Gov. Ron DeSantis has again delayed his timetable to name two new state Supreme Court justices as he continues to concentrate his attention on the coronavirus situation.
The governor had been expected to select two new justices on March 23 from a field of nine finalists drawn up by the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC). DeSantis announced at that time that his decision would be postponed until May 1 as he focused on the state’s response to the pandemic.
That day, however, came and went with no announcement.
“Gov. DeSantis’ focus remains on the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency,” the governor’s press secretary, Cody McCloud, told the Florida Record in an email. “As it relates to the Florida Supreme Court, the governor continues to review the applicants put forth by the JNC.”
The nine finalists are John Couriel, an attorney with Kobre & Kim LLP; Palm Beach Circuit Judge Renatha Francis; Judge Jonathan Gerber of the Fourth District Court of Appeal; Judge Jamie Grosshans of the Fifth District Court of Appeal; Judge Norma Lindsey of the Third District Court of Appeal; Judge Timothy Osterhaus of the First District Court of Appeal; Miami attorney Eliot Pedrosa; Judge Lori Rowe of the First District Court of Appeal; and Judge Meredith Sasso of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
One candidate, however, would face a delay in taking a seat on the high court if selected by DeSantis. Francis could not begin work as a Supreme Court justice until she has 10 years of being a Florida Bar member. That won’t happen until late September.
The two court vacancies were created last year after Justices Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck were elevated to serve on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
While the state’s focus this past week has been on the phased reopening of retail businesses with social distancing and reduced occupancy rules, business within the state’s court system remains dependent on remote technology.
Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an emergency order on May 4 that extended the suspension of jury trials in the state through July 2. The order also expands the types of proceedings state courts can complete using online hearings or video-conferencing for the duration of the coronavirus emergency.
The Florida Supreme Court this month began hearing oral arguments via Zoom due to the pandemic.