Florida Supreme Court Decisions
In addition to hearing appeals from the Florida District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court has jurisdiction over several other types of cases. Under Article V, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, it has mandatory jurisdiction over appeals in cases involving the death penalty or public utilities, as well as discretionary jurisdiction over appeals in cases involving the state constitution. The Court also has the authority to issue certain writs, such as writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and prohibition.
The Florida Supreme Court consists of seven justices, who serve six-year terms. To serve on the Court, a candidate must be no older than 74 years old, a resident of Florida, registered to vote in Florida, and a member of the Florida State Bar for at least the last 10 years. Florida uses the assisted appointment method to select new justices. First, the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission selects three to six candidates. The Governor of Florida appoints the nine members of the Commission, and each of them serves a four-year term. The Governor chooses four of the members from lists of nominees created by the leadership of the Florida Bar Association.
The Governor then selects the new justice from the list provided by the Commission. However, the justice will face a retention vote in the first general election that occurs at least one year after their appointment. There are only two ways in which a justice may be removed before the end of their term. They may be removed if they are impeached by the Florida House of Representatives in a two-thirds vote and convicted by the Florida State Senate, also in a two-thirds vote. Alternatively, a justice may be removed by the Florida Supreme Court upon the recommendation of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. A justice may face more moderate discipline or retirement upon the recommendation of the Commission as well.
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Recent Decisions From the Florida Supreme Court
Date: April 25, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-0735
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute over the amount of reimbursements for medical expenses that an insurer, Allstate Insurance Company, was required to pay under a personal injury protection (PIP) policy. The dispute…
Date: April 25, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1294
Date: April 18, 2024
Docket Number: SC2024-0031
Date: April 1, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2022-1050, SC2022-1127
Justia Opinion Summary: This case before the Supreme Court of Florida concerned a constitutional challenge to an amended Florida statute that prohibits abortions if the gestational age of the fetus is more than 15 weeks, with certain…
Date: April 1, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-0682
Justia Opinion Summary: The Florida Supreme Court was asked to review a proposed amendment to the state constitution legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. The court evaluated the amendment for adherence to the constitution’s…
Date: April 1, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1392
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Attorney General of Florida petitioned the Supreme Court of Florida for an advisory opinion regarding the validity of a proposed citizen initiative amendment to the Florida Constitution, titled…
Date: March 21, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-0837
Date: March 21, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1333
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, two companies and an individual, all involved in Florida's gaming industry, petitioned against the Governor of Florida and others, challenging a gaming compact between the State and the Seminole Tribe. The…
Date: March 21, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1435
Date: March 7, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-0910
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Florida was tasked with reviewing a case involving the interpretation of the state's comparative fault statute and its application to tort actions involving the "dram-shop exception." The case…
Date: March 7, 2024
Docket Numbers: SC2023-0604, SC2023-0605
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of Florida reviewed a decision from the Fifth District Court of Appeal related to the termination of a father's parental rights. The father, identified as C.C., had been convicted 18 times…
Date: February 29, 2024
Docket Number: SC2022-0745
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the convictions and death sentences of Everett Glenn Miller for the first-degree premeditated murders of Kissimmee Police Officers Matthew Baxter and Richard “Sam” Howard.…
Date: February 29, 2024
Docket Number: SC2023-1412
Date: February 22, 2024
Docket Number: SC2024-0072
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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