Crist’s 4th justice tough to “pigeon hole”
by Michael C. Bender | March 11th, 2009James E.C. Perry this morning became the fourth justice appointed to the seven-member Florida Supreme Court by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Perry, 65, of Sanford, is a registered Democrat and the fourth African-American appointed to the state’s high court. But despite nearly nine years on the 18th Circuit Court, he’s a little hard to categorize.
Crist’s folks love his narrative (a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army who decided to go to law school the night of MLK’s assassination) and the fact that he was first appointed to the bench by conservative former Gov. Jeb Bush.
But the connection to Bush might not be enough for conservative activists.
Conservatives were more interested in Judge Alan Lawson of the 5th District appellate court for several reasons, not the least being Perry’s inexperience on the criminal court.
Perry, who replaces Justice Charles Wells — who had no experience as a judge when he was appointed by former Gov. Lawton Chiles, said today that he served on the circuit’s drug court for three years, but spent the rest of his time handling civil cases.
So has Crist opted for a bipartisan approach at the risk of his law-and-order reputation as the anti-murder Chain Gain Charlie?
“I want to appoint people with great integrity, great intellect, great compassion and humility,” Crist said.
Perry acknowledged this morning that “at least 60 percent” of the Supreme Court’s cases are criminal, but said the “transition would be smooth”.
But Perry also refused to give his views about the death penalty or describe his judicial philosophy.
“This is really not about labels,” Perry said. “Labels are shorthand term that try to pigeon hole people into certain positions. But its really about justice. it’s about the law… and doing what’s right for the people of Florida.”
Read the governor’s press release here.
The Florida Family Policy Council’s press release is here.
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March 12th, 2009 at 11:28 am
The criminal law is primarily governed by the federal statutes and the federal law? What is he talking about?
March 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Mr. Perry blurs the clear distinction between federal and state law to the detriment of the people of Florida…