JIM SAUNDERS, News Journal
- Gov. Charlie Crist says he wants more diversity. Others say he’s ignoring the Florida Constitution.
But Crist’s push to appoint a black judge to a Daytona Beach-based appeals court — despite no black applicants making a short list of nominees for the job — has created a standoff that is going to the Florida Supreme Court.
Crist has refused for months to appoint a judge to the 5th District Court of Appeal, after a constitutionally required nominating panel sent him a list that did not include any black candidates.
“Continued diversity is very important to me, and I think we have made that clear,” Crist said last week.
