MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) - The chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission that recommends judges in two Florida counties quit over what he claims was interference by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office.
Florida Today reports that Alan Landman resigned from his post, claiming the commission that served Brevard and Seminole counties is no longer independent. The dispute arose after the governor’s office told the commission to add specific candidates for a judge vacancy in the 18th Judicial Circuit, which covers those counties.
DeSantis appointed one of the candidates, Tesha Ballou, to the judgeship on June 5. She was not on the commission’s initial list of finalists.
Landman said no prior governor had told the commission to add names to its short lists of candidates.
DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
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Information from: Florida Today (Melbourne, Fla.), http://www.floridatoday.com
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