Florida Supreme Court justice Carlos Muñiz will take over as chief justice from Charles Canady after his colleagues unanimously elected him to a two-year term beginning July 1.
The court announced the leadership change last week. The seven members of the high court elect a chief justice in even-numbered years, with the selection not based solely on seniority but on “managerial, administrative and leadership abilities,” according to a news release.
“I’m grateful for the privilege of serving in this capacity, and I join my colleagues in thanking Chief Justice Canady for his outstanding leadership,” Muñiz said in a prepared statement. “Our court’s focus will remain on serving the people of our great state and supporting all the judges and staff who work with us in the judicial branch to administer justice on a daily basis.”
Observers do not see any major shifts in the court’s decision making as a result of Muñiz taking over as chief justice. Muñiz’s judicial philosophy will be in line with that of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed him to the court in 2019, they say.
“During most of his pre-judicial career, Muñiz was actively involved in GOP politics,” commentator Brian Crowley, who publishes the Crowley Political Report, told the Florida Record. “DeSantis is not likely to appoint someone who strongly disagrees with him.”
The biggest change for the Florida Supreme Court in recent years was the retirement of three “liberal” justices and their replacement by conservatives, according to Crowley.
“It is not a matter of conservative vs. liberal,” he said. “... It is a matter of balance and hearing differing legal points of view. … With an all-conservative or all-liberal court, disagreements are more likely to be on the edges.”
Crowley also questioned whether the court will have enough diversity of opinion in the future when it considers overturning previous legal precedents.
Muñiz, 52, previously served as general counsel to the former U.S. Department of Education secretary, Betsy DeVos, and deputy attorney general and chief of staff under former state Attorney General Pam Bondi. He also served as a deputy general counsel in the administration of former Gov. Jeb Bush.
Canady, who served three terms as chief justice, established policies on remote court proceedings during the coronavirus pandemic. He will remain on the court when Muñiz assumes the leadership post.