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the Constitution revision Commission – how Can we help?
we as lawyers have an opportunity to take an important leadership role in educating the public and influencing the CrC process.
This is a special year in the history of our great State. As many of you know, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission( CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the State Constitution and to propose amendments for voter consideration.
The CRC meets for approximately one year— holding public hearings across the State, vetting public proposals by citizens, and proposing amendments of their own. Any proposals that pass the CRC’ s final vote will be placed on Florida’ s General Election ballot in November 2018.
The CRC has finished vetting the public proposals and is now considering and tweaking Commissioner proposals. The CRC will then finalize the proposals and hold additional public hearings to further vet and refine the proposals for final placement on the ballot.
There are multiple CRC proposals of interest to the Bar. Specifically, there are several proposals that directly affect the judiciary, including proposals to raise the existing
retirement age for judges and Supreme Court justices from 70 to 75; to require all state court judges to be members of the Bar for 10 years; to require all circuit and county court judges qualify for merit retention after their first term; and to significantly overhaul the process for appointing judicial nominating commissions( including requiring appointing authorities to consider diversity in making the commission appointments). Other proposals of interest include abrogating the death penalty, opening appellate court deliberations to the public, and creating a constitutional right to“ a clean and healthful environment” and a private right of action to enforce this proposed right.
Of course, the CRC’ s work will impact so much more than the Bar and judiciary. At the time I write this article, there are over a hundred draft Commissioner proposals addressing a broad range of topics, such as education, voting rights, religious freedom, and privacy rights.
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