Florida Court-Splitting Plan Wins Approval of Key Senate Committee
A Florida Senate committee approved a controversial plan yesterday to beef up the the Florida Supreme Court and split it in half.
The plan would increase the number of justices from seven to 10, and create two five-member divisions of the court, one for criminal cases and the other for civil, according to the Tampa Tribune, the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post. The governor would appoint the new judges. Because the new jurists would lack seniority, they would join the court’s civil side that would hear future redistricting challenges.
Critics say the plan is designed to give more power to Republicans. Since it is a constitutional change, 60 percent of the voters would have to approve it.
The House approved the measure two weeks ago. The Senate budget committee approved the overhaul plan as an attachment to a bill that would give lawmakers more control over court rules. Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander told the Miami Herald the committee’s approval of the measure is intended to jump-start budget talks with the House speaker, who backs the court changes.
Hat tip to How Appealing and the Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
