Justice Kenneth Bell leaving state Supreme Court (All of Jeb Bush's FL SC appointees will be gone)

[seafan]

Justice Kenneth Bell leaving state Supreme Court

Brent Kallestad | The Associated Press
10:20 AM EDT, May 23, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell said Friday he is resigning -- the second justice in six weeks to unexpectedly leave the state's high court.

In a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist, Bell said he will return to his Pensacola hometown for family reasons. His resignation is effective Oct. 1. Bell has been on the court since January 2003.

Justice Raoul G. Cantero III of Miami also cited personal reasons for his departure, announced on April 11.

Cantero and Bell were former Gov. Jeb Bush's only two sole appointees to the court. Bush and his predecessor, the late Lawton Chiles, agreed on the appointment of Peggy Quince, who will become chief justice on July 1.

.....

"Indeed, I wish I could continue to serve," he said before adding that "family responsibilities require that I return full-time to Pensacola."

Bell, 52, was the 81st justice named to Florida's high court since statehood was granted in 1845. He was the first appointed from the far western Panhandle in more than a century.

Crist, who now has two court vacancies to fill, was not immediately available to comment on Bell's resignation, his office said. The governor was en route Friday to Arizona to meet with presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain as he is mentioned as a possible running mate.

Meanwhile, Charlie Crist is skipping off to Arizona, for a play-date with John McCain for the VP slot.

[Sancho]

1. Think about the possibility for Florida in the next few months!

Chain Gang Charlie could appoint judges that could rule on a lawsuit against the DNC over the primary that results in Crist becoming the VP with an 80 year old cancer survivor as the one you replace as President!

What kind of judge would YOU appoint if you were good old Charlie?