(L to R) Barbara Dawicke, Trial Court Administrator; Chief Judge Peter Blanc; Senator Sachs; Greg Coleman, Florida Bar Board of Governors.
Senator Sachs met with the Judges and Judicial Assistants of the 15th Judicial Circuit to discuss proposed changes to the Florida Court System that were adopted by the Legislature this year. Resolution 7111, which will be on the ballot for voter approval in November of 2012, proposes three major changes to Article V of the Florida Constitution: (1) requires Supreme Court Justices to be confirmed by the Senate; (2) allows the Legislature to repeal Judicial Rules by a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority; and (3) allows the Speaker of the House of Representatives to review all files of the Judicial Qualifications Commission regardless of whether there are impeachment considerations. Senator Sachs stands in strong opposition to these constitutional changes. “The Constitution established three separate branches of government,” said Senator Sachs. “These proposed changes are an unjust intrusion on judicial independence.” This year, Senator Sachs is working with Chief Judge Peter Blanc and President of the Florida Bar, Scott Hawkins, to tour major law firms throughout Palm Beach County to speak to attorneys on these proposed sweeping changes. Senator Sachs is a practicing attorney and member of both the Florida and California Bar.
