Associated Press: Florida Supreme Court: Next governor will pick new justices

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s next governor and not incumbent Gov. Rick Scott will get to pick three new justices to the state Supreme Court, the court ruled Monday in a decision with major implications in this year’s gubernatorial campaign.

In a major rebuke to Scott, the Supreme Court concluded that the Republican governor exceeded his authority when he started the process to find replacements for the three justices. …

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Florida branch of the League of Women Voters and Common Cause. Their attorney, John Mills, issued a statement praising the decision.

“The court has now made clear what our clients have been saying all along — the winner of November’s gubernatorial election will appoint three justices to the Florida Supreme Court,” Mills said. “Governor Scott will not, and he has no part to play in these appointments.”