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Officials across Florida oppose merging judicial circuits at Tampa meeting
Orlando Sentinel - Gift LinkTAMPA — Judges, state attorneys, sheriffs and other elected officials from throughout Florida filled a Hillsborough County courtroom Friday to oppose a proposal to consolidate some of the state’s 20 judicial circuits.
Dozens of speakers from as far as Florida’s Panhandle or Key West warned that an idea by House Speaker Paul Renner to shrink the number of circuits would disrupt the judicial process and decrease local representation for constituents.
The committee tasked with making a recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court held the public hearing at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa ahead of submitting its report in December. The group previously held another meeting for public comment in August in Orlando.
Appointed Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez said consolidation is warranted if there is evidence that it will help crime victims. But if there is no evidence that it will help her office pursue justice and provide support for victims, then the committee should be against the changes.
“I ask you not to lose sight of the mothers, daughters, sons and fathers who have shared their stories with me and trusted me to find justice for them,” said Lopez, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after he suspended Andrew Warren last year.
Lopez spoke just after Hillsborough Public Defender Julianne Holt, who said that consolidation of judicial circuits would be “inefficient on its face.”
Dozens of speakers from as far as Florida’s Panhandle or Key West warned that an idea by House Speaker Paul Renner to shrink the number of circuits would disrupt the judicial process and decrease local representation for constituents.
The committee tasked with making a recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court held the public hearing at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in downtown Tampa ahead of submitting its report in December. The group previously held another meeting for public comment in August in Orlando.
Appointed Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez said consolidation is warranted if there is evidence that it will help crime victims. But if there is no evidence that it will help her office pursue justice and provide support for victims, then the committee should be against the changes.
“I ask you not to lose sight of the mothers, daughters, sons and fathers who have shared their stories with me and trusted me to find justice for them,” said Lopez, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after he suspended Andrew Warren last year.
Lopez spoke just after Hillsborough Public Defender Julianne Holt, who said that consolidation of judicial circuits would be “inefficient on its face.”