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Florida Governor Appoints Sixth Conservative Justice to State Supreme Court
Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Judge Adam Tanenbaum to the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday, further cementing the conservative majority on the state’s highest judicial body. Tanenbaum, previously a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, becomes DeSantis’ sixth conservative appointee to the seven-member court.
During his appointment announcement at Seminole High School, his alma mater in the St. Petersburg area, Tanenbaum pledged his commitment to “originalism” – a judicial philosophy that interprets laws according to their original meaning at the time of enactment, rather than allowing interpretations to evolve over time.
“Sometimes the circumstances require boldness to restore our jurisprudence to its historical roots,” Tanenbaum stated, adding that judges shouldn’t hesitate to correct “erroneous interpretation of the text” even if it means departing from precedent.
Tanenbaum replaces Charles Canady, who departed after serving 17 years as a justice to take a position at the University of Florida. Prior to his appellate court role, Tanenbaum served as general counsel for the Florida House of Representatives and held legal staff positions in various state agencies, building significant experience in Florida’s governmental operations.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for the Florida Supreme Court, which faces several high-profile cases in the coming year. Among them is determining whether a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana for adults can appear on the November ballot. The court will also decide whether the statewide prosecutor’s office has jurisdiction to pursue election crime cases – a matter with significant implications for Florida’s election integrity initiatives.
Before announcing Tanenbaum’s appointment, DeSantis signaled his desire for the court to take a more assertive administrative role over Florida’s legal profession. The governor specifically referenced the Texas Supreme Court’s recent decision to no longer require Texas law schools to be accredited by the American Bar Association, suggesting Florida might consider similar measures.
“I think that there’s room, you know, to be really, really bold,” DeSantis remarked, indicating his expectation that the court will advance conservative legal principles under its new composition.
Florida’s supreme court justices can serve until the mandatory retirement age of 75, though they must face retention votes by the state’s electorate. These votes occur during the first general election more than a year after their appointment and subsequently every six years. This system combines appointment power with voter accountability, though retention votes rarely result in a justice’s removal.
The transformation of the Florida Supreme Court represents one of DeSantis’ most consequential impacts on state governance. When he took office in 2019, the court had a moderate to liberal lean. Through a series of appointments, DeSantis has methodically reshaped the court into one of the most conservative state supreme courts in the nation.
Legal experts note that this ideological shift has already produced significant changes in Florida jurisprudence, with the court more willing to overturn precedent and adopt stricter interpretations of constitutional provisions. The appointment of Tanenbaum reinforces this trajectory and suggests the court will continue to embrace conservative judicial philosophy for years to come.
Florida’s supreme court transformation mirrors similar efforts in other Republican-led states where governors and legislatures have sought to align judicial bodies with conservative legal interpretations. These changes can have long-lasting impacts on everything from regulatory authority to individual rights, potentially outlasting the political careers of those making the appointments.
With Tanenbaum’s appointment, attention now turns to how this newly configured court will rule on the contentious cases before it and what implications those decisions will have for Florida residents.
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10 Comments
With 6 out of 7 justices appointed by DeSantis, the Florida Supreme Court is poised to take a decidedly conservative turn. Tanenbaum’s commitment to ‘originalism’ suggests we may see a shift away from judicial precedent in the years ahead.
DeSantis is clearly intent on reshaping the Florida judiciary to align with his political agenda. Tanenbaum’s appointment is the latest step in that process.
Interesting to see DeSantis continue to reshape the Florida Supreme Court. His judicial appointments will have a lasting impact on the state’s legal landscape. I’m curious to see how Tanenbaum’s ‘originalist’ approach plays out in future rulings.
DeSantis is certainly making his mark on the court. Tanenbaum’s commitment to originalism could lead to some controversial decisions down the line.
With Tanenbaum’s appointment, DeSantis has now appointed 6 out of 7 justices on the Florida Supreme Court. This will likely result in a more conservative-leaning interpretation of the state’s laws and constitution.
It’s clear DeSantis is reshaping the Florida Supreme Court to align with his political agenda. Tanenbaum’s ‘originalist’ philosophy could have significant implications for future rulings.
DeSantis continues to exert his influence on the Florida judiciary. Tanenbaum’s appointment to the state’s highest court represents another step in the governor’s effort to remake the court in a more conservative mold.
Tanenbaum’s ‘originalist’ approach could lead to some surprising rulings from the Florida Supreme Court. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the state’s legal landscape.
This move signals DeSantis’ continued push to cement a conservative majority on the Florida Supreme Court. It will be interesting to see how Tanenbaum’s appointment shifts the court’s jurisprudence.
DeSantis is really putting his stamp on the state’s highest court. Tanenbaum’s ‘originalist’ stance could lead to some unexpected rulings.