DeSantis picks new Florida Supreme Court justice who is his sixth appointee to 7-member court

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday named to the Florida Supreme Court a state appellate court judge who pledged his allegiance to a legal theory that a law’s meaning doesn’t change over time, giving the Republican governor his sixth conservative appointee to the seven-member court.

Adam Tanenbaum, a judge on the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, promised to adhere to the principles of “originalism” during a speech announcing his appointment to Florida’s highest court at Seminole High School in the St. Petersburg area, where he had graduated.

Judges shouldn’t be afraid to fix, and shouldn’t have to follow, an “erroneous interpretation of the text,” said Tanenbaum, who previously was general counsel for the Florida House of Representatives and had served on the legal staff of other state agencies.

“Sometimes the circumstances require boldness to restore our jurisprudence to its historical roots,” he said.

Before announcing the new justice, DeSantis said the Florida Supreme Court should exert its administrative powers over the state’s legal profession, citing the Texas Supreme Court’s recent decision to no longer require that Texas law schools be accredited by the American Bar Association.

“I think that there’s room, you know, to be really, really bold,” DeSantis said.

On Tuesday, DeSantis reflected on his last seven years in office in his final State of the State address.

DeSantis said he took office in 2019 with a “bold agenda” and that the state has delivered in areas such as cutting taxes, expanding school choice, increasing teacher pay, remaking the higher-education system and pouring money into Everglades restoration.

Since this is DeSantis’ last term as governor, several Florida lawmakers have announced their candidacy in hopes of succeeding him.

One of those people includes Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Other candidates in the Republican primary are Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, Azoria CEO James Fishback, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and activist Bobby Williams.

Democratic candidates are Orlando Mayor Jerry Demings and former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly.

Florida’s primary elections will take place on Aug. 18, while the general election is on  Nov. 3.