TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Floridians voting in November's gubernatorial election will also be deciding the direction of the state Supreme Court for years to come.
If former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is elected governor as a Democrat in November, all seven state Supreme Court justices might be his appointments before he leaves office.
And if Republican Gov. Rick Scott is re-elected, he could completely reshape the court that has frustrated him and other GOP leaders on issues from medical marijuana to efforts to protect doctors and businesses from lawsuits.
The Supreme Court's mandatory retirement age of 70 means four justices will have to retire by January 2019. The only three who won't be forced to retire were appointed by Crist.
Scott would crave the opportunity to appoint justices that are friendlier to his policies.
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