Updated 8:07 PM
Election Day is over and voters are eager to know who won and what amendments were passed. But the vote for or against the judges who were considered for retention could be just as important, if not more so, to the daily lives of Floridians.
Two Florida Supreme Court judges and 23 District Appeals Court judges were ordered to retain their merits. ‘Yes’ votes mean they stay on the bench.
With just under 59% of the vote as of 8:07 PM, here are the unofficial results so far:
Results of the 2024 Florida Elections: President, amendments, congress, state legislature
Florida Supreme Court justices argue in favor of merit retention
The Florida court rules on the retention of merit
Are judges elected in Florida?
Most circuit and district court judges are elected, but the governor appoints the judges of the Florida Supreme Court and the judges of the District Court of Appeal (and may appoint the others if a vacancy becomes available before the end of their terms) .
What is merit retention?
While the governor appoints Florida Supreme Court justices and District Court of Appeal judges, voters in the mid-1970s overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment requiring a merit retention system to combat abuses in the system.
What do the Florida District Court judges do?
“Judges of the District Court of Appeal decide appeals of the district court’s decisions,” according to the Florida Bar.
Supreme Court justices decide death penalty appeals and oversee the administration of Florida’s justice system. They also hear appeals against decisions of the Court of Appeal and resolve conflicts.
This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida election results: 2 Supreme Court justices, others retained
