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Florida Supreme Court Recommends Additional Judges For Panhandle

The Florida Supreme Court is next up in the state's congressional redistricting case.
Nick Evans
/
WFSU News

The Florida Supreme Court said the panhandle needs two more circuit court judges. The recommendation is included in the court’s latest review of the judiciary’s workload.

Each year, the Florida Supreme Court examines the judiciary branch’s workload and makes recommendations to the legislature. In this year’s report, the Court says there’s a need for one more judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties. It also recommends an additional judge seat in the 14th Judicial Circuit, which includes Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes and Jackson and Washington Counties.

In all, the court is recommending the legislature add four circuit judges and four county judges.

“We are also recommending the decertification of three county court judgeships,” justices wrote, “and we certify no need for additional judges in the district courts of appeal.”

It’s up to the legislature to approve new judicial seats, and lawmakers have seldom done so in the past.

Correction: This story has been changed to note the need for two additional circuit judges in the panhandle. 

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University and Florida State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master's in Professional Communication. Lynn has been with WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She has worked with several organizations, including Kaiser Health News.  Lynn has also partnered with USC-Annenberg's Center for Child Wellbeing on the nationally acclaimed series "Committed," which explored the prevalence of involuntary commitment use on children.
She serves on the board of RTDNA and the United Way of the Big Bend, with previous service on the board of the First Amendment Foundation of Florida.

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