State News

FL Supreme Court Reappoints Charles Canady As Chief Justice

WFSU | By Robbie Gaffney

Published October 28, 2019 at 5:55 PM EDT

Canady wears a suit and tie. He smiles at the viewer. The Florida flag is ruffled behind him along with a bookshelf. The shelf has thickly-bound books.

Charles Canady will continue leading the Florida Supreme Court next summer. This will be his third-term as Chief Justice.

Charles Canady joined the Florida Supreme Court in 2008 after being appointed by then Governor Charlie Christ. Canady served as Chief Justice from 2010 to 2012 and 2018 to 2019.

“It’s a job that I’ve enjoyed. It’s a job that gives me the opportunity to work with a great group of people who are involved with in the administration and the governance of the judicial branch throughout Florida and I’m glad that I’ll have the opportunity to continue working with them,” Canady says.

The justices unanimously appoint a chief every two years. As he prepares for a third-term, changes might be coming to the court.

Three justices sit behind the bench. Behind them are four justices standing. Beside all seven justices is the American and Florida flags. Dark curtains are ruffled in the background. — Three new justices were appointed to the court in 2019.

“We have three new members who came on in the beginning of the year and of course a couple of them have been nominated for another court— so we may be going through another transition,” Canady says.

In September, President Donald Trump nominated current Florida justices—Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck to serve on the U.S. 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals based in Atlanta. Both justices have accepted the nomination but are waiting for confirmation from the U.S. Senate.