Three controversial Florida Supreme Court justices have won retention to their seats on the state's high court, despite a high-profile campaign against them by critics who insisted they were left-wing activists unworthy of their office.
With about 91 percent of precincts reporting their vote totals, Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, and Peggy Quince each received about 68 percent YES votes, a margin of victory well within the historic average. No Florida judge has ever lost a retention race.
Their victory means they will each serve another six-year term, which will be their last, as they will each reach the mandatory retirement age -- 70 -- within the next six years.
The justices were explicitly and implicitly opposed in their retention by two nonprofits: Restore Justice 2012 and Americans for Prosperity (AFP), respectively. Both organizations highlighted the justices history of judicial rulings, which they claimed reflect a pattern of interpreting relevant law contrary to its original public meaning.
The justices, for their part, earned the endorsement and the contributions (to the tune of over $5 million) of the state legal establishment, state police and fire unions, former Republican state Sen. Alex Villalobos, former Democratic state representative and former president of the American Bar Association Sandy D'Alemberte, six former Supreme Court justices, several newspaper editorial boards, and the newly formed pro-retention organizations Democracy at Stake and Defend Justice from Politics.
The justices did spend about $5.5 million, so not hugely surprised that they showed strong numbers, Abigail MacIver, director of policy and external affairs at Americans for Prosperity Florida, tells Sunshine State News. AFP is still dedicated to its project: we will continue to educate citizens about judicial activism and the activistic decisions of the Florida Supreme Court.
No one in the media, except Sunshine State News, really talked about these issues, she said. But we will continue to.
Jesse Phillips, president of Restore Justice, said there was a silver lining to his campaigns ultimately failed effort.
We feel like we were successful, he tells the News. We went toe-to-toe with a group that outspent us, 60-to-1, and the needle didnt move at all in their favor. They won as many retention votes as they normally would" if they hadn't spent a penny.
Its staggering to me how many people voted in the retention races, he continued. About as many Floridians voted in the retention races as voted for a presidential candidate. That represents an amazing interest in this race by many people; I think were looking at historic numbers here.
The justices have each released public statements celebrating their victories.
The judicial branch in Florida is one of the most highly regarded in the nation, Pariente said. Florida voters have made it clear that they are determined to keep it that way. I want to thank the many Floridians who stood up against the attack on the impartiality of our justice system.
The very foundation of Floridas independent judicial system was threatened in this election, said Lewis. I am grateful that Florida voters once again demonstrated their faith in our fair and impartial judicial system and I extend my thanks and great appreciation to those Floridians who both assisted in the retention effort and those who voted for retention.
Floridians care deeply about ensuring that we have a fair and impartial judiciary untainted by partisan politics, Quince said. Tonight, I want to thank Florida voters who renewed their faith in our merit selection and retention system.
Reach Eric Giunta at egiunta@sunshinestatenews.com or at (954) 235-9116.
