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Judges on the state’s five district appeals courts as well as the State Supreme Court would be limited to two, six year terms under legislation approved by a State House Committee.  As Mike Vasilinda tells us, some on the panel say there is an underlying motive for the proposal.

No one has railed more loudly against the State Supreme Court’s intervention in the Congressional redistricting case than Polk County Rep. John Wood.

Nat Sot: “It is a power grab” Wood said on the House floor back in August as the Congressional map was debated.

Now Wood is leading the charge to limit terms for Supreme and Appellate Court judges.

“Term limits will enhance the proper role of the judiciary in our constitutional government” is how Wood described his legisltion to a House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.

The Florida Bar hasn’t taken a position on the idea of limiting judges to two, six year terms…at least not yet…but it did show up to at the committee provide information.

“Term limits is going to significantly increase the turnover of judges on Florida’s Appellate courts” Warren Husband told the committee.

St. Petersburg Rep. Dwight Dudley…himself a lawyer…questioned the motives behind the legislation.

“This is a shot across the bow of our judges. It’s the wrong thing, the wrong message to be sending” says Dudley.

But Wood defends the idea, says it would not apply to sitting judges, and says it isn’t payback for previous court rulings.

“The role of the judiciary is to interpret the constitution and our statutes and I think that we need people who say that’s what I believe in” Wood told reporters.

No other state imposes term limits on appellate judges. Three stats have tried it. It failed each time.

To get on the ballot, the legislation would need to clear the House and Senate by a three fifth’s margin…then 60 percent of voters would have to agree to put the limits in the Constitution.

The three state that voted and turned down term limits for appellate judges are Mississippi, Nevada, and Colorado.