There are many strong arguments for and against the possible answers to these questions. In fact, many of these questions have already been asked and answered by our Federal judicial system. Many of the proposals being discussed and debated in Tallahassee this spring would conform our state balance of powers to the Federal system. The President of the United States nominates judges to the Federal courts, subject to confirmation by the United States Senate, without need for control by any committees or nominating commissions. That process works to keep balance in our federal courts.
Federal judges are the best and most qualified judges in the country.
In contrast, Florida has a system of nominating commissions that screen all applicants and then submit three to six names to the Governor for consideration. Thus, limiting the choices available to Florida's Governor. Taken to an extreme, if all seven Florida Supreme Court seats were to be vacant simultaneously, the Governor would have to choose seven justices from amongst no more than 42 lawyers nominated by the commission. The Governor would have no opportunity to determine whether any of the other thousands of lawyers and judges in the State might be equally qualified. As another example, the U.S. Congress promulgates the Federal Rules of Procedure with input from the Federal courts.