Florida fares well on federal judges.

While the time taken to nominate and confirm federal judges is increasing, according to a study by a Washington, D.C., group supporting the independence of the judiciary, Florida has done well in getting federal judgeships approved.

Citizens for Independent Courts, part of the bipartisan group The Constitution Project, released the study last month which also showed that the time to confirm women nominees is noticeably longer than for male nominees. However, Florida has seen 10 federal judges approved in recent years, according to Sen. Bob Graham's office, and legislation is pending that could add four judges to the Middle District.

"Florida has fared very, very well in getting judges passed," said Graham spokesman Chris Hand. "Since 1996, there have been 10 federal judicial nominees who have been nominated and confirmed."

That includes two judges in the Northern District, one in the Middle District, five in the Southern District and two Florida seats on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Hand said. Currently there are two recent vacancies in the Middle District (nominations have not been made yet by President Clinton for either), which has one of the heaviest caseloads in the country, and legislation has cleared the House and Senate which would add another four judges to the Middle District. Those bills must be reconciled and approved by both chambers before being seat to the President for signing.

Hand said the U.S. Judicial Conference had recommended four new judges for the Middle District and two for the Southern District.

The recent success in getting new judges, Hand said, is due to cooperation between Graham and Sen. Connie Mack, R-FL, and the high quality of nominees, who are screened by a special commission chaired by former Florida Bar President Ben Hill.

Recent Florida confirmations include Stephan Mickle and Robert Hinkle in the Northern District; Richard Lazzara in the Middle District; Alan Gold, Don Middlebrooks Patricia Seitz, William Dimitroleas and Adalberto Jordan in the Southern District, and former Southern District Judge Stanley Marcus and former Middle District U.S. Attorney Charles Wilson to the circuit bench.

Slowing Pace

Citizens for Independent Courts advocates for and educates the public about the importance of an independent judiciary. Aside from its findings about delays in appointing new judges, the group also made recommendations for screening and confirming new judges, including avoiding "litmus" tests.

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