Fair Districts Backers Feed Three Justices' Campaign Coffers

Is the Florida Supreme Court's decision on Fair Districts for sale?

That's the question some are asking in light of reports that three justices received $500 contributions from the law firm with a familial connection to the chairwoman of the Fair Districts Now campaign.

SaintPetersblog.com reported Thursday that Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince each got a maximum allowable donation of $500 from the firm of Freidin & Dobrinsky. Partner Phillip Freidin is the husband of Fair Districts chairwoman Ellen Freidin.

The contributions arrived just two days before the court heard oral arguments over legislative redistricting maps contested by Fair Districts, the blog reported.

Whether the Freidin contributions will sway the justices' decisions, Lewis, Pariente and Quince can use the money as they face merit retention elections in November.

A conservative group, Restore Justice, is actively campaigning for the removal of the trio, all of whom were appointed by Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles (Quince was co-appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush).

SaintPetersblog found that fundraising reports for the Fair Districts campaign and those of the three judges show "considerable overlap."

Donors who contributed as much as $30,250 to Lewis, $31,250 to Pariente and $31,650 to Quince also contributed $314,188 to Fair Districts Now.

Jesse Phillips, head of Restore Justice, said in a statement:

"In the process of raising half a million dollars it appears as though the justices followed the letter of the law. Any time activist justices closely follow the law instead of rewriting it as they go is a step in the right direction.

"However, no amount of money from any source can erase their records or hide what they have done to Floridians."