Judicial Reforms Pass House Subcommittee

On Wednesday, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee pushed judicial reforms that Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced earlier in the week, including raising the threshold retention rate for appellate judges to 60 percent of the popular vote and opening more of the reports of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) to public scrutiny. The committee also held a workshop onCannons proposal to split the current Supreme Court into two bodies, one focusing on criminal matters with the other tackling civil concerns.

This legislation will create transparency and accountability that our states judicial process is currently lacking, said Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, who is the subcommittee chairman.

To date, no appellate court judge has lost a merit retention vote, essentially making an appointment to the appellate level a lifetime appointment, added Eisnaugle.By increasing the threshold to 60 percent, judges will be held more accountable to the voters they serve.

Eisnaugle backed Cannons proposal for two Supreme Courts.

Our committee also workshopped a proposal to specialize the jurisdiction of the states highest court into one Supreme Court for civil appeals and another Supreme Court for criminal appeals, said Eisnaugle. Death penalty delays have been on the rise for decades and this proposal would give our courts the tools to resolve death penalty cases with accuracy and efficiency, for both the accused and the victims.