Last Friday was the filing deadline for Judicial Elections and we now know what will appear on the ballot in Seminole County, Florida. The Republican State Attorney and Public Defender were both re-elected without opposition. All incumbent judges were also re-elected.
However, there is one open Judge Seat on the 18th Circuit (Group 9) where Seminole and Brevard will choose from three candidates in August.
Steve Henderson, Bob Moletteire and Christina Sanchez.
While Judge races are non-partisan and a circuit judge mostly deals with criminal and civil things, I think it is important to see who is supporting each candidate.
Christina Sanchez ran for the 18th circuit last time and made it to the November runoff against the eventually George Paulk.
She is a registered republican who has been fracking up endorsements from the republican establishment in Brevard County.
It is unlikely she will get the 50 percent she decides to avoid a runoff. I expect her to get one of the two runoff spots though.
I feel Bob Moletteire and Steve Henderson are going to compete for that other runoff spot in the November election.
Based on a website that you can see party affiliation shows he is a registered democrat and elections records show he donated to a democratic presidential candidate in 2003. I am not going to reveal the candidate as I consider them a disgrace to the party after what was revealed in 2008 about them. I think everyone can guess who this is.
Records show Steve Henderson (He originally filed as Stephen George Henderson) is a registered democrat.
I do not know much more about Moletteire and Henderson other than what is on their websites and Facebook pages.
Even though judge races are nonpartisan, I do not like right-wing judges and feel the democrats and real progressives in this group should vote for either Moletteire or Henderson in August and whomever advances to the runoff.
In November, we will decide on merit retention for 4 5th District Court of Appeals Justices and 3 Florida Supreme Court Justices.
Here are the 4 5th Circuit District Judges up for merit retention
No Circuit Circuit Court of Appeals Justice has ever been denied merit retention by the voters and they usually all get around 70 percent of the vote.
This vote is mainly for disapproval to me.
Lambert and Edwards were both appointed by Rick Scott so they are both a "NO" from me.
Torpy is a registered republican and was considered for the Supreme Court in the past. He is a "No" from me.
I am not sure about Jay Cohen who was appointed by Charlie Crist before he took his progressive turn in picking judges during his term as Governor. If anyone has info on him, feel free to share it.
All 4 are almost assured of Merit Retention.
The 3 Seats on The Florida Supreme Court will be a little closer though.
The following Justices are up for Merit Retention
Of the bat, I am sure the right wing is going to try and get Jorge Labarga kicked off the Supreme Court again like they tried too back in 2010.
Labarga is a moderate judge who we need to keep on the court or Rick Scott is going to pick another judge like the two listed below.
Chris Canady and Ricky Polston
These two are hard right-wing judges and are lockstep with our horrible Governor and Legislator
.
I would vote to kick both off even though Rick Scott would just appoint other judges just to show my disgust for their votes in some rulings they have made. Rick Scott will appoint James Perry's replacement when he hits mandatory retirement age at 70 next year and if one more bad judge is appointed if a republican wins the Governorship in 2018, kiss any chance of getting a progressive ballot measure on the ballot and I would not be shocked if Fair Districts was struck down. I sure as hope they will be able to appeal in Federal Court.
In short, here are my recommendations.
18th Circuit Court Group 9: Bob Moletteire or Steve Henderson.
In November, choose whomever makes the runoff against Christina Sanchez .
November General Election
5th Circuit Court of Appeals Merit Retention
Florida Supreme Court Merit Retention
Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.