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Florida Supreme Court elections, 2020
| 2020 State Judicial Elections | |
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Carlos Muñiz was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 65.8% of the vote.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Florida modified its voter registration procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Voter registration: The voter registration deadline was extended to October 6, 2020.[1]
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and results
Muñiz's seat
Florida Supreme Court
Carlos Muñiz was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 65.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
65.7
|
6,297,753 | ||
No |
34.3
|
3,281,468 | |||
Total Votes |
9,579,221 | ||||
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|
Past elections
2018
- See also: Florida Supreme Court elections, 2018
Florida Supreme Court, C. Alan Lawson's seat
C. Alan Lawson was retained to the Florida Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 71.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
71.4
|
5,044,890 | ||
No |
28.6
|
2,016,482 | |||
Total Votes |
7,061,372 | ||||
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2016
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About the Florida Supreme Court
- See also: Florida Supreme Court
There are seven justices on the Florida Supreme Court. Justices are selected using the assisted appointment method, where the Governor of Florida chooses from a list of three to six candidates recommended by a commission on judicial appointments. Justices serve six-year terms. The appointment of a justice must be confirmed by a retention vote in the next general election at least one year after taking office.[2]
Political composition
This was the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2020 election. Justices on the Florida Supreme Court are appointed to their seats.
| ■ Charles Canady | Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in 2008 | |
| ■ Jorge Labarga | Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in 2009 | |
| ■ John D. Couriel | Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in 2020 | |
| ■ C. Alan Lawson | Appointed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) in 2016 | |
| ■ Jamie Rutland Grosshans | Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in 2020 | |
| ■ Carlos Muñiz | Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in 2019 | |
| ■ Ricky Polston | Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in 2008 |
Selection
- See also: Assisted appointment
The seven justices of the Florida Supreme Court are selected using the assisted appointment method. A judicial nominating commission screens potential judicial candidates, submitting a list of three to six nominees to the governor. The governor must appoint a justice from this list.[3] If a midterm vacancy occurs, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term.
Newly appointed justices serve for at least one year, after which they appear in a yes-no retention election held during the next general election. If retained, justices serve six-year terms.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a justice must be:
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for 10 years prior to assuming the bench; and
- under the age of 70.
Selection of the chief justice
The chief justice is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for two years.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ This change was not due to COVID-19. This deadline was extended after the state's voter registration website crashed.
- ↑ Supreme Court Overview
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
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