50, of the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami; Edward G. Guedes, 44, a Miami attorney; Judge Jorge Labarga, 55, of the 15th Judicial Circuit in West Palm Beach; and Judge Vincent G. Torpy, Jr., 52, of the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach.
Crist has another five weeks to appoint a second justice to fill the vacancy of Kenneth Bell who, like Cantero, is retiring because of family reasons. Bell's retirement takes effect Oct. 1. There are three applicants for Bell's seat, which must be filled by someone living within the jurisdiction of the First District Court of Appeal.
Canady said he has no plans to retire early and will move his wife and family to Tallahassee.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/662380.html
I’m shocked that Crist has chosen so well in this case. Maybe there is hope for him yet.
Perhaps one day the Supreme Court will not find a Constitutional Amendment unconstitutional...
A guy can dream, can’t he?
A Jeb-appointee is good in my book! YAY Gov. Crist! I’m glad I voted for you sir! Thank you.
Does anybody know why Crist isn’t being considered for McCain’s VP?
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Just my guess. Too similar to Romney. And Romney helps McCain in states where Crist would not: Nevada, Michigan, and Colorado.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I used to live in Lakeland, Canady was my rep when in congress. Yes, he is a good choice.
But Crist is still an oily RINO, and not one to be trusted in a crunch.
Idiot remark, more identity/racial politics from the Miami Herald. Very first sentence in the story. Very telling.
If yesterday's postings are any indication, it's because of rumors that he's gay. Even if it's not true, the McCain campaign cannot tolerate those rumors behind the campaign's back.
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