Judge Terry Lewis Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking Removal of Supreme Court Justices from Ballot

At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, Judge Terry Lewis ofthe 2nd Judicial Circuit Court dismissed a lawsuit brought against Florida Supreme Court JusticesBarbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, and R. Fred Lewisby theSoutheastern Legal Foundation (SLF).

SLF, a conservative public-interest law firm, is representing two citizen plaintiffs whoallege that the justicesemployed the services of their law clerks in furtherance of their campaigns and had falsified campaign documents, both of which would be violations of state law. Judge Lewis dismissed the suit, on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked standing -- i.e.,the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that they have suffered, or would suffer, any special injury not shared by citizens in general should the justices names be permitted to remain on the November ballot.

Attorney ShannonL. Goessling, executive director for theSoutheastern Legal Foundation, told Sunshine State News she "absolutely" would appeal the case to the 1st District Court.

More to come ...