A tussle over a judicial vacancy

Gov. Charlie Crist wants the Supreme Court to advise him on whether a sudden vacancy on the county court bench in Tallahassee should be filled by appointment or election. The case pits Crist against the local election supervisor, Ion Sancho, who says th epost should be filled by election and filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to clarify the situation.

Here's what happened: Leon County Judge Tim Harley announced last week he would not run again for health reasons, and he announced his decision in the middle of the five-day qualifying period (April 28-May 2), effective midnight April 30. The local judicial nominating commission immediately said it would accept applications for the post -- with the goal of forwarding least three finalists to Crist. At the same time, Sancho accepted qualifying papers from three lawyers who want to run for the vacancy.

In a five-page letter to Chief Justice Fred Lewis, Crist wrote: "A rule preventing interim appointment to fill such vacancies would result in surprise last-minute contests that would be skewed in favor of a small pool of members of the Bar possessing inside information and those with the wherewithal to mobilize for a campaign very, very quickly."

Comments

My money is on Sancho. He's a partisan hack, but he knows his crap.

[Norquist = Traitor]

Anything to keep the GOP from appointing another conservative judge aka partisan hack.

You shouldn't be worried...Crist is not a Republican, much less a conservative.

3:59 - Exactly.

Sancho knows his stuff, and Crist has been too making too many decisions for political reasons lately. Can't believe he thinks the supreme court will help him.

Did you (try to) read the letter from Crist? ouch, I'm a lawyer, and got a headache halfway into the second page. If it were as simple as Crist says, there would be no controversy. Also, if it were that easy, Crist wouldn't need 5 pages to explain his "question."

Interesting question.

I agree with the first poster.

Ion Sancho is more than likely correct.

Ion Sancho is not registered under any party affiliation.

Even though preposterously-named elections supervisor may not necessarily be registered with either party, he's pink right down to his underwear. Count on him to go left at every turn.

9:08 Lefty? You mean he supports the people voting on the issue rather than allowing a partisan political appointee? Good call!

9:08 - Nope - he supports whatever position will best benefit the Democratic party!

[rjm]

What about Crist's main argument? (Or really, his advisers' main argument)

What's to keep judges from tipping off cronies to their impending vacancy and then leaving at the last minute?

Sorry, you can go back to your "libtard"/"repiglican" nonsense now. Don't worry, your party always knows best.

8:20 - you must not be from around these parts - anyone who's been here a while knows that he was a liberal democrat for years and simply changed his party affiliation to change the "appearance" of potential bias!

12:03 LOL Since when has becoming a Republican changed the appearance of potential bias?

He became an independent, you dolt!

I'm sure someone in the Governor's office has a spouse who can fill the void.

Appoint Daniel Woodring - though he would be overqualified for county court, it would be a good launching position into a DCA position for the future.

12:56 My bad. I don't actually know the guy or his affiliation. I was just mocking the GOP hypocrite at 12:03

1:13 = Daniel Woodring. Sorry Dan, you are not OVERqualified. Get over yourself.

Ion Sancho is a left winged guy. But thats not the point here. The point is this is a very important precedent, regardless of who occupies the Governor's Mansion. Should a judge be allowed to resign as qualifying ends, just so a friend can file at the last minute - as the only candidate - because his friend is the only person with the inside information?

I submit to you that is a horrible precedent, regardless of its legality. If it is legal, the Legislature should amend the qualifying statute to address it.

Nobody is overqualified to sit on County Court buddy. In fact, some of our best judges in FL came from the lower courts. Lower courts expose judges to a wide spectrum of law and equip them to handle large caseloads, and keep them concentrating on the law as opposed to skirt-chasing their clerks (cough cough First DCA). Maybe if some of our sitting members of the 1st District Court of As The World Turns had cut their teeth in the lower courts, the DCA wouldnt be such a clusterf*** right now.

Hey~
Judge Hawkes' son, Jeremiah, is about done as House General Counsel. He'd be a good option, wouldn't he? He used to be an assistant State Attorney so he knows his way around a courtroom. His daddy can eventually retire and he can be elevated to take his place.

Is this the opening the Solicitor General has been waiting for?

How likely is it that Nina Ashenafi Richardson could be appointed, since she raised a good bit of money for her campaign?

[Peach]

The wife of a Democratic legislator? Not bloody likely. Not that Ms. Ashenafi is unqualified, but Crist would have to be off his rocker to name her to the bench, lest he alienate the conservative GOP base even further.

I predict one long alienation for the conservative GOP base over the coming decade.

10:13 - Jeremiah, get back to work.

10:16 = Curtis Richardson - you should just - GO AWAY!