TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida House wants to impose term limits on the state's top judges, including those on the state Supreme Court.
The House on Wednesday barely approved a proposed constitutional amendment (HJR 197) that would limit appeals judges and Supreme Court justices to 12 years in office. The House approved the amendment by a 76-38 vote. It takes 72 votes to approve an amendment.
Republican supporters of the proposal contended there need to be checks and balances on the state's judicial branch. Rep. John Wood, the bill sponsor, pointed out Florida already places an age limit on judges.
But opponents maintained that GOP legislators were pushing the amendment because they are upset with recent court rulings.
If approved by the Legislature, the amendment would go before voters in the fall. But so far, a similar measure has not moved at all in the Florida Senate.
