Bills that would have allowed judges who lose their bid for re-election to continue to sit as senior judges died on the last day of the legislative session.
State Rep. J.C. Planas of Miami, the sponsor of HB 295, contended that amending the law to allow defeated judges to continue to serve would have been an excellent way for “individuals who had long and distinguished careers as judges to still be able to sit as senior judges even though they may have not won re-election.” The House bill was on the second reading calendar when the session ended.
A similar Senate bill — SB 740 — sponsored by State Sen. Charlie Dean of Ocala, passed the upper chamber 39-1, but died in messages to the House.
Dean said removing the prohibition would have provided an inexpensive way to help clear the courts’ dockets.
“Since the Florida Supreme Court and the chief judge of the circuit must still approve any senior judge for service, that gate-keeping function would prevent an unqualified senior judge from serving in any case,” said Dean in support of his bill.
— Courtesy Florida Bar News