FLORIDA: Merit Retention...Of Justices Of the Supreme Court (71 DAYS to VOTE OUT SCOFF-LAWS!)

Florida Kangaroo Supreme Court ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

Note: see bottom of page for judges Florida voters can boot in November!

Merit retention is a system of selecting Justices established by the voters when they amended the Florida Constitution in the 1970s. Under merit retention, the Governor appoints new Justices from a list of three to six names submitted by a Judicial Nominating Commission. The Governor must select from the list. Once appointed, Justices eventually must face the voters in a "yes" or "no" vote as to whether they should remain in office.

New Justices face their first merit retention vote in the next general election that occurs more than one year after their appointment. If not retained in office, the Justice will be replaced in the same manner appointed.

If retained, the Justice serves a six-year term beginning in early January following the merit retention election. The Justices then will again face an up or down vote in the general election occurring just before the six-year term expires. If not retained in office, the Justice will be replaced through the Judicial Nominating Commission system.

All terms of Justices end in early January of the year following their merit retention elections.

The Florida Constitution establishes a mandatory retirement age for Justices that occurs on or after their 70th birthdays. The exact date of retirement depends upon when the 70th birthday occurs. If it occurs during the first half of a Justice's six-year term, then the mandatory retirement age is the same as the birthday. If the 70th birthday occurs in the second half of a Justice's six-year term, then the Justice can remain in office until the full term expires.

Information About Current Justices

LEANDER J. SHAW, JR. Appointed1983- Mandatory retirement 2003
MAJOR B. HARDING Appointed 1991- Voluntary retirement 2002
CHARLES T. WELLS Appointed1994- Merit retention vote 2002
HARRY LEE ANSTEAD Appointed1994- Merit retention vote 2002
BARBARA J. PARIENTE Appointed 1997- Merit retention vote 2006
R. FRED LEWIS Appointed 1999- Merit retention vote 2006
PEGGY A. QUINCE Appointed 1999- Merit retention vote 2006

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All inquiries about this page:

 Craig Waters, (850) 414-7641, s/c 994-7641, watersc@flcourts.org

[Recovering_Democrat]

Katherine Harris is in the news today, and it brought back memories of how the Judiciary in that state tried to overrule the will of the people. Please, Florida, vote OUT the Kangaroo Court of Florida and let your Governor Jeb Bush appoint some Constitutionalists to the bench. Enough already of the legislators in robes.

[weegee]

BTTT!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Once appointed, Justices eventually must face the voters in a "yes" or "no" vote as to whether they should remain in office.

I hope the Florida voters can figure out the difference between "Yes" and "No."

[MonroeDNA]

I am going to vote "No" across the board. Will that help?

[Recovering_Democrat]

yes, please vote no early, and, like the Democrat Miami voters, often.

[Joe Boucher]

I know for one I will remember these pathetic jurists when I vote in this series of elections.

[sarasmom]

How does one evaluate judges for retention?

Not being a lawyer or a criminal,I have a problem evaluating sources on this topic.

From the answers I have been getting from other FReepers, it is a "lawyer" evaluation system.

I dont know about you, but a lawyer is the last person I would trust an opinion on, regarding good judges.

Kind of like the AMA blatantly avoiding "dangerous doctor" designations in their self-serving,self-policing policies of their "profession".

[randita]

Katherine Harris is in the news today, and it brought back memories of how the Judiciary in that state tried to overrule the will of the people.

One wonders if her book wasn't timed in part to refresh people's memories. According to a review of the book that I read, she was justifiably critical of the SCOFLA--pointed out that they made new law rather than interpreting existing law.

Make sure you hit the Florida Freeper site with your comments.

[3D-JOY]

I am wondering how we can organize to educate the voters to be sure and vote to remove these folks...it will take dedication and time.

What can one person do?

[CPT Clay]

Get the broken glass republicans out. We need retribution for what the SCOFLA put us through!!!!!!

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Don't worry. WE are on top of this in Florida. WE will be voting out as many of these morons as well as the circuit court level liberals as possible.

[3D-JOY]

I will be watching for any group effort to get the voters to know their names and vote "No to Retention".

I might make out some cards to hand out at events. Maybe with their names on them, people will remember. This is usually just at the end of the ballot and not even seriously considered.

Cards saying "vote no on the Supreme Court Justices" might even get the "dems" to vote too. LOL

After the Primary this will become a bigger priority!

[Tunehead54]

Bump for Justice!

[longtermmemmory]

Hi, I am new. I just saw the florida lawyer magazine and they have a major coverpage story about Justice Anstead. It is a major story about how wonderful a person he is. It is odd that such glowing publicity piece would be published by the Florida Bar which is controlled, by constitution and statute, by the Florida Supreme Court. I can't find any reference to it on the net, I need help finding it.

[PGalt]

Many thanks to Florida Freepers like yourself Nuke'm.

[longtermmemmory]

hi I am new, please check the previous post I made about a florida lawyers sposored cover story about anstead.

[SauronOfMordor]

Looks like Jeb will be picking two new SCOFLAs next year, plus maybe one or two more if they fail reapproval

[KS Flyover]

Welcome to FR.

Harry Lee Anstead: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida

[longtermmemmory]

Is this legal under the campaign laws? Are there any lawyers who understand this stuff and could explain. It just seems a bit fishy that this would happen just before the election.

[rstevens]

Also the NJ ruling will refresh the memories of the FL voters. Goodby Annus-Stead, you little weasel pri*k.