Florida Supreme Court

State law requires Florida Supreme Court justices and appeals court judges to stand for merit retention every six years. Voters get to decide in November if they should remain on the bench for another six-year term.

Justices rejected the motion for a stay in the scheduled execution of Dennis Michael Sochor and lifted a stay that delayed the penalty for James Aren Duckett.

Republicans currently hold 20 of the state’s 28 U.S. House seats. The new voting districts could improve the GOP’s chances to win four additional seats this year.

The majority of the court agreed to the stay as James Aren Duckett awaits postconviction DNA testing.

The legal challenge, brought by two Florida voters and supported by the National Redistricting Foundation, was tossed by a unanimous decision by the court.

The political committee says the initiative meets legal requirements to go before voters, refuting opponents' arguments, including their contention the ballot text is misleading.

Gov. Ron DeSantis called the American Bar Association "left of the left" and biased when asking Florida's high court to reconsider its law school accrediting rules.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Adam Tanenbaum to the Florida Supreme Court.

The Florida Supreme Court will make a decision on whether the proposed recreational constitutional amendment meets legal tests to go on the November ballot.

Citing "implied consert," justices overturned an appellate decision that suppressed results because the test was administered outside Maitland, where the motorist was stopped.

The decision said a 1993 state law about sperm donors relinquishing rights was designed to address situations involving the use of assisted reproductive technology, like in vitro fertilization.

The step sets the stage for a judicial review of the ballot initiative seeking to legalize recreational pot. Justices will hear oral arguments on Feb. 5, according to a schedule posted on court's website.