Florida Supreme Court Justice Jamie Grosshans has resigned from cases in which six applicants for two appeals courts appointments are not eligible, the Supreme Court stated Monday.
Grosshans’ husband Josh is a member of 6th District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. This commission sent names of four disputed candidates to Gov. Ron DeSantis is being considered.
This is the latest challenge to the eligibility for candidates to be judges on the state appeals courts.
This year, the Legislature approved HB 7027 which added the 6th District Court of Appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal. It also revised the jurisdictions of both the 2nd District Court of Appeal, the 1st District Court of Appeal and 5th District Court of Appeal. These changes will take effect January 1, and DeSantis is expected to appoint judges for vacant positions.
The Judicial Nominating Commissions reviewed the applications and sent DeSantis lists of potential candidates for consideration.
Four candidates for the 6th District Court of Appeal were ineligible due to not living in the area covered by the district. State Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Lithia); Leon County Circuit Judge Stephen Everett, Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Jared Smith, and Danielle Brewer are the candidates. They are all members of the 12th Judicial Circuit which is comprised of DeSoto and Sarasota counties.
Another case challenges the eligibility of two candidates to the 5th District Court of Appeal. They are John MacIver, Chairman of Florida Gaming Control Commission, and Paige Kilbane Circuit Judge.
Grosshans’ resignation was not the only reason plaintiffs objected to Supreme Court Justices Charles Canady, and John Couriel participating in the cases. This is because Couriel and Canady served as references to three candidates for appeals court.