Florida GOP Launches Revenge Campaign Against Justices Who Ruled Against Gov. Rick Scott

[TroyD]

Florida justice warns of assault on the courts ‘through partisan politics’

09.24.12

TALLAHASSEE -- As the secretive campaign against the three Florida Supreme Court justices up for merit retention took shape Monday, one of the targeted justices warned that the future of the state’s independent judiciary was under threat.

"This is the most stressful time I’ve ever experienced in my life,’’ said Justice R. Fred Lewis at a meeting of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. “There is an entire branch of government to protect and defend. We cannot sacrifice fairness and impartiality and the court system to political whims."

Lewis’ remarks came three days after the Republican Party of Florida announced it will oppose him and Justices Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince because of their "activist" and liberal views.

On Monday, Americans for Prosperity, the conservative advocacy group affiliated with the Koch brothers announced a political campaign they have been developing for months to highlight the judicial records of the justices. Starting Tuesday, the group will run television ads across the state chastising the justices for ruling against a 2010 proposed constitutional amendment intended by the Legislature to counter President Barack Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act — the one Republicans dubbed ObamaCare.

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Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/24/3019395/florida-justice-warns-of-assault.html

[iemitsu]

1. this is the best argument for redistribution of wealth.

no one should be rich enough to buy the government or the courts.
in the name of economic and legal justice we cannot afford to have such rich people around.

[justgamma]

2. They did it in Iowa and it worked.

They voted out 3 judges that voted for same sex marriage. 2 of them were appointed by our Republican governor. It's sickening.

[TroyD]

3. This is why judges should be appointed and not elected

That's the way it works in other Western countries as far as I know.

That puts them beyond the reach of partisan campaigns like this.