Former lawmaker wants on Florida Supreme Court

By Chris Rizo | Jun 11, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Former state lawmaker Dudley Goodlette has said he wants to be named to fill one of four upcoming vacancies on the Florida Supreme Court.

Goodlette said he wants fellow Republican Gov. Charlie Crist to know he is interested in a seat on the high court.

“I think I would add value to the court, and I’m anxious to convey that,” Goodlette was quoted by the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times as saying Tuesday.

Goodlette, 60, previously served as a legal adviser to the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.

The newspaper reported that it will be some time before Florida’s nine-member Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission accepts applications for the first two openings on the court.

Raoul Cantero and Kenneth Bell will leave the court this fall. They
were both appointed by former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

Justices Charles Wells and Harry Lee Anstead will be forced from the bench next year when they reach the constitutionally mandated retirement age of 70.

The departures will leave Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince on the high court.

In an earlier interview, William Large, president of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, told Legal Newsline that the wave of Supreme Court departures afford Crist a “tremendous opportunity” to reshape the seven-member state Supreme Court.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the governor. Never in the history of the Supreme Court has there been so many seats open at the same time,” Large said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to create a legacy for the next 25, 30 years.”

From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo by e-mail at [email protected]

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