Justice Bell resigns from FL Supreme Court

Justice Kenneth B. Bell announced his resignation from the Florida Supreme Court this morning.

The resignation, effective October 1, means Gov. Charlie Crist will have a chance to appoint 4 of the court's 7 justices. Besides Bell and Raoul G. Cantero III, Justices Harry Lee Anstead and Charles T.Wells are due to retire in Crist's first term. Both Cantero and Bell were appointed by Jeb Bush.

In a move similar to Cantero's resignation last month for personal reasons, Bell said in a letter to Crist he will return to his hometown of Pensacola because of family, according to a news release issued by the state's highest court this morning.

“Serving the people of Florida as a justice,” Bell said in a written statement, “has been the greatest privilege of my public life.  Indeed, I wish I could continue to serve. "However, similar to the reasons recently expressed by Justice Cantero in his resignation, my family responsibilities require that I return full-time to Pensacola."   

Said Bell: "I will leave Tallahassee with many cherished friends and fond memories of my time on the Court. I hope that tendering this resignation today will give you sufficient time to complete the constitutional mechanism for appointing a replacement."

Bell , 52, became the first Justice appointed from the far Western Panhandle of Florida in more than a century when Bush named him to the state’s highest court on December 30, 2002., the release states.

Gov. Crist said in a statement:

“Justice Bell’s tenure on the Florida Supreme Court is to be commended.  He will be remembered for his firm belief in the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances on which our nation was founded.  As a justice, he was always careful to respect the appropriate roles of the judicial, legislative and executive branches.

“His experience as a trial court judge gave him a unique perspective for every case that came before the Court.  In addition, his heritage as a seventh-generation Pensacolian and the sole justice from Northwest Florida in a century has made him an important voice in the legal community.  I am certain his contributions to case law will endure for a very long time.

“As a person, Justice Bell was well liked and respected by all who served alongside him.  I wish him and his family all the best.  I am grateful to Justice Bell for his service to the people of Florida."

Comments

[Disgusted Republican]

God help the State of Florida.

Amen Disgusted Republican...

[Chris W]

Maybe we can bury that misbegotten voucher scheme once and "intelligent design" once and for all and Jeb! can be relegated to just a picture on the wall where he belongs.

Oh, for the day when nobody will pay any attention to him and the name 'Bush' shall not be heard any more in Florida politics.

WooHoo, maybe we can now get some form of sanity back in this State.

No more of Bush's Right Wing Whackos on our Supreme Court.

There's more to this that meets the eye... something's a'comin.

It does sound a little fishy!

[CSBrudy]

Lets see if the current slate thinks the Sarasota voters have a right to audit the optical scanners as they see fit.

Who thinks Bush's appointees actually want to know the true vote counts?

[David Schauer]

God does not really care about Florida or the Rays, World Cup, or World Series. The republicans really need to get over then need to insert their hallow vision of god into everyday life.

Bell and Cantero are huge losses for the court. They were two strong conservative voices who respected the role of the judiciary.

Hey, as long as the Republicans continue to gut the state courts and state agencies so they can increase corporate welfare this will happen.

The position for Florida State Supreme Court Justice is now open to the highest bidder! CSX your opening bid????

Bell and Cantero were very good judges, nice people and quality professionals. Its a huge loss for the Court.

I'm not sure I could stand working with Pariente 5 days a week either.

Pariente has a temper and the vocabularily that enhances it. Apparently, treating others the way you want to be treated is an alien concept to her.

[rich]

Another republican gov gets to nominate judges..I dont expect any improvement.

[terminator]

I know Jeb put some right wingnuts on the court but the thought of Chcuk Crist (the guy who couldn't pass the bar exam and only worked as a lawyer for minor league BB for a few years in St.Pete) nominating Supreme Court Justices is a tad revolting.
Chuck can't even spell Supreme Court!
Look for some real doozies. Probably some liberal weenies who are friends with his buddies Wexler, Geller and Gelber.

Hey rich... whoever said Chuck was a Republican?

Wow! Scott Makar get two shots at it now!

Is this Judge Hawkes chance to move up?

Paul Hawkes or Brad Thomas would be excellent choices.

Look out for some liberal traitors in the mold of Souter to be Crist's appointments.

[ctb]

I'm wondering what the 'other shoe' will be now - "family reasons", eh....?

[Lockwood Ridge]

It seems after signing into law a bill initiated by a non profit entity to require all chambers of commerce in florida be registered not for profit entities against cries of conflict of interest by the Orlando rep that happens to be an executive director of a not for profit chamber we see Charlie Crist, in yet another conflict of interest situation being touted as very high in the running for John McCain's VP running mate. Considering Florida's notorious election rigging (Christine Jennings v. Vern Buchannon, Sarasota, FL) Charlie Crist will have a chance to appoint at least 2 of the court's 7 justices before the election that may eventually have to ratify any voting irregularities that would catapault him to the presidency should McCain pass away while in office.

Read BLOG here
http://jrblog.typepad.com/jrblog/2008/05/charlie-crist-judicial-appointments-and-the-future-presidency-of-the-united-states.html

Maybe Crist can appoint Pruitt! After all he does have a certificate in waste water treatment from Indian River Community College!!!

Or perhaps if that doesn't work out he can always become the next Secretary of Education, should that become a possibility in the future!!!

Thomas? Are you kidding. Bush did him a favor not making him go into private practice where he would have miserably failed.

Terminator if you weren't such a hateful, close minded fool you would have noticed that Crist has made some excellent appointments to the bench since he took office. It is clear based on the quality of those selections that Crist is putting a premium on the skills of the applicants...not their political affiliation...this is a refreshing approach....and insures the independence of the judiciary.

The Jeb Bush ideological justices realized that they were never going to control the Florida Supreme Court, so they are resigning, using the old "family reasons" excuse.

Jeb Bush's legacy?

Going, going, going, and will be gone.

Paul Hawkes or Brad Thomas would be excellent choices?

No way, whatsoever.

Pariente has a temper and the vocabulary that enhances it. Apparently, treating others the way you want to be treated is an alien concept to her.

Posted by: | May 23, 2008 at 11:29 AM
-------

Ever attend oral arguments?

Justice Wells has the most temper and ill-treatment.

Justices Kise and LeMieux.

Maybe.

please pick cc for vp before he bungles up fla far worse than jeb ever did.

agreed.

something is definitely up.... ???