Yes, they are late to the party.
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 ...
They are just jumping on the bandwagon. There is a concerted effort by all the tea party groups in this state to oust them and has been going on for months now. This will add some prominence to the issue but the former justices mentioned were also booted out because of a similar campaign.
It’s high time for judges to be ousted for their ridiculous rulings.
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?
The judiciary and justice are best served with a high turnover rate on the bench!
Because....
They believe the votes will get behind this.
They believe this will bring more votes to the GOP ticket.
See post #2. Maybe that is the answer.
Good. While the left likes to portray the judiciary as “apolitical”, nothing could be further from the truth.
“It’s high time for judges to be ousted for their ridiculous rulings.”
Yay!
Throw their lamea$$e$ OUT!
Unfortunately, a number of these liberal judges have been appointed by Republican governors over the years
Regardless of the party...we seem to get liberal Florida Supreme Court Justices. And, judging by the way he has supported the Black Racist groups in the George Zimmerman case...looks like Rick Scott will be picking more liberal justices.
I vote “no” on every judicial election, but it just seems we keep getting the same liberals
bttt
Welcome to FR - if 3 months late.
“Unfortunately, a number of these liberal judges have been appointed by Republican governors over the years”
You mean Republican governors like Charlie Crist? Bwahahaha!
Yes, they are late to the party.
These three judges are the worst of the worst....
..Lewis and Pariente were appointed by Democrat Lawton Chiles...and Quince was appointed by Jeb Bush (supposedly because she had already been appointed & was in the vetting process when Bush arrived, and he didn't want to stop the process)
Bump!
It’s about time they took a stand. I always vote “No.”
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.
I always have voted no on retaining judges I think they should have terms and then go back to the real world they have helped mold.
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