Pettis appoints panel to boost judicial diversity.

Focusing on how Florida can bolster diversity among its judges and the commissions that nominate judicial candidates is the mission of a new task force appointed by Bar President Eugene Pettis.

The President's Task Force to Study the Enhancement of Diversity on the Bench and the Judicial Nominating Commissions will work to determine why diverse candidates are not applying for appointment to the JNCs or for judgeships.

Among 319 county court judges, 32 are African-American and 26 are Hispanic. Out of 594 circuit court judges, only 26 are African-American and 58 are Hispanic. Florida's five district courts of appeal with 61 judges have only six African-Americans and two Hispanics.

In recent years, the numbers of African-Americans on JNCs declined from almost 25 percent to less than 4 percent, while the number of Hispanics declined slightly to less than 10 percent.

"I am hopeful that this group will additionally focus on some solutions to these concerning trends, so that the Bar and the Governor's Office may use them to facilitate and accomplish our common goal of making sure our judiciary is reflective of our community," Pettis said.

The 10-member task force is headed by Frank P. Scruggs II of Ft. Lauderdale.

Other members include:

* Cynthia G. Angelos of Port St. Lucie;

* Robert A. Butterworth, Jr., of Ft. Lauderdale;

* Cassandra Larkin Denmark of Bartow;

* Linda Bond Edwards of Tallahassee;

* Judge Hubert L. Grimes of Deland;

* Paul C. Huck, Jr., of Miami;

* William R. Scherer of Ft. Lauderdale;

* William J. Schifino of Tampa;

* Robert Vaughan of Ft. Lauderdale.

Under state law, the governor directly...