Supreme Court of Florida - History

History

See also: History of Florida

After Florida's entrance into the union in 1845, and the ratification of the State's first Constitution, the Supreme Court of the State of Florida was born. Though the constitution created a Supreme Court, it vested it with no judges and little power. Florida Circuit Court judges served in the capacity of Supreme Court Justices until 1851 when an 1848 constitutional amendment took effect granting the state legislator power to choose three justices, one Chief Justice and two Associate Justice's. In 1853, another constitutional amendment was adopted that provided for the popular election of Justices to serve six-year terms.

Following the Civil War and the adoption of the 1868 Constitution, Justices were appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. Still there were to be three Justices, a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices. In 1940, the courts membership was finally increased to its current size of seven members, and a 1926 constitutional amendment provided that the Chief Justice should be selected by the Justices of the Court and should serve for a term of two years.

In 2004, the court had a backlog of 1,544 cases. In 2011, there was a backlog of 881 cases.

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