Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry has taken to the keypad to defend the party’s opposition of the three state Supreme Court justices up for retention in November.

In an editorial running this weekend in a number of outlets across the state, Curry rejects any notion that Gov. Rick Scott was involved in the decision by the executive committee to take on the retention of Justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince.

Also, Curry pushes back against attacks that the party is “politicizing” an item that is on the statewide general election ballot.

“Predictably, the political allies of these justices, including the Florida Bar Association, are crying foul because Lewis, Pariente and Quince now have to campaign on their performance record,” Curry wrote. “Their political strategy is to accuse the RPOF of 'injecting politics' into their elections, while at the same time pretending that these are 'independent judges' who are above politics of any sort.

“But a major ally of these justices, the Bar Association, only pretends to be above politics. Recently, when President Obama criticized the United States Supreme Court ahead of a major ruling, the supposedly apolitical Bar Association decided to exercise its right to remain silent. But again, here in Florida, they are complaining when Republicans criticize their candidates.”

The three justices have long been a thorn for the RPOF, going back to the Florida Supreme Court’s stances in Bush v. Gore.

On Monday, the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police and Florida Professional Firefighters will come out opposed to the RPOF’s position, declaring the attacks on the court as a threat to public safety.

“Law enforcement depends on a fair and impartial judiciary that the citizens of Florida can trust to make decisions based on the law and the Constitution,” a Friday release from the police and firefighters stated.

“The very foundation of Florida’s independent judicial system is being compromised by those who are determined to turn the courts into political fiefdoms that make decisions based on what is politically expedient. Such efforts weaken the rule of law and make the jobs of law enforcement and public safety officers much more difficult.”



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.