INFORMATION ON FL JUDGES FOR 2004 BALLOT supplied by Tampa Attorney and wife.

Subject: FL Appellate Judges on Ballot. 6 Bush appointed and 1 Chiles appointed

Six   (6)   JEB  BUSH  appointed judges

Supreme Court of Florida
Raoul Cantero           BUSH   appointee
          Kenneth Bell              BUSH   appointee

2nd District Court of Appeals:
          Charles Canady         BUSH   appointee
          Patricia Kelly               BUSH   appointee
          Craig Villanti                BUSH   appointee
          Douglas Wallace        BUSH   appointee

Stevan Northcutt        CHILES   appointee

In Florida when a judicial vacancy comes up, the governor appoints someone to take the place of the retiring judge.  However, at the very next election, we the voters get to approve or disapprove of these judicial appointments.  Therefore the above judges will be on the ballot this time. 

If you want conservative judges that interpret the law as they should,  the 6 Gov. Jeb Bush  appointments are more likely the ones you want.

If on the other hand you want judges that legislate from the bench as was done in the 2000 election by the Florida Supreme Court, the one Chiles appointed judge will probably be your choice.

The following gives more information about these judges:

Judges appointed to the FLORIDA SUPREME COURT are:

Justice Raoul Cantero,  Age 44,  appointed by JEB BUSH on July 10, 2002.  He is from Miami and specialized in  commercial litigation prior to his appointment by Bush.

          Justice Kenneth Bell,  age 48,  appointed by JEB BUSH on Dec. 30, 2002.  Prior to this appointment by Bush to the FL SUPREME COURT, he became the youngest circuit judge in the history of the first Judicial Circuit of Florida and presently is the only justice on the high court with prior experience as a trial judge. 

If you want conservative judges that interpret the law, vote YES for both Justice Kenneth Bell   and Justice Raoul Cantero.


The following Judges have been appointed to the 2nd DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS  which serves Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties are:

Judge Charles Canady,  Age 50, appointed by JEB BUSH to fill a term that began on November of 2002.  Canady served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives as a Republican from 1984 to 1990 and four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001.  Canady became general counsel for Bush after leaving Congress.  He is a conservative judge with family values.

          Judge Particia Kelly, Age 47, was appointed by JEB BUSH for a term that began in December 2001.  Before her appointment, Kelly specialized in appellate matters.

          Craig Villanti,  Age 52, was appointed by JEB BUSH in February of 2003.  From Pasco Co., Vallanti was elected circuit court judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit in 1992.  He was re-elected in 1998 and served in Pinellas and Pasco counties until his appointment to the 2nd District Court of Appeals by Jeb Bush.

          Douglas Wallace, Age 56, was appointed by JEB BUSH for a term that began June 9, 2003.  He was a Bradenton lawyer.  Prior to his appointment by Jeb Bush, his areas of practice included bankruptcy, probate, civil litigation and guardianship.

Steven Northcutt,  Age 50, was appointed by GOV. LAWTON CHILES for a term that began on Jan 6, 1997.  He was a Tampa lawyer that concentrated in the field of appellate advocacy prior to Chiles appointing him.


To recap the following judges will be on the ballot:

Appointed to the FLORIDA SUPREME COURT:

Justice Raoul Cantero,      BUSH   appointee
     Justice Kenneth Bell,         BUSH   appointee

Appointed to the 2nd DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS:

Judge Charles Canady       BUSH   Appointee
     Judge Patricia Kelly             BUSH   Appointee
     Craig Villanti                           BUSH   Appointee
     Douglas Wallace                   BUSH   Appointee
Steven Northcutt                  CHILES   Appointee

Hopefully this will be helpful to you.  Please do vote.

God bless,
Dianne Agster