Alleging that Gov. Ron DeSantis did not comply with a constitutionally required deadline, an attorney asked the Florida Supreme Court on Friday to direct the governor to appoint a circuit judge in the Tallahassee area.
Attorney Maite C. Garcia contended in the court petition that DeSantis was required to appoint a judge within 60 days of receiving a slate of nominees on April 30 from the 2nd Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. But the petition said the deadline passed June 29 without an appointment.
“As a practicing attorney and taxpayer, she (Garcia) wants her local circuit court to function with a full complement of judges, which would benefit her directly in the efficient and expeditious administration of civil and criminal justice,” the petition said. “As a resident and voter of the Second Circuit, she would like to exercise her right to vote on the governor’s appointee to the instant vacancy at the next election, as the Constitution requires.
And as someone who is eligible for the office of circuit judge, she would like the opportunity to run as a candidate for the … seat herself in the 2026 election.” The Supreme Court gave DeSantis until July 14 to respond. The issue stems from replacing Robert Wheeler, who retired effective March 31 as a circuit judge.
Information on The Florida Bar website said the nominating commission sent the names of six attorneys to DeSantis as potential replacements for Wheeler: James Beville, C. Ian Garland, Jason Jones, Stephanie Newlin, Carlos Rey and Steven Sellers. The 2nd Judicial Circuit is made up of Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. Garcia is represented by lawyers with the ACLU Foundation of Florida, according to the petition.
–News Service of Florida
don miller says
No wonder. Can’t find any that live there who know the law. They are all Dems.
DennisC Rathsam says
WHAT ABOUT THE BIGGEST TAX CUTS IN HISTORY FOR ALL AMERICANS…..Armed Forces inlistments at an all time high! No tax on tips no tax on OT…. ya,ll know most of it, is it perfect, no…Who is? Our country,s strong, the economy is growing. Time will tell, but… I wont say I told you so!
Bo Peep says
Seat herself? Probably trying to figure out which of these choices can do the least amount of damage.
Deborah Coffey says
@ Dennis Rathsam Thank Joe Biden.
AI: As of June 27, 2025, the US military expects to exceed its 2025 recruiting goals. This is a reversal from decades of declining military applications and enrollments, which hit a low in 2022. In October 2024, the Defense Department announced that an estimated 146,473 people enlisted in the US armed forces in FY 2024, which is a 14% increase from FY 2022.
As of December 2024, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were meeting or exceeding their recruiting missions. The Army, in particular, was on pace to meet its 2025 enlistment goals, bringing in 61,000 young people by the end of the fiscal year in September. The Army also surpassed its reenlistment goals for 2025.
The Air Force and Space Force also faced challenges in 2024, including a declining youth population and competition from the private sector. However, they were able to meet their recruiting goals by implementing new incentives and policies, such as reinstating the enlisted college loan repayment program and modifying the body composition program.