He was later disbarred and died while on the run from federal drug-smuggling charges. The next year, the voters replaced election with appointment and merit retention for Supreme Court justices. It was a landslide. Since then, the court has worked pretty well. Even though it has been known to overrule the Legislature and governor on occasion.
Many people think courts are supposed to do that.
Florida has grown larger since the Disco Era and running a statewide campaign is more expensive than ever. Putting a high court in the position of raising wheelbarrows full of campaign cash would certainly mean a return to the bad ol' days of exchanging access, clout and rulings for campaign help. Which is what you often get in elected appeals courts. And in an election year, not even a close second. Mark Lane is a News-Journal columnist.